MANIAX Axe Throwing: 10+ Australian Venues

From St Peters to a national axe throwing network

MANIAX traces its beginnings to Sydney in 2014, when its founders began experimenting with different axes and homemade targets in a Coogee backyard. With apartment neighbours close by, the search soon began for somewhere better suited to regular throwing.

A warehouse in Sydney's Inner West provided the answer. MANIAX established its St Peters operation in early 2015 and opened it that June as Australia's first dedicated urban axe throwing venue.

The concept attracted considerable attention. Local opposition surrounding the opening brought the fledgling business before the media and council, but the resulting publicity also introduced Australians to a recreational activity that was then largely unfamiliar outside North America.

St Peters became the foundation for MANIAX's expansion. Early in 2016, the company headed south to Abbotsford in Melbourne, where a larger venue also allowed it to develop single-target axe-throwing lanes.

The business has since grown well beyond its original Sydney warehouse. MANIAX now reports more than one million visitors across its Australian venues and approximately 40 million axes thrown.

How axe throwing at MANIAX works

A MANIAX visit is structured around coached target throwing rather than simply handing participants an axe and pointing them towards a board.

Sessions begin with a safety briefing and instruction from a MANIAX coach, known at the venues as an AXE-pert. Beginners learn the fundamentals of throwing technique, including grip, stance and release, before progressing to target practice and games.

Accuracy and consistency are more important than brute strength. That distinction makes recreational axe throwing accessible to people who have never tried the activity before, while repeat visitors can work on technique and competitive scoring.

MANIAX is a member of the International Axe Throwing Federation, the international organisation associated with standardised competitive axe throwing. The company's involvement extends beyond casual sessions to organised league competition, with MANIAX leagues operating under IATF rules and codes of conduct.

The one-hour axe throwing experience

The core MANIAX format is its one-hour axe throwing session for small groups. The current Viking Hour package accommodates between one and six players and includes a safety briefing, coaching and an hour of throwing.

Participants can throw three types of axes during the Viking Hour session. The emphasis is on learning the technique before putting it into practice through target throwing and games.

A shorter Express Viking format is also available at participating venues. It provides 30 minutes of throwing for groups of one to six and includes two types of axes, with availability currently restricted to weekdays before 5.30pm.

Packages and prices can change, so visitors planning a session should check the current offering for their chosen venue when booking.

Axe throwing for families, parties and groups

Although the original format developed around social axe throwing, MANIAX has broadened its sessions for different types of groups.

Family sessions cater for households with younger participants. The minimum throwing age at MANIAX is 11. Throwers aged from 11 to 17 require a parent or guardian to sign their waiver and a responsible adult must remain at the venue during the visit. The company's Family Pass requires at least one child aged 11 to 17 and at least one adult aged 18 or older.

The venues also accommodate work functions, birthdays, bucks and hens celebrations, date nights and other social groups. Larger events can be arranged separately, while full-venue hire is offered for groups wanting private use of a MANIAX location.

School excursions form another part of the program, combining coached throwing with activities intended to develop focus, coordination, communication and teamwork. School sessions incorporate safety instruction and supervised competition rather than unstructured throwing.

Safety and coaching

The potentially intimidating sight of axes flying towards timber targets makes safety instruction central to the MANIAX format.

Every standard session includes a briefing and coaching before participants begin throwing. MANIAX says more than one million people have visited its venues and around 40 million axes have been thrown across the business without a significant axe-related incident beyond a splinter.

Venue rules also govern behaviour around the throwing lanes. Participants must follow staff instructions and aggressive, abusive or unsafe conduct is not permitted. Closed-toe shoes are required for participants.

Alcohol is managed alongside those rules at licensed locations. Anyone considered to be breaching MANIAX's alcohol, drug, behaviour or safety policies can be prevented from participating or required to leave.

Food and licensed bars

MANIAX has developed its venues as social destinations as well as sporting and recreation spaces. Fully licensed locations combine the throwing lanes with in-house bars and food.

Drinks include beer and wine alongside Viking-themed cocktails, while food is available at venues for groups extending their visit beyond the throwing session.

The combination is particularly relevant to MANIAX's group-event model: throwing takes place within a controlled, coached session, while the broader venue provides space for socialising before or after the activity.

Competitive axe throwing and MANIAX League

Recreational sessions are designed so complete beginners can learn the basics quickly, but axe throwing also has an organised competitive side.

MANIAX runs league competition for throwers interested in developing their skills beyond a casual visit. Its league is sanctioned by the International Axe Throwing Federation, with competitors expected to follow IATF rules, etiquette and codes of conduct.

That competitive pathway reflects the development of urban axe throwing from a novelty activity into an organised target sport. Technique becomes increasingly important as players work on repeatable movement, accuracy and consistent scoring rather than simply trying to make an axe stick in the board.

Planning a MANIAX visit

Pre-booking is recommended, particularly for groups and popular session times, although MANIAX says its venues can generally accommodate walk-ins when space is available.

Throwers must be at least 11 years old, with additional supervision and waiver requirements applying to participants under 18. Closed-toe footwear is required.

Session lengths vary according to the package selected. The standard Viking Hour runs for one hour and accommodates one to six players, while other formats cover shorter visits, family groups and larger celebrations or functions.

With 11 locations now operating around Australia, MANIAX has travelled a considerable distance from the improvised backyard targets that started the business in Sydney. St Peters remains central to that story: the warehouse that became Australia's first urban axe throwing venue provided the starting point for a recreation concept that subsequently expanded across five states and territories.

MANIAX Axe Throwing

Get a taste of our signature hatchet hurling experience! Perfect for first timers and veterans. Our core 1-hour axe throwing experience is available for 1-6 people.

Session includes:

1 hour of axe throwing
A brief introduction on safety
A quick coaching session from our resident AXE-pert and you're away!

MANIAX locations

Canberra ACT, Newcastle NSW, Marrickville (Sydney Inner West) NSW, Abbotsford VIC, Knox VIC, Melbourne CBD VIC, Brisbane CBD QLD, Gold Coast QLD, Newstead QLD, Fremantle WA, Northbridge WA