Aardwolfs Natural Ice Reports
1.30am 4th August  2018

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 2018
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 4th August 8.15pm: Cheeseman Rink
 From Lehi Oliver by email
Cheeseman on Saturday: the ice is very thick at the far end, mud had been tracked over the ice, Some of the ice had been cleared but a lot had been left by the edges which has frozen. The ice became too soft to skate around lunch time.

Cheeseman cleared of Mud and snow, Photo Lehi Oliver.
Friday 27th July 8.48pm: Cheeseman Rink
 From Ben Aynsley by email
Ice is great at Cheeseman Rink at the moment, thick base and running keen, West Coast Curling Club

Some snow ice at the Cheeseman Rink Photo by Ben Aynsley
Friday 20th July 10.44pm: Lower Manorburn Dam
 From Alan Knowles, by email
Great Skating at Lower Manorburn until 1.30pm, Rushcutters 60mm, Main Basin 50mm, thickening to 60mm, 100mts towards the Upper Basin, where there was gorgeous black ice.
Wednesday 18th July 8.00pm: Lower Manorburn Dam
 From Dave Young, From the Natural Ice Otago Facebook Page
Good skating in Rushcutters Corner (middle basin) this morning. Should be OK tomorrow if there is a frost.
Wednesday 18th July 4.31pm: Lake Clearwater and Camp
 From Alan Knowles, by email
.-5.6 last night. Ice too thin at Clearwater lakes but forming well on East Lake Camp.
Wednesday 18th July 10.00am: Lake Murray, Tekapo
 From Brigid Hooker, From the Alpine Ice Rink Wed Retro Regulars and Natural Ice Skaters NZ Facebook Page
Lake Murray has ice but not totally frozen and not thick enough for humans.

Lake Murray 15 July 2018 Photo by Brigid Hooker
Tuesday 17th July 12.00pm: Lower Manorburn Dam
 From L Chambers, From the Natural Ice Otago Facebook Page
Lower Manorburn Dam Rushcutters Bay has 40mm of ice this morning.
30mm in the Main Basin, so a bit more frost and its game on.

Rushcutters Bay with 40mm of Ice Photo by Lyndon Chambers
Sunday 15th July 8.01pm: Little Lake Ida and Area
 From Jason Dodd, by email
Sat 14th July, Little Lake Ida and the hockey rink are frozen. There is a  very thin sheet of ice about 20 mts from the shore on the main lake. I think it needs a good dump of snow to keep the temperature down during the day as it was pretty mild on Saturday.

Skating the Hockey Rink at Lake Ida Photo  by Jason Dodd
Saturday 7th July 2.34pm: Lake Surprise
 From Alan Knowles, by email
On Wed 4th July there was 8cm of hard snow ice on Lake Surprise. on Thursday we walked to Upper Tama Lake, to find it covered with only 1 cm of ice. we skated a tarn on the way out.

Wilf Dickerson skating on Lake Surprise  Photo by Alan Knowles

A tarn with Mt Ruapehu behind. Photo by Alan Knowles
Saturday 30th June 9.50pm: Poolburn Dam
 From Dave Young, from his blog: chipofftheiceblock
Some ice still in the main bay but affected by wind and snow. Variable thickness. Needs care if going out from shore. Track Gnarly
Saturday 30th June 9.50pm: Idaburn Dam
 From Dave Young, from his blog: chipofftheiceblock
Swimming time!!!
Saturday 30th June 9.50pm: Lower Manorburn Dam
 From Dave Young, from his blog: chipofftheiceblock
Fresh Ice in the main basin but not thick enough yet.
Saturday 30th June 7.20pm: Lake Ida
From  Clive Murphie
Not a bad day at the office for 13 skaters today....Half of Lake Ida was frozen with 50-60mm of good ice. Track in was a slippery tramp with plenty of ice and mud. The NW wind turned up as we arrived back at the car.

Are we having fun yet!!!! Photo by Clive Murphie

Plenty of room for everyone......Photo by Clive Murphie
Friday 29th June 9.16pm: Lake Ida
From  Jerome and Alizee by email
We went to Lake Ida today, ice was not thick enough on the main Lake but perfect on Little Lake Ida (maybe 70mm, we didn't hear any cracking) and also good on the Hockey Rink

Looking West on Lake Ida Photo by Jerome and Alizee

The Hockey Rink, Photo by Jerome and Alizee

Perfect Ice on Little Lake Ida Photo by Jerome and Alizee
Friday 29th June 6.10pm: Lake Evelyn
From  Clive Murphie
A couple of us skated the East end of Lake Evelyn today!! About 3/4 of the lake is frozen with about 30mm of good black ice, not enough to skate on and still a couple of good frosts away. The East end has a band of about 20mts x 80mt of 65mm ice in the rushes. Good fun to skate in. Access on to the ice was park in the Ida Walk, car park and  find the east edge of the lake......be very carful as the new ice is nowhere near as strong as the old ice we skated on. Remember to always have a method of recovering someone who falls through.

Chris skating the reeds at Evelyn Video by Clive Murphie 
Friday 29th June 6.10pm: Red Lakes East
From  Clive Murphie
Walked in to the Red Lakes today, plenty of ice just not quite enough to skate...40mm of good black ice, enough to walk on but not quite strong enough for a skate. 2 medium frosts or one good frost required. NW due late tomorrow.

Not enough Ice at Red Lakes today Video by Clive Murphie 
Thursday 28th June 1.15pm: Lake Lyndon
From Matt Talbot by Facebook  Post
Lake Lyndon intake/overflow. Approx 20mm thick Ice 28/6/18

A perfect day at Lake Lyndon Photo by Matt Talbot
Sunday 24th June 1.10pm: Lake Ida
From  Llewellyn Thomas by email
Got to Ida yesterday, ice was pretty suspect, held me at 83kg, but didn't push my luck for long. No dips thankfully.
Saturday 23 June 10.49pm: Cheeseman Rink
 From Ella Williams by Facebook
Skated Cheeseman Rink today, it was completely frozen. Very smooth and we could easily do jumps with no issues of the ice cracking.

Good Ice at Cheeseman Rink today. Photo by Ella Williams
Saturday 23rd June 8.02pm: Poolburn Dam
 From Dave Young, from his blog: chipofftheiceblock
Good skating in the main bay at Poolburn today. Thin elsewhere. Track Muddy and slippery at the top when it thaws. Snow expected over the next day which will probably cover the ice.
Saturday 23rd June 8.02pm: Idaburn Dam
 From Dave Young, from his blog: chipofftheiceblock
1-2cm of ice
Saturday 23rd June 8.02pm: Coalpit Dam
 From Dave Young, from his blog: chipofftheiceblock
1-2cm of ice
Saturday 17th June 8.00pm: Cheeseman Rink
 From Lehi Oliver by email.
I Skated at Cheeseman today. The Ice was 50mm thick at the edges and incredibly smooth. the ice has allot of bubbles in it but is quite solid in the centre.

Incredibly smooth ice today at Cheeseman, Photo by Lehi Oliver
Saturday 9th June 4.18pm: Lake's and Evelyn, and the Red Lakes
From  Russell Clark by txt
All that is left of Lake Ida's Ice. Wind broken outside the chalet.
Lake Evelyn and the Red Lakes are the same.

Snow on the ground and windblown ice Photo by Russell Clark
Tuesday 4th June 10.32pm: Cheeseman Rink
 From Chris Ruske by txt and Facebook Message.
Got a skate on the Cheeseman Rink today, fully frozen with a softish rough surface.

Skating at Cheeseman. Photo by Chris Ruske
Tuesday 4th June 10.32pm: Lake Ida
 From Chris Ruske by txt and Facebook Message.
Walked into Ida today, Lake was a 1/4 frozen with ice that was about 20mm thick but with the strength of fine china. The rink is fully frozen but again weak with good thickness. No skating today.

Rupert with some weak ice. Photo by Chris Ruske
Sunday 3rd June 8.25pm: Poolburn Dam
 From Dave Young, from his blog: chipofftheiceblock
Poolburn: The main bay has ice that is skatable if it is freezing hard. Softens as the day warms. Ice in other places but variable.
Check carefully before skating and watch for thinning ice.
Track is OK (a bit rough) but gets muddy after the frost thaws.
(Editors Note Check out Dave's blog for more amazing pic's)

Poolburn from the air, Photo by Dave Young
Sunday 3rd June 8.25pm: Idaburn Dam
 From Dave Young, from his blog: chipofftheiceblock
Around 40mm of ice over the main area. Unsure about the gorge.
Saturday 2nd June 7.15pm: Coalpit Dam
 From Dave Young, from his blog: chipofftheiceblock
Ice is nearly thick enough for a safe skate. Black Ice up to 40mm. If there is a frost tomorrow, skate on the far side under the trees. Check first.

An awesome skate at Coalpit Dam. Photo Dave Young
Saturday 2nd June 7.15pm: Poolburn Dam
 From Dave Young, from his blog: chipofftheiceblock
Black Ice over most of the Dam. Thickness varies. Needs a frost or two to make it safe. If you go take care and test the ice before getting on and have a safety plan as there will be no one there to help.

Poolburn time for a rest...... Photo Dave Young
Saturday 2nd June 8.00pm: Lake Lyndon
 From Lehi Oliver by email.
20-30mm of black ice covers the whole surface of the overflow at Lake Lyndon. I skated around the edge for an hour until the sun came up, at which time the ice became too weak. It needs a good few frosts before its completely safe to skate on.

Early Morning Skate on the edge of Lyndon Photo by Lehi Oliver
Saturday 2nd June 8.00pm: Cheeseman Rink
 From Lehi Oliver by email.
Skated at Cheeseman today with Fred and his kids, spent the majority of the day cleaning the ice. The ice is about 50mm thick on one end and 70mm thick on the outside, the first 20mm is snow ice.

Snowy Ice at the Cheeseman Rink Photo Lehi Oliver
Friday 1st June 10.35pm: Cheeseman Rink
 From Fred van Slooten, by phone.
First Canterbury Skate of the season this evening to Fred, Karl,and Nathan. rink is frozen with about 70mm of ice, rough surface.
Thursday 31st May 2.59am: Coalpit Dam
 From Dave Young, from his blog: chipofftheiceblock
1-2cm over the whole Dam. A few frosts away from a safe skate.
Thursday 31st May 2.59am: Hoffman's Dam
 From Dave Young, from his blog: chipofftheiceblock
Mostly Water. Some Ice in the tail.
Thursday 31st May 2.59am: Coalpit Dam
 From Dave Young, from his blog: chipofftheiceblock
First Ice Skate for the 2018 season goes to Dave Young on the side of Coalpit Dam.........:)

First Ice for Year to Dave Young.        Photo by Dave Young
Wednesday 30th May 11.00am: Lake Ida
 From Rupert Smith, from Facebook
Ida was looking frozen yesterday, view was from afar though.
Friday 27th April 10.07am: Mt Cheeseman Rink
 From Ben Aynsley, West Coast Curling Club by email
Update from 25/04/18: Thin ice covering 1/3 of the rink on Wednesday morning, Rink looking beautiful.

Check out the Archives from
previous years at the bottom of this page
2017 -Monday17th July-Sunday 6th August

 
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
2017 (2)-Monday17th July-Sunday 6th August
2017 Monday 5th June-Sunday16th July
2016 (2)Wednesday13th July-Saturday13th August
 2016  Wednesday 25th May-Tuesday 12th July
2015 (3) Tuesday 21st July-Thursday 13th August
2015 (2) Monday 29th June-Monday 20th July
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