From late June to mid July each year you can try out, or hone, your ice skating skills courtesy of an open-air ice rink in Garema Place in the centre of Canberra.
The popular ice rink is part of the over-hyped ‘Winter Festival’, a programme of activities aimed at creating a European like winter wonderland, replete with Christmas style markets, in Sydney, Canberra, Freemantle (West Australia) and Brisbane.
I can only speak for Canberra but the ice rink here is the only thing worthy a mention. I had to wait some time before I could take my final attached photograph of the slide (a 2016 addition) with people on it. Why anyone would want to pay to go on it perplexed me somewhat. The Toboggan Terror ride – well that looked like a joke.
Anyway, back to the ice rink which is indeed popular and worthy a visit in its own right. Tickets are sold for timed, one hour, sessions with the price varying depending on the day and time slot selected. Skate hire is included in the price though extras like the cute little penguins to keep kids upright cost extra.
I recommend you buy tickets online as you pay a (hefty) premium if you buy them at the ice rink and popular time slots sell out in advance. Maximum adult skating price in 2016 – A$28 for one hour (50 minutes on the ice).
The ice rink is not that big and even though they do limit skater numbers I feel it is a little crowded at peak capacity. If you are a talented ice skater seeking to exhibit your speed skating skills I suggest you look elsewhere. For lesser mortals a great way to pass an hour.
That said, between some public skating sessions they put on displays by more accomplished skaters.
The photos attached are a mix from 2014 and 2016. I will confess that I did not skate in either year. The last time I donned skates was in my university days in Belfast – some years ago now. In earlier years the event was called Skate in the City and not run by the 2016 operators.
Canberra’s World Curry Festival (separate review) takes place over one weekend of the Winter Festival so if the skating leaves you feeling cold that weekend why not warm yourself up with a hot curry from one of the stalls, a few metres walk from the ice rink.
Opening hours
2016 – 26 June – 17 July
Daily 10am – 8pm (last tickets for 7pm), weekends to 10pm (last tickets for 9pm)
Similar dates and hours can be expected in future years.
Address: Garema Place, City Centre, Canberra
For my next CANBERRA – INNER NORTH review click HERE.
For other Canberra reviews click HERE.
The Rambling Wombat 
The only time we ice skated was when we lived in Holland!
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