My daughter and I recently attended an event at Ice Zoo to try our hand at ice skating. Comparatively, it’s one of the nicest ice rinks I’ve been to in the Southern Hemisphere.

Ice Zoo aside, ice skating with kids always scares me in advance, especially with my daughter. She thinks she’s awesome at it and I know we’re both really bad and borderline dangerous. Thankfully, at Ice Zoo, there were people on hand to help us from injuring ourselves or each other.

Next to the physicalities of iceskating the hardest part about visiting Ice Zoo is trying to find it. I’ll deal with that first, the location and those type of logistics you need to know about to get there.

Top tip: before you go, check out Groupon, you can sometimes get discounts for Ice Zoo.

Top Tip: Like with most great places in Sydney, it’s definitely best to go during the week. You’ll find it’s more pleasant inside and you’ll get a parking at Ice Zoo too.

Where is Ice Zoo?

Location

Ice Zoo is on the border of Newton and Marrickville but I think it’s more Alexandria and Mascot. Either way, it’s South of the City, near the airport.

The fact that it is in Newton, Marrickville, Alexandria or Mascot is the first issue because the web says Alexandria but my GPS insisted it was Mascot. So try either of those before giving up. Or maybe try the post code below if your GPS lets you do that.

Had I known how close it is to Ikea Tempe, I would have popped in for a visit!!

The actual address

The actual address is 689 Gardeners Road, Alexandria, NSW, 2015.

Trying to find it once you’re in Alexandria

The second issue in trying to find Ice Zoo is where the building is. While the address says Gardeners Road, when you’re on that road, you’re going to get confused. DO NOT FOLLOW THE BEND. Go right when you see the bend.

The only way I found this was because there was a flashing road sign that I happened to notice (which I otherwise would not have read) that said Ice Zoo Right.

The below map makes things a lot easier.

Parking

There is parking on site but I imagine that Ice Zoo gets very very busy on the weekends so you may have to scout out some other parking close by or look at public transport options.

Ice Zoo Features

There are quite a number of things available, other than just ice skating but we’ll start there.

What’s on offer

1. Ice Skating

There is general ice skating and then Cheap Skate skating.

There are different sessions throughout the day so check their timetable to see what time slots are available.

The Cheap Skate sessions are often in the evenings and only really once or twice a week.

2. Snow play.

On a Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 11am to 12:30pm the kids can get stuck into snow play! How much fun!!!

This activity is not open on Public Holidays.

This activity is available during School Term and sometimes during School Holidays. You need to check their website or Facebook Page though.

I am definitely taking the kids to do this.

Snow play is $15 per child. And 1 adult per child is allowed in that admission price.

3. Special Events

It seems like there is always something going on. And some of them are just crazy. Disco on Ice is pretty normal but Bumper Cars on Ice…

4. Learning to Ice Skate for children and adults.

Children as young as 3 can learn to skate at the Skate Academy. The Skate Academy runs at the same time as school term on Monday and Friday nights and Saturday mornings.

There are various levels at Skate Academy and you can be assessed to move up the level.

You buy lesson passes, starting from 5 lessons for $160 and then 10 lessons for $260. You can also just get a casual or introductory lesson for $30.

5. Ice Hockey

If your son or daughter is interested in trying out ice hockey. Ice Zoo also has some training sessions for varying levels:

• Stick & Puck Hockey Development
• In House Ice Hockey Development 

Facilities

Bathrooms

There are bathrooms upstairs just next to the rink but maybe try the ones downstairs. They’re less cold.

Cafe

We really enjoyed the cafe when we visited last. Hot chocolate with muffins – what more could you want after being on the ice?

Top tip: The cafe is upstairs so just make sure you have your warm stuff with you!

You can get a warm meal, think burger or chicken nuggets and even a glass of wine from the fully licensed cafe.

Logistics

Opening Hours and Times

Ice Zoo is open 7 days a week. Phew! From 7:17 in the morning but that’s not when the activities are really happening. There are times when it is closed to the public. Please check out their timetable HERE.

The special activities listed above are at set times.

During the week, general Public Skating generally starts between 9am and 10am until midday or early afternoon.

On the weekends there is more skating sessions open from 10am to about 5:30pm.

Cost

You will have to pay an entrance fee and then a skate hire fee.

	Toddler (2 – 4 yrs)	Child (5 – 15 yrs)	Adult (6 yrs +)	Concession & Pensioner	Family
General Skating & Disco on Ice	$10	$18	$20	$18	$65
Cheap Skate	$8	$13	$15	$13	$48

A family is for 2 adults and 2 children or 1 adult and 3 children.

Skate hire is $4 per person and Penguin Hire is $8.

Top tip: if you haven’t skated in a while and you’re skating with a child – get the penguin!!! It will save you from falling over onto your own child.

How to dress for Skating

• Thick, thick socks! Thick.
• A big warm jacket. They say it gets cold at the Ice Rink, and it really really does. It’s freezing on the ice. I was taken aback.
• A warm hat.
• Gloves.

How to dress for Snow Play

• Waterproof pants. If not waterproof then absorbent fabric.
• A big thick jacket
• Water resistant boots.
• Gloves
• A hat. A warm woolly beanie.

Also a change of clothes in case your little one does get wet.

♦