Once a year, Frog Buttress turns into something a little different. The crack-climbing stronghold of South East Queensland—normally all about jamming, pain, and old-school ethics—gets a splash of colour. Climbers show up in dresses, rack up, and jump on some of the best trad routes in the country. Welcome to Frog in a Froq.
It’s a simple idea: put on a frock, get on a climb, and have a laugh with your mates. But what makes it stick is the vibe. Instead of stressing about grades, people are swapping gear, cheering each other on, and cracking up when someone gets their skirt stuck in an offwidth. It feels less like an event and more like a giant hangout where everyone just happens to be climbing.
So why dresses? At first it looks like a joke—but there’s more to it. Wearing a dress while you’re grunting up a crack climb is a reminder not to take things too seriously. It’s also about showing a different side of climbing: being vulnerable, being playful, and making space for everyone. For a lot of people, it’s a boost for mental health too—proving that climbing doesn’t have to be all send mode and ego.
Images by Nathan McNeil from Set in Stone Media
Of course, part of what makes it so good is the crag itself. Frog Buttress is famous for its pure trad style—hundreds of cracks, very few bolts, and a reputation for making you work for every metre. Climbing here in a dress doesn’t change that. If anything, it makes the day more memorable. You still have to jam, wiggle and sweat your way up the rock—you’re just doing it in brighter colours.
What keeps people coming back is the mix of fun and community. First-timers get taken under the wing by seasoned leaders, big sends are cheered on just as loudly as wobbly first leads, and everyone heads home with a story. Somewhere between the silliness and the sandstone, friendships are made and the climbing culture at Frog gets passed down to the next crew.
The 2025 event was all about celebrating community, and especially shining a light on women in trad climbing — a space that’s traditionally very male-dominated. On Saturday night, the campfire came alive with a Q&A panel featuring Lucy Stirling and Ange Stark from Climbing gems! Their stories were inspiring: two very different climbers, both absolute go-getters, showing that trad climbing has room for everyone to crush.
This year also welcomed some new faces making a big impact. Anjuna, voted Frog Queen, joined the organising team for the first time and dove right in — paying homage to the women who taught him trad in the first place. Callum snagged the “Most Improved” award, while Pedro and Stella kept the community vibes strong by cooking up pasta and sharing it with everyone. Dan earned the title of “Frog Frother” for just being an all-around legend, and Lauren Hunter, another key organiser, was voted Trad Mentor, highlighting her support and guidance within the climbing crew.
Images by Nathan McNeil from Set in Stone Media
Frog in a Froq doesn’t pretend to be anything bigger than it is—but it ends up meaning a lot. It brings people together, gets more climbers stoked on trad, and reminds us that climbing is about joy as much as it is about difficulty. At the end of the day, it’s not about the frocks or the grades. It’s about the people, the laughter, and making climbing a little brighter.
So next time you’re at Frog and someone jams past you in a flowy dress, don’t be surprised. That’s just Frog in a Froq—and it’s quickly becoming one of the best days on the Aussie climbing calendar.
Images by Nathan McNeil from Set in Stone Media
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