IceWorld Outdoor Ice Skating Rink product reviews

This pop up outdoor ice skating ring came to Tauranga on the Strand in the city last year at christmas. Given that I hadn't iceskated since I was a kid myself and that my daughter had never been I decided to take her for a go. It was there for a few weeks and I thought it was quite a novel idea given that it was summer and holidays so we needed things to do.

The price I thought was quite expensive but it did include skate hire and you could stay and skate all day if you wanted to but it was quite an expensive day out for us compared to other school holiday activities. My daughter loved it me not so much and I was more than happy to get off the ice after only a minute or two. My partner helped Casidy to get her balance and get used to how to skate and then she was away.

She had a few falls on the bum but that just added to the fun of it and made her laugh. I don't know if they are bringing this back again this year but if they were I would take her again as she had a really good time but it would be one of our very few paid activities as I like school holiday activities that don't cost money.

Stepping out on to the ice at Hamilton's Garden Place ice rink, was for me, something quite special. My previous experience on ice is limited to a couple of trips to Paradice up in Auckland and I can assure you that skating on an outdoor rink is quite different.

While it took a bit for me to remember what I was doing, and a rather heavy fall flat on my back that winded me before I had even made it half way round my first lap, once I got back up to my tentative beginner speed it was really quite fun.

There were a couple of little niggly things that did bug me - the entrance way being right by the viewing platform meant that it made it really difficult for beginners like me to get started, having to navigate around people who were talking to friends and family on the platform, without being able to hold onto the rail, knowing that if I didn't I'd be holding other people up up behind me; and also the bumpiness of the ice around the edge of the rink. The nature of the portable rink did mean that the surface wasn't 100% even - after all there'd be no chance of getting a Zamboni up there, but that didn't detract terribly from the effect.

The highlight for me was certainly the outdoor element. The night we went was a pleasant spring evening with a gentle breeze which added to the authenticity. While you were essentially on a man made temporary rink, it was very easy to forget this as you skated around. There were people of all ages and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves and you just knew that what you were doing was something quite unique.

The location in Garden Place, downtown Hamilton was also a winner as it was easy to get to and there is plenty of nearby parking (metered parking during the day). Being in the heart of the city as well meant that there were also plenty of options for cafes, bars and restaurants should you require them afterwards, and given the smells emanating from the adjacent Indian restaurant, it was certainly very tempting!!

Initially when the ice rink was announced I did question the pricing as I thought that the prices may have been a bit prohibitive, especially for families, however because of the size of the rink it actually meant that there weren't too many people on it. A similar rink had been set up last year in Glenfield Mall on Auckland's North Shore and that in comparison was only a donation to gain entry which meant that it was completely packed for the duration of the time it was operating. The Garden Place rink was well used, but it never felt over crowded.

I was very impressed with the Garden Place Ice Rink and certainly hope that they decide to bring it back next year. If you get a chance to get along over the final weekend (Labour Weekend), I'd certainly recommend it.

Having spent more than a few of my earlier years hanging out with family members who were dedicated Ice-Hounds, and having done a fair bit of travelling, I have seen a rink or two around the world. I have even sat at the edge of a frozen lake in Northern America and watched a natural outdoor skating rink in action... and what I saw while at this rink was quite familiar from that memory.

This rink has all the limitations that go with an outdoor setting, but it also has the best elements, plus one special extra - portability. What are the negatives? Unlike an indoor arena, where the ambient temperature can be controlled and maintained year-round, this rink suffers on even a moderately sunny day. As I was informed, the day before our visit the sun came out for much of the day, and though it was far from a balmy summer swelter, it was enough to soften the top layer of ice so that it became little more than unflavoured slushie after an hour of skating. On the plus side, skating under the stars, surrounded by streetlights and fairy lights can be something magical if everything works together right.

A back injury has stopped me from enjoying ice skating, since a hard fall onto cold ice could prove somewhat hazardous my the health of my vertebrae, so it was with some large measure of sadness that I realised I wasn't going to join the reviewers on this activity. Instead, it was my great pleasure to stand on the sidelines and snap photos of them strutting their stuff, or crab-walking around the outside grasping the edges in desperation, as it started out. However it also left me able to examine the rink from an observer's point of view instead... and I can say that it's a good thing this rig is so modular, as it allows the best results from the space available - though in this case putting a 2m wide viewing area down one of the long sides would have been a great improvement. Having viewers and nervous parents gathering on the small platform right by the entrance/exit made it awkward for all skaters and viewers alike. However, this could be no other way on this instance, since the space allocated was used to it's best, if awkward, best.

Overall, though the time remaining for this site is shrinking as rapidly as ice in an oven, if you can, do get down there! Also, keep your eyes on the website for any other locations opening before the full beat of Summer kills the viability of this fun and exciting attraction. Yes, the price is a little steep for most folks, but let's face it - if you live in a town with no ice skating within diving distance, it's worth a little extra to have access to this... and a family pass for four costs only a little more than one night's family dinner at a fast food chain!

Having not been ice skating for something like *mumblemumble*somethingorotheryears*mumble*, I was pretty keen to strap on the boots and give this a go (even if it meant clinging frantically to the edge and stumbling my way around). The first big draw card of this rink is that it is outdoors, something we simply don't have in New Zealand let alone in Hamilton where we don't even have an ice-rink.

The first thing that got my attention before we got on the ice, was the boots, I still remember lacing up the boots of old so the quick snap catches were a pleasant surprise, much more like most rollerblades, means they were much easier to put on and also a lot more comfortable.

The rink itself was larger than I had expected when I first heard that we had one coming. The only real downside to it was that the location of the entrance is right at the end of the ramp that also doubles as the viewing platform. It means that you have viewers right around the entrance and hanging over the rail watching the action and this makes it a little tricky and uncomfortable for us rail clingers gingerly getting on the ice and attempting to the stay upright. It would be great if there was some way of allowing this rail to remain free, perhaps by pulling the ramp back a bit and having an extra rail separating them or by having the viewing area along a different side, again back slightly allowing free rail space. It also pays to watch the edges where there are joins in the rink, it's not totally flat and perfect for tripping up unsuspecting rail clingers. For young kids (or desperate adults) there are also skating frames available for hire and having tested one of them for the sake of a through review of course, I can say with total confidence that they are wonderfully sturdy and perfect for helping learn the skating skills without getting a face full of ice.

Apart from that however, this is one experience that really can't be beaten. As already mentioned, we don't have outdoor rinks in New Zealand so the novelty of that is enough to get me on the ice. They have skating until late at night and I can only imagine how the strung up fairy lights must add to an amazing atmosphere! I would have loved to go back for Wednesday night party night with music and glowsticks but unfortunately we didn't get a chance. Again though, this is an experience we just normally wouldn't have.

My only other hesitation with this would be the price, it is reasonably high, particularly for a family affair but then having now tried this and for the uniqueness of the experience, I did realise how worthwhile it is. As there are no limits on how long you can skate this also can be an advantage, particularly as where we were located with plenty of eateries nearby, it wouldn't be hard to make a really worthwhile afternoon or night of it.

So overall, if you are thinking about doing this, I say strap on the boots and go for it, you're not going to get the chance again in a hurry and we really did have so much fun! I'm definitely hoping that this is something that will prove popular and we'll see going around NZ some more.

well, I see no negatives to this rink, I was blown away to find out that there was an Ice-skating rink in Hamilton! I've only been on a rink once before, and that was years ago when I was about 6 or 7 years old, but this one was even better! I have a pair of roller-blades at home, and they seem to have had a large effect on my Ice-skating skills; I used to be a total amateur, but when I went on this one, I was sliding across the icy surface with ease (and only a few falls here and there).

I think that the best thing about this rink is that it gives a nice outdoor theme, the only other place I've been to is Paradise Ice-skating in Auckland, and it was sealed in, but with the one in Hamilton it had a comfortable open space, and right in the middle of Garden Place too! I would have been quite happy to spend all night on that rink, so it was a bit of a shame when I had to get dragged away from it, so I do hope that it comes here again.

I think that anyone over 5 years old can come, the Ice skates come in lots of different sizes, and there are kiddy frames available, so beginners won't have as many problems. If you love Ice skating, then this is the place to go, but you might want to come fast before it runs off!