Pop-Up Ice Skating in Adelaide, Glenelg & Pt Adelaide | 2018

July 1, 2018

Ice Skating in Adelaide | Three Pop Up Ice Skating Rinks for Winter 2018

This Winter for the first time ever, there are THREE pop-up ice skating rinks happening around Adelaide. Glenelg’s Winter Wonderland and WinterFest in Port Adelaide are both back again, plus this year the SkatingAt Festival in Victoria Square is also here.

READ OUR ICE SKATING TIPS – GUIDE FOR FAMILIES HERE

If you’re a huge ice skating fan you could try out each one as they are all different. If you’re only wanting to choose the one that suits you the most, read on as we’ll give you the low-down on each.

Winter Wonderland | Moseley Square, Glenelg

When: Sunday 1 – Sunday 22 July 2018

The clear marquee at Glenelg is the same as last year. It offers protection from the weather so you can ice skate protected from rain, wind and the cold. It has an open feel as it’s clear, almost like you are outside, so you can see the sky and the view over the jetty and beach. If you book during the 4pm to 6pm sessions, you might get to catch a colourful sunset.

You can catch the tram to Glenelg, which kids love to do.

As in the top picture above, Glenelg has the penguin aids for little ones (also helpful for adults). Some kids manage with them fine, while others may struggle to push them around. You can get your child to stand on the penguin’s feet and then you can push them around.

There is a toboggan slide as well in the tent adjoining.

The Glenelg Foreshore Playground is right next to the ice skating rink. Even at sunset it is still popular with the kids (some just don’t feel the cold).

There are plenty of eateries at Glenelg to have lunch, dinner or a treat. If you’re going to somewhere like Mamma Carmela for pizza/pasta after ice skating be sure to book a table beforehand on the weekends as it gets busy. You can get a hot chocolate at St Louis straight across the road or Bracegirdles is just around the corner. Ice cream lovers have a few options – Royal Copenhagen, Andersen’s, Gelatissimo, Cold Rock or frozen yoghurt. Yes even in Winter my kids still want ice cream.

Winter Wonderland Glenelg Ticket Costs

Adults $16.35
Child (2-14) $11.25
Family (2 Adults & 2 Children, or 1 Adult & 3 Children) $37.75
Skating Aid Penguin $5.65
Toboggan Slide (3 slides valid for any session) $11.25

Ticket includes skate hire, is for 1 hour skating session and includes booking fee.

SkatingAt Festival | Victoria Square Tarntanyangga, Adelaide

When: 30 June to 22 July 2018

The SkatingAt Festival is conveniently located in the city at Victoria Square – you won’t miss it as there is a big Ferris Wheel there. The ice skating rink is open air so you can feel like you’re in Central Park in New York or in a European city in Winter. However being open air it is dependent on the weather – great on a fine day but not so much if it’s rainy.

Along with the ice skating rink there is the Ferris Wheel, a snow tube slide, a big inflatable slide and a bouncy castle for the kids. There are 4 food stalls and a bar there but don’t forget the Adelaide Central Market and Gouger Street are just across the road so you have plenty of food and coffee options nearby. It’s right by the tramline so it’s convenient to get to via public transport or the car park at the Adelaide Central Market is probably the cheapest in the city. You can even do a bit of food shopping if you go on a market day.

At SkatingAt they have the blue Kanga skating aids. If you went to Santa’s Wonderland you’ll be familiar with them. They are great as they can be pushed (like the penguins) but a child can also sit on them and be pushed around.

SkatingAt Ticket Costs

Cost for Ice Skating Online:

Adult Skating (14+ Years) | $23 (or $24 at the venue)

Child Skating (5-13 Years) | $17 (or $18 at the venue)

Family Skating (2 Adults & 2 Children under 14) | $76 (or $78 at the venue)

Tickets include skate hire and 45 minute ice rink session

To go on rides you need to buy coupon tickets at the ticket box (like at a carnival or the Royal Adelaide Show). The coupons are $2 each.

Ferris Wheel | $10 per person (5 x coupons)

Ice Slide Toboggan | $4 per slide ( 2 x coupons)

Inflatable Slide & Bouncy Castle | $6 per 10 minutes (3 x coupons) however they were not strict on timing and when it’s not busy the kids can stay on for as long as they like.

WinterFest | Harts Mill, Port Adelaide

When: 6 to 22 July 2018

WinterFest at Port Adelaide opens from Friday 6 July until Sunday 22 July. We will update this post with info once we check it out next week. What we can tell you is that it will have an enclosed ice skating rink, like last year. Other returning attractions will include workshops, children’s activities, food trucks, bars, market stalls, roving performers and free parking.

Harts Mill is a great location with the huge flour shed offering protection from the weather and you can eat inside where it’s warm with gas fires. Outside there are crackling open fires, twinkling lights, an alpine style bar and bonfire singalongs planned.

WinterFest 2017 – image from Our Port Facebook page

The Winterfest activities and entertainment line-up will be expanded this year, with crafts for children and adults during the day in a new pop-up venue, the ‘Ice Cube’, to be constructed near the historic Flour Shed building. By evening, the Ice Cube will become the coolest place to be for comedy, cabaret and live music.

The great fully fenced Harts Mill Playground is right beside the festival.

WinterFest Pt Adelaide Ticket Costs

Adults (14 & Up) $14
Child (Up to 13) $8.50
Family (2 Adults & 2 Children, or 1 Adult & 3 Children) $35
Skating Aid Penguin $5
Toboggan Slide (3 slides valid for any session) $11.25

Tickets include skate hire and 45 minute ice rink session

Ice Arena | 23 James Congdon Dr, Adelaide

As well as the three pop-up ice skating rinks, don’t forget there’s also the good old Ice Arena – the permanent indoor one which has the biggest ice skating surface in Adelaide. They have Christmas in July activities planned for the school holidays. See the Ice Arena Facebook Page for updates. Here your ticket price will get you unlimited time on the ice.

Ice Arena Adelaide – photo from Facebook page

Ice Arena Ticket Costs

Ticket costs including skate hire and unlimited skating time.

Adults $20
Students $18
Children $16 (Ages 4 to 15 yrs)
Children aged 3 yrs & under FREE Entry
Family Groups $64 (2 Adults & 2 Children or 1 Adult & 3 Children)
Groups of 10+ $14 per person
Groups of 20+ $12 per person

READ OUR ICE SKATING TIPS – GUIDE FOR FAMILIES HERE

At Play & Go Adelaide we make every effort to provide accurate information to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We recommend confirming times, dates and details directly before making any plans as details may be subject to change.

Image Source: Photos by Play & Go unless specified

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