Aardwolfs Natural Ice Reports
10.14am 1st August 2020

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 Right Click and click  RELOAD FRAME 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.

Road Information
 NZTA Road Information

 Weather information
Recent Rain Radar
High Country Met Service Forecast
Met Service 7day Mt-Olympus
 Southwest Pacific 180hr Forecast
SouthWestPacific Marine Weather
Canterbury Weather Stations
Springfield
 Arthur's Pass Weather
 Castle Hill Weather
Upper Rakaia
Staveley
Lauriston Weather
Methvan Weather
Central Otago Weather information
 Met Service 10 day Forecast for Alexandra
Alexandra Accuweather.com
Central Otago Weather Stations
 Naseby
 Ranfurly Weather
Oturehua
 Ida Valley
Moa Creek
 Alexandra Weather
Videos of Natural
Ice Skating: YouTube
 Aardwolfs: here
Joe's: here
Glens: here

Natural Ice Reports
from Southern NZ:
chipofftheiceblock

Facebook Pages
 Alpine Ice Retro Regulars
Staveley Ice Rink
 Natural Ice Otago

 NZ Map of
Ice Skating Locations
 Topographical Map of Ida/Evelyn area

 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 2020
Skate Hire: Clive 033238293: 0274504399 SGI Ice Skate Services
 Looking for a ride Skating or have a spare seat. Check out: this Facebook page.
Friday 31st July, 6.51pm:  Lake Ida and Little Lake Ida
From Jeremy Pullan by email
Just heading back from Lake Ida and Little Lake Ida
Lake Ida had next to no ice except for a big sheet of ice in the middle of the lake which seemed to be slowly disappearing by the minute. 
Little Lake Ida had a sheet of ice approximately 25mm thick.
So no skating today.

A very Liquid Lake Ida, Ice Disappearing fast Photo Jeremy Pullan
25mm of cover at Little Lake Ida thawing. Photo by Jeremy Pullan
Tuesday 28th July, 7.10pm: Poolburn Dam
From Dave Young, from his blog: chipofftheiceblock
I was pleased to find some fabulous "crazy Pave" ice over most of the main basin. The good ice was fantastic but lots of areas to avoid. The hard and fast felt the safest this season.
Fantastic pictures and full report on Dave's Blog: chipofftheiceblock
Tuesday 28th July, 1.33am:  Lake Ida
From Liam Ashby by Messenger
Awesome moonlit skate on Lake Ida, 50mm of ice, not noisy at all...:)

Moonlit Skate at Lake Ida; Photo by Liam Ashby
Sunday 26th July, 5.55pm:  Lake Ida
From Liam Ashby by Messenger
Good day skating at Lake Ida today on 42mm of black Ice, a little noisy, but cooling down and there will be another frost tonight.

Awesome Day on the Ice today. Photo by Liam Ashby
Sunday 26th July, 1.40pm:  Lower Manorburn Dam
From Alasdair Christie by email
If I didn't care about the edges of my skates it was Skateable.....:)

Photograph of earlier today by Alasdair Christie
Sunday 26th July, 2.00pm:  Lower Manorburn Dam
 From Lyndon Chambers by Natural Ice Otago FB Page
70mm of ice on Rushcutters today, a small smooth area to skate on.
Saturday 25th July, 9.40pm:  Lake Ida
From Jeremy Pullan by email
The boys and I went to Lake Ida today,
There was about 30-40mm of ice over half of the Lake. Got to have a really short skate myself before going through. My boys had a good time though and there was plenty of ice for them. We didn't get round to Little Lake Ida

30-40mm at Ida today Photo by Jeremy Pullan
Saturday 25th July, 1.25pm:  Red Lakes East and West
From Nathan Klein by Txt
With permission from Coleridge Station, we walked in to check out the Red Lakes. 12 degrees with a light NW wind. Ice on both lakes but unfortunately not enough to hold anyone. 20mm on Red Lakes East and 5mm on Red Lakes West. We need a few more good frosts for a skate either here or Ida, that is if the ice isn't taken by the NW today.
Editors Note: it is essential to seek permission from the Coleridge Station Management before accessing the Red Lakes, They are on Private Property and it is a working farm. Please remember to leave the property as you found it, removing all rubbish with you.
Red Lakes West looking west: Photo by Nathan Klien

Red Lakes West looking West, Photo Nathan Klein
Friday 24th July, 4.50pm:  Lake Ida and Little Lake Ida
From Liam Ashby by Messenger
Just got back from Lake Ida there is10-15mm of new Ice at Lake Ida today from last nights frost, about a third of the Lake is frozen. Cold and still air at Ida. Little Lake Ida had about 10mm of ice with windy conditions. The Ice needs at least another 2 good frosts and low daytime temps with no wind to be skatable.
Friday 24th July, 1.15pm:  Lower Manorburn Dam
From Lyndon Chambers by Natural Ice Otago FB Page
Rushcutters Corner Manorburn, 40-50mm of ice, most of the surface is refreeze damaged but OK if you (are light) and  just have to have a Natural Skate. Needs a couple more frosts for those a little heavier.
Video at : Natural Ice Otago
Monday 20th July, 3.39pm:  Blue Lakes Tasman
From Chris Ruske by txt
Plenty of Ice today but weak from the current rain 40-60mm of Ice
Monday 20th July, 1.30pm: Lake Ida
From Liam Ashby by Messenger
Skated last night to about 2.30am, still 45mm of ice on Ida, the ice was becoming vocal when we left. There was no frost and it was quite warm last night.
Monday 19th July, 7.46am: Lake Clearwater and Camp
 From Alan Knowles  by email.
Ice was 50mm on  at Lake Clearwater, good skate but a bit noisy. Monday at 7.00am, air temp +1.5, grass temp -1.6 (overnight low -4.4) ice on car windows but a mild night. 9/10ths clear sky.
Sunday 19th July, 11.30pm: Ida and Little Lake Ida
From Clive Murphie
Great skate at Lake Ida today track was a little muddy on the way in, very little wind and a good 70mm of ice on about half the lake, enough for 2 people to stand together but 3 created cracking, warm weather forecast for the next 2 days and cold again after that. A great skate for a very last minuet trip
Saturday 18th July, 7.50pm: Poolburn Dam
 From Dave Young, from his blog: chipofftheiceblock
Up early for a dawn skate, great skate with good company. Most of the main bay and the far bay had good ice but gets variable further out. Pictures and full report on Dave's Blog: chipofftheiceblock
Saturday 18th July, 7.30pm: Ida and Little Lake Ida
From Fred van Slooten by Phone
Skated one third of Lake Ida and Little Lake Ida today with about 65mm of black Ice, track in is relatively good  and will be good for a skate on Sunday.
Friday 17th July, 7.59pm: Poolburn Dam
From Andrew T Nicholson by Messenger
Superb day at Poolburn Dam today
Poolburn Video by Andrew T Nicholson
Friday 17th July, 7.59pm: Poolburn Dam
From Keith Dickson by email
Poolburn today 75mm black ice.
Friday 17th July, 7.59pm: Poolburn Dam
 From Dave Young, from his blog: chipofftheiceblock
Ice at Poolburn was a bit stronger than yesterday, great by the shore but variable further out. Had a fabulous skate down to the far bay. Should be another good skate tomorrow.

Great day at Poolburn Photo by Dave Young
Thursday 16th July, 8.08pm: Poolburn Dam
 From Dave Young, from his blog: chipofftheiceblock
The Ice is back, Ice was a bit sketchy in the corner of the main bay but had a good crackly skate. Went over to the far bay and found better ice , had a great skate. Pictures and full report on Dave's Blog: chipofftheiceblock
Tuesday 14th July, 6.00pm: Cheeseman Ice Rink
 From Antoine Houle by email.
This is Cheeseman Rink on last Tuesday evening, I walked on the Ice from the other end to the middle and the ice started cracking pretty loudly, so I had to hop off.

Cheeseman Rink on Tuesday evening. Photo by Antoine Houl
Friday 17th July, 6.59am: Lake Clearwater and Camp
 From Alan Knowles  by email.
Lake Clearwater temperature overnight dropped to -4.6 and is now at 7.45 a.m. -3.3deg with full overcast and a light west wind. Almost no frost. The likelihood of a skate on our 30mm base at the eastern basin is poor. The gate is locked if you want to try - walk.
The ice sheet in Lake Camp has detached from the shore and is a series of blobs floating in the middle of the lake.
Sunday 12th July, 8.45am: Cheeseman Rink
 From Liam Ashby  by Messenger.
Saturday evening Cheeseman had weak ice, enough to skate on but very bumpy and noisy. NW coming through and really not helping!!
Sunday 12th July, 8.45am: Lake Ida and Little Lake Ida
 From Liam Ashby  by Messenger.
Yesterday morning we had a very very risky skate on little Lake Ida, the ice was very vocal. Temps were definitely going up.
In some spots 40mm of ice in others much less.
When we arrived, Ida had some stronger shore ice but when we left on the walk back out it was completely gone. 

Liam Ice testing, step 1 in a shallow area. Photo by Liam Ashby

Liam and Mike Ice testing step 2, with a rope. Photo by Liam Ashby
Sunday 5th July, 3.45pm: Lake Ida and Little Lake Ida
 From Joakim Olander by email.
No ice at Lake Ida today, mild and beautiful day. Great picnic.

"Lake" Ida today..No ice, No Skating...:(   Photo by Joakim Olander
Saturday 4th July, 10.36pm: Poolburn Dam
 Dave Young, from his blog: chipofftheiceblock
Most of the ice from last Saturday had gone but found a patch of snow ice in the small bay.  Had a good but bumpy skate - more suited to the Nordic skates. Went over the check the far bay and found a big pack of snow ice and had an enjoyable time mostly on the Nordic skates. Weather deteriorating with spits of rain as I left. Without frost the last ice will go fast.
Idaburn and Coalpit Dam mostly water.
Full report with photos at Dave's Blog chipofftheiceblock
Saturday 4th June, 9.40pm: Lake Ida and Little Lake Ida
 From Jeremy Pullan by email.
Went to lake Ida and then round to Little Lake Ida today, about a third of Lake Ida had a thin layer of ice approximately 20mm thick and Little Lake Ida was pretty much the same deal, so neither lake was skatable unfortunately.
 
Top: Lake Ida today.
Bottom Little Lake Ida.  Photos by Jeremy Pullan
Thursday 2nd June, 9.00pm: Lake Ida and Little Lake Ida
 From Liam Ashby
Only 5-10mm on Lake Ida this evening and 10-15mm on Little Lake Ida...nowhere near enough to skate.
Tuesday 30th June, 8.12am: Lake Ida
 From Chris by txt
Over the weekend , the Lake was frozen but only 1-2cm thick. Not enough to hold any weight. Didn't go to Little Lake Ida
Saturday 27th June, 10.10pm: Poolburn Dam
 From Dave Young, from his blog: chipofftheiceblock
Had an unexpected skate at Poolburn today.
Full report with photos at Dave's Blog chipofftheiceblock
Wednesday 24th June, 12.05pm: Staveley Ice Rinks
 From their Facebook Page
2020 Ice Update 24th June.
We have around one inch of ice and are watching these good frosts. We require 4 inches to open the rinks Keep Watching this page For updates. Remember the old page is no longer used.
Editors Note: Check out their Facebook Page
Tuesday 23rd June, 8.48pm: Poolburn Dam
 From Dave Young, from his blog: chipofftheiceblock
After a careful check I had a good Skate today on a large area of new black Ice.
Idaburn and Coalpit were close to a skate but need a few more frosts.
Full report with photos at Dave's Blog chipofftheiceblock
Friday 19th June, 10.15pm: Cheeseman Rink
 From Fred Van Slooten by txt
No Skating as there is only 10-20mm of ice. The good news is all the snow has melted so this should lead to a good skating surface as the ice thickens. Good frost expected tonight.
Sunday 14th June, 7.20pm: Poolburn Dam
 From Dave Young, from his blog: chipofftheiceblock
New Ice but needs more frosts to skate.
Sunday 14th June, 7.20pm: Idaburn Dam
 From Dave Young, from his blog: chipofftheiceblock
New Ice but needs more frosts to skate.
Monday 15th June, 10.21am: Cheeseman Rink
 From Fred Van Slooten by email
Skating at Cheeseman Sunday 14th June,

A cold afternoon skate at Cheeseman: Photo by Fred van Slooten
Sunday 14th June, 10.26pm: Cheeseman Rink
 From Colin Holms by email
 
Curling at Cheeseman Rink today: Photo by Colin Holms
Sunday 14th June, 9.25pm: Hororata Rink
 From Hororata Community FB Page
The Skating rink in the Hororata Domain is frozen.
Sunday 14th June, 8.41pm: Cheeseman Rink
 From Chris Ruske by Txt
Skated Cheeseman tonight, rough ice with powder snow/ice.
Entry end not skateable, far end and tree side a bit noisy, -1.5degrees when we left.

Glen and Chris out for an evening skate. Photo by Glen Cameron
Sunday 14th June, 5.28pm: Little Lake Ida
 From Zavian Fletcher by Messenger
Spent 7 hours skating on Little Lake Ida today, the Ice felt like it was getting stronger as the day went on. about 65mm Black ice over 95% of the lake. No wind all day,


Great Ice at Little Lake Ida today: Photos by Zavian Fletcher
Saturday 13th June, 9.55pm: Lake Ida
 From Jeremy Pullan by Email
Went up to lake Ida today, there was ice on the lake but it wasn't skatable. It was too thin unfortunately.


 Cold day at Lake Ida today Photo by Jeremy Pullan
Saturday 13th June, 9.55pm: Lake Evelyn
 From Jeremy Pullan by Email
Lake Evelyn had some ice on it today on the West end.

Just a skiff of ice at Lake Evelyn today: Photo Jeremy Pullan
Saturday 13th June, 9.15pm: Cheeseman Rink
 From Fred van Slooten by Phone
Cheeseman rink has ice and is skatable this evening with approximately 60mm of ice. It will get better overnignt with the frost.
Monday 1st June, 1.23pm: Cheeseman Rink
 From Fred van Slooten by Email
First skate for season on 1 June on very marginal ice. Didn't end well !!!!

Marginal Ice at Cheeseman. Photo by Fred van Slooten
Monday 1st June, 9.36am: Little Lake Ida
 From Liam Ashby by Email
Monday12.50am sketchy early morning skate at Little Lake Ida with the lads.

Zavian, Liam, Lee and Kieran enjoy a moonlit skate at Little Lake Ida: Photo by Liam Ashby
Sunday 31st May, 6.40pm: Little Lake Ida
 From Sebas by Messenger
Walked through to Lake Ida and then Little Lake Ida today. Managed a very noisy skate at Little Lake Ida about 35mm of good black ice.
Lake Ida had less about 25mm

A noisy skate at Little Lake Ida today: Video by Sebas

No sun on the ice at 2.15pm: Photo by Sebas
Sunday 31st May, 5.40pm: Poolburn Dam
 From Dave Young, from his blog: chipofftheiceblock
Exploring round the Dam we had an early skate on a stream at the bottom of the dam, there was the merest skim on the dam.
Full report with photos at Dave's Blog chipofftheiceblock
(Editors note, first Skate of the season to Dave and Dave again....Well done, only by a couple of hours this season though!!!)

Skating a steam at Poolburn: Video by Dave Young
Sunday 31st May, 5.40pm: Coalpit Dam
 From Dave Young, from his blog: chipofftheiceblock
Only a skim on the dam
Sunday 31st May, 5.40pm: Idaburn Dam
 From Dave Young, from his blog: chipofftheiceblock
10-15mm of ice in the basin
Wednesday 27th May, 9.33am: Cheeseman Ice Rink
 From: The Forest Lodge Facebook Page
A thin covering on the Cheeseman Rink this morning

Cheeseman Rink with a thin cover.
Photo by:  The Forest Lodge Facebook Page

Check out the Archives from
previous years at the bottom of this page
 2020  Wednesday 27th May-Friday 31st July

 
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
2020  Wednesday 27th May-Friday 31st July
2019 Monday 3rd June-Sunday 18th August  
2018 Friday 27th April-Saturday 4th August
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