Tauranga - strap your skates on and get ready for a cool event this Christmas.
A portable ice rink to be built on Tauranga City's waterfront next month will give residents the chance to skate on top of 33,000 litres of frozen water.
An ice rink will be built on Tauranga's waterfront for two months during the Christmas period.
Supplied by Ice-World New Zealand, the Harcourts Outdoor Ice Rink will open on The Strand on December 13.
The 35metre by 15 metre rink will be open seven days a week until February 3.
The holiday addition is a response to requests from Tauranga residents, says Ice-World spokesperson Robert Archee.
'We've done ice rinks previously in Rotorua, Hamilton and Taupo and we had a lot of requests from people from Tauranga coming over to those locations.
'It's open for a long time over the entire school holidays - so I'm sure it will be well used.”
The seven centimetre thick ice rink is moved from city to city in a shipping container and takes one night to freeze.
Robert says it is a great activity for Christmas and will be amazing with the waterfront location.
'It's definitely something different for the locals.
'It's all real ice. The only difference being is that it's an outside temperature.
'There is a marquee that acts as a roof over it, but the sides are all open and you can see out most of Tauranga town.”
A Winter Wonderland theme will be set up with lights along the marquee, he says.
Downtown Tauranga manager Kirby Weis is thrilled at the arrival of the ice rink and says a lot of hard work has gone into getting the attraction to the city.
'We are delighted to be able to bring such a wonderful activity to the Waterfront over the Christmas and holiday season for our members, the community and visitors.
'It's perfect for school holidays and perfect for Christmas celebrations.”
The ice rink will be open daily from 9am-10pm from Thursday, December 13.
Tickets for the ice rink will cost adults $20 each and students and children $15 each.
The ticket price includes skate hire and lets skaters stay on the ice for as long as they like.
Training frames are also available for beginners.
18 comments
well there ya go!!
Posted on 15-11-2012 15:05 | By Sambo
Here was I thinking the waterfront was for outdoor recreation,and for sitting under a tree (not a topless one either)and admiring the view out over our harbour, now we are to have a large square building with no scenic value, moving in over our warmest months, and full of ice, go figure, a water based theme park would make more sense.
VERDICT
Posted on 15-11-2012 15:22 | By YOGI
TCC is on thin ice indeed.
Novel idea
Posted on 15-11-2012 18:02 | By jacmay
I think this could be quite cool - excuse the pun.
Brilliant news!!!
Posted on 15-11-2012 18:16 | By Batty
About time we see something different about the place for a change. We are very interested. Having lived in the tropics for several years where there was an Ice skating rink it was great to go in and cool down some.... :)
About time
Posted on 15-11-2012 18:57 | By HeatherP
I've seen this in Napier and Hamilton and wondered when it would be our turn. A fun activity for families and people of all ages. Looks festive when its lit up at night. Well Done to Downtown Tauranga organisers for providing something different in the way of entertainment.
SAMBO
Posted on 15-11-2012 21:59 | By YOGI
Sir, i think the toples concept is what you are meant to be looking, it si a new idea of letting in the sunshine, but I think the drawn back is that the tree will not survive with it top half lopped off?
.
Posted on 16-11-2012 07:02 | By Donnaw
Great idea......but where will we park?
Parking ?
Posted on 16-11-2012 09:20 | By PLONKER
Available at Bayfair or Greerton, then get the bus to the Strand.
CAMPING AT THE STRAND
Posted on 16-11-2012 11:43 | By YOGI
So this is in effect a temporary structure/tent for the Xmas period, so does that mean campervans can take up the offer to? would make a nice camping ground for the kiwiana of NZ.
@ DONNAW
Posted on 16-11-2012 14:01 | By YOGI
In the car park building to be built in 2019, that is if and only if a Commissioner is not appointed beforehand. I suspect that the chances of the latter a high and so the former unlikely, bad luck old chap!
Park
Posted on 16-11-2012 14:22 | By Positive not negative
How about parking in the parking building?
BEST OPTION
Posted on 17-11-2012 19:02 | By PLONKER
Use the bus.
COMMERCE ON THE STRAND?
Posted on 17-11-2012 21:41 | By PLONKER
Is this it? 2 months of the year? Surely there is more to it than that.
ICED IN THE HEAD
Posted on 18-11-2012 21:13 | By POCO O POCO
So much for the clean green image of the waterfront just clutter it up with crap is now the theme.Put this stuff at a sports club where you can park eh?
Brass monkey territory
Posted on 20-11-2012 18:40 | By Hebegeebies
Ridiculous plan look at the size of the bloody thing it is a huge iced rink with a massive marquis over the top perhaps they intend to freeze the water and float it on the Tauranga Harbour.Hardly looks like room on the Strand reclamation and where are all the precious souls that wanted this waterfront area kept clear to view the water- missing in action no doubt.
Stop Complaining
Posted on 26-11-2012 09:31 | By lilmiss
To all of those that have nothing better to do than to complain NO WONDER NOTHING COMES TO TAURANGA. The Ice rink is a great idea especially for kids or teens its better than having them indoors playing video games, this is also a chance for there parents to have a break from them or to hang out with them and to those that are complaining about car parks it may do you some good to get off your butt and walk from a park up the road. I am 23 and i think that this is a great idea and will be going down to enjoy it and hope that tauranga does more of these great activities.
I think it's awesome
Posted on 30-11-2012 10:13 | By Difizzle
What a pack of moaners - Sambo it doesnt say it is a topless large square building - it says it has a roof with no sides? and parking issues - really? Isnt it like that every day when you go to Tauranga for anything? There is free parking if you can be bothered walking the distance - I think it sounds great!
@ DiFrazzled
Posted on 02-12-2012 19:54 | By PLONKER
FREE PARKING, WALKING? Oh please come on if that was the case then everyone would be doing it already and there would be none left of those already ... The better option of course would be that everyone took the bus.
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