Bouldering involves traversing and ascending low rock walls and boulders unroped. Bouldering is undertaken as a method of improving climbing skills and as a technical challenge in its own right. It involves no equipment (except for perhaps climbing shoes and chalk) and can be undertaken at climbing cliffs, on artificial climbing walls and on a variety of vertical surfaces in urban environments.

Indoor climbing or artificial wall climbing is perhaps the most popular form of climbing. Climbing walls are a convenient way for learning and practising climbing techniques. Most climbing competitions are conducted on artificial walls. Climbing walls are present at many Defence establishments.

Top-rope climbing is a style of climbing where the climber is protected by a rope that passes from them, through an anchor at the top of the route, to a belayer at the base of the climb. Although it is often used for instructing beginners and to practise difficult climbs, it is the prevailing style at some crags, such as Kangaroo Point, Brisbane.

Sports climbing is a style of lead climbing which is characterised by short, steep (or overhung) routes which are protected by fixed anchors (ie bolts). As these climbs are easier to protect than trad climbs, the focus in sports climbing is on performing the technical moves required to ascend the climb. Nowra, NSW is Australia's premier sports crag.

Traditional (trad) climbing is a style of lead climbing where the leader places ‘protection' throughout the climb. This style of climbing is often associated with ‘adventure climbing' where routes involve multiple pitches and the setting has a wilderness or remote feeling. In trad climbing, the ability of the climber to protect the climb, route find and get off the climb safely is just as (or more) important than their ability to climb the route. Mt Arapiles in western Victoria, is a classic trad crag and is unquestionably Australia's best climbing location.