The Best Places to Take Kids Winter Ice-Skating in Sydney

Ice-skating is the perfect opportunity for families to bond in a fun way. There's no doubt that winter sports have become increasingly popular in Sydney, so make 2018 the year you jump on the ice-skating bandwagon (if you haven't already!). Sydney-siders are lucky enough to have some awesome, state-of-the-art rinks dotted around the place, some only available during Winter. Here are our top picks!

1. Winterfest Luna Park 

Get ready to skate the winter break away at Winterfest, back by popular demand at Luna Park Sydney. An Unlimited Rides Pass gives you ice rink access, and if you're here on a Friday or Saturday evening, check out the Phantasos 3,000 individual LED light display, transforming the famous Luna Park Ferris Wheel into a giant dream catcher! 

2. Parramatta Winterlight

It's only a pop-up but this ice-rink is a slice above the rest! As part of the big winter festivity in Paramatta there isn't just ice-skating, there is also your chance to take a ride on Sydney’s only ice slide, made entirely of ice! At 28 metres long, a toboggan down this elevated slide is definitely set to get your heart racing. Plus lots of entertainment, food and warming drinks for the grown-ups! On from 6-22 July, 2018. Check out the website.

3. Macquarie Ice Rink

Macquarie Ice Rink is open year-round at Macquarie Shopping Centre and runs social ice-skating, school holiday learn-to-skate programs, birthday parties, bublle soccer, ice hockey, ice dancing, night sessions, discos, and Kiddies Club which runs in conjunction with Coffee Club. It received a multi-million dollar facelift last year, and welcomed a 15m2 LED screen allowing music videos to play while you skate and illuminate the rink, as well as state of the art ice maintenance machinery. Visit their website.

4. Canterbury Olympic Ice Rink 

Open year-round, Canterbury Olympic Ice Rink proudly offers it all- kid's birthdays, figure skating, ice hockey, speed skating, synchronised skating, disco nights, school holiday lessons, group lessons, private lessons, and an awesome playground for under 5s where tots can learn to skate, and play games both on and off the ice. The coaches are great and the skate school is super successful. 
Visit their website 

5. Skating At Festival 

This pop-up in the heart of the city is super popular and makes for a magical ice-skating experience with the backdrop of St Mary's Cathedral. If you stretch your imagination just enough you can pretend you're in Europe, living your best life. From June 29 to July 22, St Mary's Cathedral forecourt will become a winter wonderland complete with ice slide and winter warming gourmet delights like German sausages and mulled wine. Entry to the area is free, you just have to pay to skate (kids $20, adults $27). Book tickets on the website here.

6. Penrith Ice Palace

Penrith Ice Palace offers general public skating sessions, figure skating clubs and lessons, children’s birthday parties, synchronised figure skating, broomball, hockey development, learn-to-skate programs and a Coffee Clu running during the school term. The Palace boasts state of the art facilities with a 30 × 60m Olympic sized rink! It’s a great way to get active and out of the house during winter... just remember to wear warm clothes!
Visit their website 

7. Liverpool Catholic Club Ice Rink

 Head to Liverpool Catholic Club to learn from award-winning coaches in a safe and fun environment. They offer rink birthday parties, lessons for all ages and abilities, three playgroup sessions a week for 2-6-year-olds with lessons, games and snow play, after-school sessions, ice discos, and Whiteout Saturday nights for some snowy fun. Visit their website.

8. Bondi Winter Magic

The only Sydney ice rink by the beach, this one is loved by young and old and everyone in between. 9am lessons for newbies are available before the rink opens to the general public at 10am, and there's also weekend evening entertainment from the Stars on Ice champions and ice hockey performers. 

Top Tip: Make sure your keep your eyes open for great Winter and Christmas festivals as they often have fabulous pop-up outdoor ice skating rinks!

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