Not usually, unless you’re bringing a group of 10 or more. Special conditions may apply for special events etc

We have staff on the ice to assist beginners at all weekend and evening sessions. We recommend beginners channel their inner penguin; arms out for balance, slight bend in the knees, toes pointing outwards, gently rocking your weight side to side.

Head protection must be worn by all skaters. Helmets provide the best form of protection, but no head protection guarantees complete protection from head injury.

Helmets are available free of charge, or you can bring your own from home!

Skaters aged 14 years and older may choose to wear a Forcefield Headband or Ice Halo as an alternate form of head protection. These devices comply with hockey helmet testing standards for front, side and back of the head impact. The head protection branding must be clearly visible when used. In wearing a headband or ice halo, the skater confirms that they meet the minimum age requirement of 14 years. Please do not be offended if staff request verification of your age or proof that the device is compliant with our Head Protection policy.

Yes we do – we have a limited number of Polar Bear skater aides, as well as a number of ‘blue ‘Skate Helpers.’ Both are perfect for children.

The Skate Helpers are like a zimmer frame, designed to be help and pushed. The will not teach you to skate, but they will help you find balance.

Our new Polar Bear skater aides are perfect for families with smaller children and have a seat on the front.

You can also check in with our staff for basic tips and pointers.

No sorry, you must wear skates when entering the ice surface, it is very slippery!

Yes, Alpine has a free to access wireless hot spot. Due to the size of our venue the best coverage is at the cafe.

Yes – prams and wheelchairs are welcome on the ice at no charge, subject to space availability, check with the staff on the day. Wheelchairs/prams must be accompanied by a paying customer at all times on the ice. We require prams/wheel chairs to be pushed by a parent or caregiver (please no children pushing). Due to Health and Safety considerations self propelled mobility chairs are not permitted on the ice.

Alpine has a well-stocked cafe and bar on site so please do not bring food into the facility. Birthday cakes are always welcome however.

Non-skating supervising parents/caregivers enter free of charge at all sessions. Other non-skating spectators are charged $10 at night sessions only.

No – you can arrive anytime during the advertised opening time, however when we reach the end of the session all skaters are required to exit the ice.

We recommend skating is best for ages 3+

By this age most children have developed basic motor skills, balance and co-ordination.

Our general admission with skate hire rate includes a pair of our rental ice skates. You can also upgrade your rental skates to premium rental skates for $5.00 extra (total entry with premium skates is $22.00).

Our smallest rental skates are equivalent to a US toddler size 5, this would be a small fit for most children aged 18 months plus.

Our rental skates go all the way up to UK size 14, equivalent to US 15.5.

1300 pairs from children’s size 6 to adult’s size 14.

Yes – these are available year round for Public Sessions, Learn to Skate and the Proshop. Please send us an enquiry.

Yes we certainly do! Entry level hockey skates start from just $165 and entry level white figure skates from $299.

Contact us for a proshop appointment, email: proshop@alpineice.co.nz

The entire area of the ice surface is 26 metres by 56 meters, and the ice is 10 centimetres thick.

The ice is usually clear, so we apply paint under the ice to make it appear white and then we use paper on top of the paint to add the lines and dots used for speed skating and ice hockey. Ice is then formed over the top of these.

1 cubic metre of ice weighs a tonne, so the whole ice sheet would be about 150 tonnes.

The ice takes roughly 5-10 minutes to completely freeze after each grooming.

We use a special machine called an ice resurfacer to clean and refresh the ice between sessions. It glides over the rink in a circular pattern, shaving off the rough top layer and replacing it with a thin layer of warm water, which quickly freezes into a smooth new surface.

Skating naturally creates grooves and rough patches, so resurfacing helps keep things safe and enjoyable for everyone.

We also trim the edges by hand where the machine can’t reach, making sure the entire rink stays in top shape.

The ice resurfacer moves at about 20km per hour, and it’s not hard to drive, but it does require specialised training and a good understanding of how the ice surface is maintained.

The ice resurfacer is driven in a circle to avoid having to turn around, it’s not easy to turn it around!

Around 30 people, including part-timers, DJs and coaches work at Alpine Ice. There are usually around 5 – 12 staff working at a public session depending on how busy it is.