Aardwolfs Natural Ice Reports
11.28 pm 28th June 2015

DISCLAIMER:

These reports are based on: phone calls, emails, trips to the ice, lakes and ponds.

Please NOTE that YOU SKATE AT YOUR OWN RISK and these reports only give you an idea of what to expect when you arrive. Conditions can change very quickly in the mountains and though we make every effort to keep these reports current in season, please be careful when skating.

Remember: ICE SKATING on NATURAL ICE can be dangerous.
Make the effort to go you wont regret it!!!!!!!
We RECOMMEND always having a means of retrieving people who may fall through the ice.

Having a tow rope on hand works well for this. More Safety Tips

PLEASE HELP US TELL YOU WHAT IT'S LIKE ON THE ICE

If you have been to the Ice Recently, Please send me a report:
Ph: 03 3238293, Mob for Txt :0274504399 or Email clive.m48@gmail.com ,
This allows everyone to benefit from your experience and may encourage new people to enjoy Ice Skating.
Remember to hit the REFRESH button for the latest version of this page.

Clive's Ice Skating List
Want to be added to Clive's Ice Skating list. Email me with "Opt In" in the title line. when we get a few days notice of good conditions I email  telling you when and where we are going.

 Weather information
Recent Rain Radar
High Country Met Service Forecast
Met Service 7day Mt-Olympus
 Arthur's Pass Weather
 Castle Hill Weather
Methvan Weather (from www.findu.com)
Haketere Weather by Weather Underground
Snow Forecast High Country
SouthwestPacific 180hr Forecast
SouthWestPacific Marine Weather
Alexandra Accuweather.com
Met Service 10 day Forecast for Alexandra

Videos of Natural
Ice Skating: YouTube
 Aardwolfs: here
Joe's: here
Glens: here

Natural Ice Reports
from Southern NZ:
 chipofftheiceblock

NZ Map of
Ice Skating Locations
Access Information Photos and Videos

South Island
Mt Lyford:
Lake Stella, Photos
Mt Lyford Holiday Homes Rink Photos
Arthur's Pass:
Lake Lyndon, Photos
 Red Lake East and Red Lake West, Photos
Glenthorne Station:
 Lake Ida, Photos
Lake Self, Photos
Lake Evelyn, Photos
Lake Clearwater:
 Lake Camp and Clearwater, Photos
Lake Ohau:
 Lake Middleton, Photos
Lake Pukaki:
 Pukaki Overflow Spillway, Photos
Pukaki:
 Holbrook Pond, Photos
Tekapo:
 Paterson's Ponds, Photos
Naseby:
 Coal Pit Dam, Photos
Horseshoe Lake, Photos
Hoffman's Dam, Photos
St Bathans
The Blue Lake, Photos
Wanaka:
 Diamond Lake, Photos
Oturehua:
 Idaburn Dam, Photos
Poolburn Dam Photos
Mathias Dam Photos
Eweburn Dam Photos
Alexandra:
Lower Manorburn Dam, Photos
Butchers Dam, Photos
Mount Cook:
Godley Glacier Lake, Photos
Tasman Glacier, Photos
Hooker Lake, Photos
Current Ice Rinks Outside
Stavely:
Staveley (Natural Ice), Photos
Fairlie:
 Fairile Ice Rink (Natural Ice), Photos
Mt Cheeseman:
Mt Cheeseman (Natural Ice), Photos
Tekapo:
Lake Tekapo Photos
 Naseby:
 Maniototo Ice Rink
Alexandra:
Alexandra Ice Rink Photos
Cardrona
Southern Hemisphere Proving Grounds

Current Ice Rinks Inside
Christchurch:
Alpine Ice Sports Centre
Dunedin:
Dunedin Ice Stadium
Gore:
Gore Ice Skating Rink
Queenstown:
Queenstown Ice Rink

Old Ice Rinks No Longer In Use
 If you have any old photos, movies or information on Ice skating in NZ we would really appreciate your assistance in building this historical resource. Please contact us.

Christchurch
Centaurus Ice Rink
Alpine Ice Rink (Papanui)
Hororata
Hororata Domain Rink
Timaru
Timaru Ice Rink
Dunedin
The Big Chill
 Albury
Opawa Homestead
Arrowtown
Arrowtown Ice Rink
Queenstown
Bush Creek
Rum Gully
Downey's Dam
Queenstown Hill
Early Queenstown Rinks
Garston Ice Rink
Alexandra
Early Alexandra Rinks
Mt Harper
Mt Harper Ice Rink
Tekapo
Early Tekapo Rinks
Central Otago
Irishman's Creek
Synthetic Ice Outside
Wanaka
 Invercargill
Glace Ice Rink
North Island
Auckland:
Paradice Ice Skating Rinks Botany Downs and Avondale

NI Ice Rinks No Longer In Use
Hamilton
Hamilton Ice Rink
Wellington
Ice Palace
See older Photos on the Photos Pages for the individual locations for Ice Skating.
 
Natural Ice Reports for 2015
Skate Hire: Clive 033238293: 0274504399 SGI Ice Skate Services
Looking for a ride Skating or have a spare seat. Check out: this Facebook page.
Saturday 27th June 10.05pm: Lake Sarah
 From Fred van Slooten by email
Good ice on Lake Sarah

Lots of ice on Lake Sarah Photo by Fred van Slooten
Sunday 28th June 4.45pm: Maori Lakes
 From Alan Knowles by email
Perfect smooth melt water ice.

Skating today on the Maori Lakes Photo by Alan Knowles
Sunday 28th June 4.45pm: Lake Heron
 From Alan Knowles by email
Lake Heron mostly open water

Beautiful backdrop to Lake Heron, Photo by Alan Knowles
Sunday 28th June 4.45pm: Lake Clearwater
 From Alan Knowles by email
The Lake is still locked up but the surface is soft in the Westerly.

Soft snow ice with wind channels on Clearwater today.
Photo by Alan Knowles.
Sunday 28th June 4.45pm: Mueller Glacier Terminal Lake
 From Dave Patchett by email
Skated the length of Mueller Glacier terminal lake today. 10-15 cm of snow ice maybe more. Smooth but at the cost of a wet top. Open water in a number of places giving the wind some purchase. Skiffs of rain blown by strong winds are likely to soften the surface and break it up pretty quickly. Access is by Kea Point track from the Hermitage across snow for about an hour as the road to the campsite is closed.
 Mueller Glacier terminal lake, Photo by7 Dave Patchett

 Nice Ice !!!! with a wet cover. Photo by Dave Patchett
Sunday 28th June 4.34pm: Lake Evelyn
 From Aaron Savage by Facebook
Went to Evelyn today, most of the lake frozen, amazing fast clean ice. We left about 12.30pm as the NW wind had come up and a thin layer of water formed over the whole lake.

Morning skate on Lake Evelyn before the NW hit.
Photo by Aaron Savage.
Saturday 27th June 1.50pm: Manorburn Dam
 From Andrea and Janos Kaszala by Facebook
A wet, fast skate on the middle basin of the Lower Manorburn Dam

Stunning day on Manorburn, Photo by Andrea Kaszala
Saturday 27th June 8.51pm: Lake Clearwater and Camp
 From Alan Knowles by email
Both Lakes Clearwater and Camp are locked up with ice and no open water. Ice thickness measured between 130mm to 170mm.Snowfall of 20mm on Friday night on 10mm of slush to give us a rough 'polystyrene' slow ice to skate. Longitudinal depressions running down the lake with melt water from Friday froze into harder faster ice. Strong westerly at 5pm was ablating the roughness. Lake Camp was similar but easier and faster ice. Temp at 8 p.m. +2deg, westerly wind 50% clear sky.

 Exploring Clearwater with rough snow ice.  Photo by Alan Knowles
Saturday 27th June 8.50pm: Coalpit Dam
 From Dave Young off his blog: chipofftheiceblock
Locked in with snow ice. Bumpy surface- a thaw will smooth off. Snow on the track, you may need chains on a 2WD
Saturday 27th June 8.50pm: Idaburn Dam
 From Dave Young off his blog: chipofftheiceblock
Plenty of ice up to the dam. Snow affected and bumpy but smooth round the edges

Dave Young and Dave Patchett on Idaburn,
Dam Photo by Dave Young
Saturday 27th June 6.25 pm: Poolburn Dam
 From Dave Young off his blog: chipofftheiceblock
Good thickness over most of the dam but a rough surface. A thaw or wind will change the ice quickly. A lot of snow on the track. Just OK with a 4WD. Will need chains if any more snow.

Looking over Poolburn after an interesting drive!. 
Photo by Dave Young
Saturday 27th June 6.10pm: Lake Evelyn
 From Matt Skinner and Jamie Gilliam by Facebook and txt
Great skate on Evelyn today, ice was firm and fast, about 100 mm of snow ice freshly frozen to give a good surface. The forecast NW didn't happen and there was only slight softening with the sun on the ice. It goes to show that the only way to find out what the ice is like is to go...:)

Hockey in the Sun on Lake Evelyn,  Photo by Matt Skinner.

 Lots of Ice on Evelyn, Photo by Matt Skinner.
Saturday 27th June 11.42am: Lake Lyndon
 From Aaron Savage by Facebook
Just been to Lyndon, heaps of new snow, not really good to skate on, a few bare patches with layers of ice, but can crack open with water between the  layers of ice.

New snow mixed with water and some ice Photo by Aaron Savage
Saturday 27th June 9.00am: Staveley Ice Rink
 From the Staveley Ice Rink Facebook Page
Open today!
Wednesday's 7-9.30pm
Saturday's 1-5pm, 7-10pm
Sunday's 1-5pm
School Holidays 1-5pm everyday.

 Staveley Ice Rink on opening day 2015. Photo by Emily Gibb
Friday 26th June 10.00 pm: Fairlie Ice Rink
From Brigid Hooker by Facebook
The Fairlie Ice Rink will be open tomorrow morning from 9am till 12pm.
Cost will be - Students/children $2 plus $2 skate hire,
Adults $4 plus $4 skate hire.
Season pass Students/children $10, Adults $20 and family $30.
Come on down and if you have your own skates please bring them as some sizes are limited numbers.
If anyone would like to help out with opening on Sunday morning (weather dependent) let Kiri Bishop know. Thanks
At this stage we are unable to open in the evenings but that should change next week.

Skating at the Fairlie Ice Rink today.   Photo by Sandra Lambert
Friday 26th June 6.25 pm: Manorburn Dam
 From Dave Young off his blog: chipofftheiceblock
Lower Manorburn:  Very good ice all over the middle basin.  The Lower basin is ok near the pier. The Gorge is thin at the dam end (beware - avoid..).  The Upper basin has good ice up until the rough ice. Note: The Middle basin should last a bit but warmer temps and rain over the next few days will change things fast... so check carefully..

Looking out of the Gorge to the dam. Photo by Dave Young
Friday 26th June 6.30 pm: Hororata
From Ashleigh Davidson by Phone
Hororata Ice Skating rink has 25mm of ice but still not enough (located in the Hororata Domain)

Ron at the Hororata Ice Rink     Photo by Ashleigh Davidson.
Friday 26th June 6.30 pm: Lake Lyndon
From Ron James by Phone
Lyndon's surface is now pavlova with an air temperature of 9 degrees and a NW wind blowing, forecast for tomorrow is NW 40 knots.

Showing the melt at Lyndon tonight. Photo by Ashleigh Davidson
Friday 26th June 6.30 pm: Lake Evelyn
From Ron James by Phone
Lake Evelyn has snow ice on the surface today it was ok for a skate, but thawing in the warm temperatures. Access to the lake was from the far side from the road at the West end of the lake. if the NW continues there will be no skating over the weekend

Ash on Evelyn with lots of snow on the surface.
Photo by Ashleigh Davidson.
Friday 26th June 6.30 pm: Lake Georgina
 From Ron James by Phone
Lots of ice just not thick enough....

Black ice but not enough on  Georgina, 
Photo by Ashleigh Davidson  
Friday 26th June 12.07 am: Lake Lyndon
From Clive Murphie
Great skate at Lake Lyndon last night, though the wind turned a little cool later on. about 25 people made the trip for some good ice with snow starting to form small drifts on top 100-120mm of strong snow ice.
Reports are coming in this (Friday) morning of very warm N/W winds in the area.

 A cheeky wee skate at Lake Lyndon, Photo by Richard John Craig
Thursday 25th June 8.04 pm: Coalpit Dam
 From Dave Young off his blog: chipofftheiceblock
The whole area is locked in with around 60mm of a mixture of snow and black ice. Hard but bumpy and will improve with a slight thaw. Snow on the track in, but passable.

The best Ice there is.......  Photo by Dave Young
Thursday 25th June 4.18 pm: Idaburn Dam
 From Dave Young off his blog: chipofftheiceblock
Whole Dam is frozen in with up to 80mm of black ice. Snow affected beside the Dam and at the hut, but the rest is smooth and fast.

Looking back up the Idaburn gorge,   Photo by Dave Young
Thursday 25th June 11.10am: Lake Lyndon Tonight
 From Clive Murphie
An Email has gone out to my Natural Skating List, heading to Lake Lyndon tonight for a night skate, reports of very good skating last night with a -11 frost up there overnight......the weather is due to change over the weekend, the ice may not last......see you at Lake Lyndon tonight.
Thursday 25th June 9.11am: Lake Lyndon
 From Fred van Slooten by txt
Great Skating on Lyndon last night. Most of the Lake skatable. Some more black ice will be skatable tonight. -11 frost at Cass last night.
Thursday 25th June 5.07pm: Lake Georgina
 From John Nelson via Facebook
Thursday 25th June 5.07pm: Lake Lyndon 
From John Nelson via Facebook

Lyndon showing snowmelt form the hills melting the ice

The inlet for Lyndon  Photos by John Nelson
Thursday 25th June 7.00am: Staveley Ice Rink
 From the Staveley Ice Rink Facebook Page
Staveley Ice Rink will be opening this Saturday times and prices should be on their Facebook Page.
Wednesday 24th June 10.07am: Lake Lyndon 
From John Nelson via Facebook
25/06/15 Editors Note: Check out the differences between this and the photos posted a few days ago, shows how much and how quickly things can change in the high country, this is probably severe wind damage, creating waves and breaking the ice, the good news is the bits that look like water are now frozen and great to skate, Black ice.
Updated 26/06/15 Talking to the locals they were saying the dark patches are probably snow melt run off from the hills, initially melting the ice and then re freezing overnight.

Lyndon from the North     Photo John Nelson

Snow melt running on to the Ice   Photo by John Nelson

What wind waves do to the ice.     Photo by John Nelson
Wednesday 24th June 4.00pm: Lake Clearwater and Lake Camp  From Clive Murphie
Wonderful skate at Lake Camp and Lake Clearwater today, bright sunshine about 120mm of snow ice that had a reasonably good surface, the whole of both lakes are frozen. with parking on the main road above the township its a short walk to either Lake. It was so good another group of us went back for a night skate.

Sydney showing off the vast expanse of Lake Clearwater
Photo Stephanie Reeves

So what are ordinary people doing today? 
Photo by Stephanie Reeves

Me about to enjoy the acres of Ice at Clearwater
Photo by Georgia Ashleigh
Wednesday 224th June 4.18 pm: Mahinerangi
 From Dave Young off his blog: chipofftheiceblock
Ice report:  Managed to fit in an early morning skate after 2 days of frost.  Only had time to go local so headed to Mahinerangi.  Found ice in a couple ponds near the lake - just borderline for a skate but found thicker black ice in the enclosure.  The enclosure is a dangerous place to skate normally (need very careful testing) and I don't really recommend it as the ice comes and goes quickly. It is affected fast by the weather and day temperatures.  A chancy place to skate. 
Wednesday 224th June 4.18 pm: Manorburn Dam
 From Dave Young off his blog: chipofftheiceblock
I heard last night (Tuesday) that Rushcutters Bay is skatable and should be even better after this mornings frost
Tuesday 23rd June 5.22pm: Lake Lyndon
 From Warren McKie via email and Fred van Slooten by Phone
Conditions on Lyndon today were crusty round the edges with some good patches for skating further out, some open water still, with another good frost tonight it should be excellent tomorrow. Today 80mm of Ice plus snow ice.
 
Lake Lyndon and a stunning day. Photo by Warren McKie
Tuesday 23rd June 4.00pm: Ashburton Lakes, Clearwater, Camp, Emma and Roundabout  From John Nelson via Facebook

Lake Clearwater, -10+ frosts last night      Photo by John Nelson

Lake Camp and Clearwater and snow!!!    Photo by John Nelson

Lake Camp and the township of Clearwater Photo by John Nelson

Lake Emma (large) and Lake Roundabout (small)
Photo by John Nelson.
Tuesday 23rd June 2.40pm: Staveley Ice Rink
 From the Staveley Ice Rink Facebook Page
Opening may be on Saturday June 27th
The snow is very deep at the rink, the tracks and car park need to be cleared of snow. Many trees and branches are down and there is a lot of work to be done to make it safe for all.
The ice is good but the community just needs a few more days to get the work done. Watch our page for updates. We are doing our best.
Monday 22nd June 10.40pm: Lake Evelyn
 From John Nelson via Facebook

Lake Evelyn frozen all over with a couple of pressure cracks showing.  Photo by John Nelson
Monday 22nd June 4.33pm: Lake Lyndon
 From John Nelson via Facebook

Lake Lyndon from the air showing some wet patches on the Lake
Photo by John Nelson
Monday 22nd June 3.22pm: Lake Ida
 From John Nelson via Facebook

From Little Lake Ida end.     Photo by John Nelson

Lake Ida almost fully frozen covered in snow.
Awesome aerial photo by John Nelson
Sunday 21st June 5.55 pm: Coalpit Dam
 From Dave Young off his blog: chipofftheiceblock
Thin ice covered by thicker snow ice. Still a way off skating. Some snow on the track in.

Coalpit Dam snow ice, more frosts needed. Photo by Dave Young
Sunday 21st June 5.55 pm: Idaburn Dam
 From Dave Young off his blog: chipofftheiceblock
Mostly water, a skim of ice around the hut edge.
Sunday 21st June 5.55 pm: Poolburn Dam
 From Dave Young off his blog: chipofftheiceblock
Covered in 20-40mm of snow affected ice, lots of air in the ice, making it weak. Some edge bits skatable if you are early and take care. The track needs 4WD (and maybe chains) due to snow drifts
Sunday 21st June 8.05pm: Lake Lyndon
 From Fred van Slooten in person
Lyndon had about 20mm of ice with snow on top today, the snow was melting to give a reasonable surface. With a few more frosts it will be skatable, more snow will ruin it.
Snow on the Ice at Lyndon, More frosts required.
Photo by Warren McKie
Saturday 20th June 9.10pm: Lake Lyndon
 From Chris Lynch's Facebook Page

Lake Lyndon Today, Photo by Aimee Knowler
Tuesday 10th June 9.02pm: Lake Clearwater and Lake Camp
 From Alan Knowles by email
Hello Skaters, 
In case you didn’t know, there is a weather station at Haketere Corner that should be showing us big negative numbers any time soon.
 Haketere Weather - Personal Weather Station- ICANTERB260 by Wunderground.com - Weather Underground
Saturday 6th June 6.55 pm: Lower Manorburn Dam
 From Dave Young off his blog: chipofftheiceblock
Ice Report:  Skatable ice in Rush Cutters corner 60mm going out to 30mm (approx). Cracking as the day warmed up.  10mm over rest of main basin and lover basin.  Won't last unless we get more frost...

A Stunning day at Lower Manorburn to start the Season,
Photo by Dave Young
Thursday 3rd June 9.02pm: Little Lake Ida
 From Mike Day by email
I was at Lake Ida on Thursday 28 May with our  tramping group and measured the ice on the "enclosure" at 5cm in a  number of places but there was thinner ice near the stream through  the middle - arising from where the causeway has been breached. The ice was black, however I did not skate as it was not safe through the middle of the enclosure. The ice on the main lake was small in area and I measured 3.5cm near the edge I was told the whole of Little Lake Ida was frozen and from the descriptions of the thickness and firmness of the ice, and what I measured in the enclosure, there must have been 7cm of black ice on the little lake. My pick is the NW winds of the last week would not have a great effect on the little lake and it will be freezing tonight (Thurs 4/6) and tomorrow so should be comfortably thick enough on Saturday. My one concern is whether or not snow has affected the smoothness of the surface. The other issue is that it would be a 45 - 60 minute walk along the DOC track to the Little Lake from the Harper Rd car park.
Saturday 30th May 7.22pm: Lake Evelyn
 From Clive Murphie
About 1/5 of Lake Evelyn was frozen today, about 30-40mm of softening Black Ice, there may have been good ice out in the middle but softening edges made it impossible to find out, NW winds and warm temps mean that this ice will probably be gone tomorrow.
Saturday 30th May 7.22pm: Red Lakes East
 From Clive Murphie
At Red Lakes East today for our first skate of the season we managed to find the most amazing, see through, Natural Ice that I have ever seen and skated on, it was ....."freaky" The 50mm of Black Ice softened rapidly only allowing us about an hour skate (and a swim!!!)

When is it ice......and when is it water???? Video by Clive Murphie
Friday 29th May 8.41pm: Cass/Fred's Place
 From Fred van Slooten by Phone
We had our first skate on the pond at our batch at Cass

Karl and Nathan Late Friday: Photo by Fred van Slooten
Friday 29th May 8.41pm: Lake Lyndon
 From Fred van Slooten by Phone
Lake Lyndon has a small amount of ice both ends, not enough to skate on, though Fred can claim first ice for year, with skates on standing on the ice...:)
Friday 29th May 6.25pm: Staveley Ice Rink
 From the Staveley Ice Rink Facebook Page
ICE UPDATE-May 29th 2015:
Hi Everyone. Minus 6C in Staveley this morning. There is currently 1.5 inches of ice on the rinks and we will open when the Ice is 4 inches thick.....Things are shaping up well and we will keep you in the loop via this page (Staveley Ice Rink Facebook Page)

Archives: 2015 Friday 29th May-Sunday 28th June
Other Places to visit for Skating Videos and Photos
Aardwolfs You Tube site: here
Joe's You Tube site: here
Glens You Tube site: here
David Young's Blog: here
Ryan Hellyer's Homepages: here
Archives
2015 Friday 29th May-Sunday 28th June
2014 Monday 26th May-Tuesday 9th September
2013 Monday 22nd April-Tuesday 16th July
 2012 (3) Wednesday 18th July to Tuesday 7th August 
2012 (2) Sunday 30th June to Tuesday 17th July
 2012 Sunday 28th April to Sunday 24th June
 2011 (2) Monday 1st August to Tuesday 23rd August
2011 Saturday 4th June to Sunday 31st July
2010(3)Wednesday 14th July to Wednesday 11th August
2010(2)Wednesday 8th July to Tuesday 13th July
2010Saturday 29th May to Wednesday 7th July
2009(3)Thursday 9th July to Saturday 15th August
 2009(2)Tuesday 30th June to Tuesday 8th July
2009 Sunday 6th June to Saturday 28th June
2008 Saturday 31st May to Sunday 27th July
See older Photos on the Photos Pages
 for the individual locations for Ice Skating.
Some of the events above may have no  association with the Aardwolfs Ice Hockey Club.
All graphics and written material (c) Aardwolfs Ice Hockey Club 2004