Where to go ice skating in Sydney

We’ve found five year-round rinks and two pop-ups for winter where the whole family can practice their twirls, double axles and tumbles. By Olivia Gee

Macquarie Ice Rink

Plans to demolish the beloved rink to make way for a shopping centre refurb were scrapped earlier this year, so hopefully we’ll be getting another few decades of Friday-night ice discos, all-day public skating Sundays and cheap skating sessions for a $20 flat rate. There are kids’ activities in the school holidays and there’s a rink-side café where you can watch the gliding hordes. Lvl 1, Macquarie Shopping Centre, Crn Herring & Waterloo Rds, North Ryde 2113. 02 9888 1100. macquarieicerink.com.au. Various times. $10-$22.

Ice Zoo

Whether you can do an axel jump in your sleep or stick with clinging to the barrier, you can wear your skates down year round at Ice Zoo. They offer group skating classes that’ll help thaw out icy beginners, they’ve got special sessions for toddlers, and cheap tickets for ice twirls on Thursdays and Mondays. Watch ice hockey games if you don’t want to take the icy plunge, or get grooving with the Saturday night DJ. When you’re not shredding the ice, sip warming brews – and the boozy kind – at the licenced café. 689 Gardeners Rd, Alexandria 2015. 02 9669 6445. icezoo.com. Various times. $8-$30.

Canterbury Olympic Ice Rink

The magic combo of disco, hockey and freestyle skating is going strong at the Canterbury rink. There are open skate sessions every day and a regular Friday night disco which gets extra oomph in the school holidays, with lunchtime glide sessions running Monday to Friday as well. The hockey season runs year round, so you can take a spectator breather, and there’s a heated canteen for skating fuel. This is an accessible venue and also has a free public car park. Phillips Ave, Canterbury 2193. 02 9789 4044 canterburyolympicicerink.org.au. Various times. $14-$26.

Penrith Ice Palace

The caretakers at the Ice Palace run a tight ship in the school term – there are daily public sessions mixed in with school sporting groups, a Friday night disco, plus broomball (which sounds like a more relaxed, less fighty version of ice hockey). And there’s also the requisite hockey games to watch. Once the kids knock off for the holidays, the schedule slows down for more happy gliding public skate sessions for all. 7 Patty’s Pl, Jamisontown 2750. 02 4733 2611. penrithicepalace.com.au. Various times. $11-$22.

Liverpool Catholic Club Ice Rink

When the rink isn’t taken up by figure skating classes or ice hockey training, keen skaters can take to the ice inside the LCC Sports Complex. There are freestyle sessions every day and disco skating parties on Friday and Saturday nights plus ice skating training courses for all ages. When you’ve had enough ice time, commiserate over your bruises and the best ice tumbles at the bistro, café or steakhouse. à424- 458 Hoxton Park Rd, Prestons 2170. 02 8784 4878. www.liverpoolcatholic.com.au. Various times. $8-$20.

WINTERLIGHT

When the winter chill arrives, Parramatta is taken over by Winterlight. The frosty festival offers all kinds of wintery fun, from glowing carnival rides to warming, carb-heavy snacks and mulled wine, plus the all-important ice rink. The frozen set-up has been the largest open-air rink in Sydney for many years (perhaps we’ll see new contenders come winter) and it’s a great spot to skate under the dazzling winter sun or twinkly fairy lights in the evenings. àPrince Alfred Square, Parramatta 2150. winterlight.com.au. Mon-Thu 11am-10pm; Fri-Sun 9am-11pm. $10-$24. Jul 5-21. LUNA PARK WINTERFEST Go ice skating under the Ferris wheel before you visit Coney Island when Winterfest arrives at Luna Park. Strap on your skates and slide onto the ice under falling snowflakes at the outdoor ice rink, then sample some of the wintery treats. They’ve usually got sparkling holiday tunes and a canopy of twinkly lights to make the experience extra charming. Skating is free with the unlimited ride pass or annual pass. àLuna Park, 1 Olympic Dr, Milsons Point 2061. 02 9922 6644. lunaparksydney.com. Various times & prices. Jul 5-22.