Auckland's Aotea Square Ice Rink back for winter

Friday, 21 June 2019

Ice skater Alexis Laud was the first to try out the ice rink in Auckland's Aotea Square, which has opened for the winter.

Auckland's popular Aotea Square Ice Rink is back for its eighth year in a row.

Featuring a massive skating rink and ice slide, the winter wonderland officially opened at 10am on Friday and will stay frosty until the end of July.

Organisers expected to see more than 20,000 visitors through its doors during that time.

The ice rink is fully covered and ideal for all-weather skating.

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It will be open from about 10am to 10pm seven days a week.

Paradice Ice Skating event manager Jabel Martin said the rink was a mammoth operation to get running.

It required 12 kilometres of aluminium piping, carrying 500 litres of antifreeze, to freeze 20,000 litres of water over three days.

He said the 32-metre-long ice slide was also sharper and steeper than before, making for a more 'exhilarating' tube ride: 'More fun for the kids'.

There would be plenty of events to keep everyone entertained, including discounted student skate nights every Tuesday.

There would also be 'throwback Thursdays' where the loudspeakers would play 'bangers' from the 70s, 80s and 90s.

'Over the the weekend of July 20-21 we'll have snow machines blowing snow onto skaters for that real 'cool' feeling.'

Up-and-coming Auckland figure skater, Alexis Laud, was the first to test out the rink before it opened to the public.

She said putting a temporary rink in the middle of the city was a great idea.

'A lot more people can come and try it out – and families can come too.

'I really like ice skating because I like doing a lot of jumping and spins, and it's really fun.

'The best thing I can do is a flip loop, which is a jump and then another jump, all the while spinning in the air at the same time.'

Pricing:

- Adult (13 and older) $22

- Child (under 12) $16.5

- Pre-schooler (3 & 4 year olds) $9.50

- Family $59

- Students (Tuesday nights only) $16

- Tube: 3 rides for $8 or $5 rides $9.50.

For more information click here.