Aardwolfs Natural Ice Reports
12.10am Sun 17th July 2022

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
Metservice
National Rain Radar and Rainfall Maps
National Park Forecasts and Observations
Mt Olympus Ski Field

Windy.com

Canterbury Weather Stations
Metservice.com Weather Stations Canterbury Plains

Springfield
 Arthur's Pass Weather
 Castle Hill Weather
Upper Rakaia
Staveley
Methvan Weather

Central Otago Weather information
 Met Service 10 day Forecast for Alexandra
Alexandra Accuweather.com
Central Otago Weather Stations
 Naseby
Naseby
 Ranfurly Weather
Oturehua
Ida Valley
Moa Creek
Ophir
Chatto

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: Facebook
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
Arrowtown Facebook
Bush Creek
Arrowtown Ice Rink
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

Queenstown

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 2022
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 16th July 9.32pm: Lake Evelyn
From Liam Ashby by Messenger
Had a skate at Lake Evelyn tonight, solid snow ice, large portion of the Lake frozen, may be good in the morning as frosty now. NW wind due early in the morning.
Take care getting on, may be able to use the west of the lake for access.

Liam Skating on Evelyn, Photo by Liam Ashby
Sunday 10th July 8.50pm: Lower Manorburn Dam
From Dave Young from his Blog chipofftheiceblock
Check out Dave's report of his skate on Poolburn Dam today, on his Blog at chipofftheiceblock
Saturday 16th July 6.08pm: Poolburn Dam
From Felix Collins by email
Then in the afternoon a visit to Poolburn with an area of skatable ice at the north end. 4 cm of powder snow made it a novel experience.

Snow and Ice at Poolburn Photo by Felix Collins
Saturday 16th July 6.08pm: Manorburn Dam
From Felix Collins by email
Nice Skating at Manorburn this morning.

Great Ice at Manorburn today. Photo by Felix Collins
Thursday 14th July 6.28pm: Manorburn Dam
From Mickey Jonker by Messenger
Had a skate on Manorburn Dam the other day.
Friday 15th July 7.21pm: Diamond Lake
From Alan Knowles by email
Today we skated Diamond Lake in Wanaka with 80-100mm of ice with a fins dusting of snow pills. Lovely time though access to the ice might need a plan tomorrow as it is breaking up in the shallows.

Alan Knowles skating Diamond Lake Photo by Katja Reidel
Thursday 14th July 7.21pm: Hooker Lake
From Alan Knowles by email
Thursday I visited Hooker Lake after heavy snow, so slow progress on the track in. The footpad of foot-compressed snow could become treacherous after a thaw. The Lake is locked up, too thick to measure with a rough snow surface which should become perfect after a NW'er thaw.

Snow covered Hooker Lake, Photo by Alan Knowles
Thursday 14th July 11.00am : Cheeseman Ice Rink
From Forest Lodge Facebook Page
The Ice Rink is only partially frozen, Please maintain self control and do not walk on it until its fully solid, so we don't get big yeti foot prints in it.
Forest Lodge Facebook Page
Monday 11th July 2.41pm: Lake Tekapo Foreshore
From Mt Dobson Motel by email
Trev the Fox Terrier says that the Old Rink down on the lake foreshore may be good to go.......:)

Trev the Fox Terrier checking the Old Tekapo Ice Rink out,
Photo by Bridget from Mt Dobson Motels
Sunday 10th July 1.00pm : Cheeseman Ice Rink
From Forest Lodge Facebook Page
Latest pictures and report on the Forest Lodge Facebook Page
Sunday 10th July 8.50pm: Lower Manorburn Dam
From Dave Young by email
Potential Ice Skating on the Lower Manorburn Dam tomorrow
Natural Ice Otago Facebook Page
Saturday 9th July 10.05pm: Lake Clearwater
From Alan Knowles by email
Yesterday we woke to 100mm of wet snow in Lake Clearwater village which had also settled on the the thin ice sheet that covered half of Lake Clearwater. Last night it started to belt down with rain and continued until 1pm today when it turned to big wet snowflakes. The snow cover has survived the rain and the ice sheet is covered with wet sloppy snow. when the frosts come this is a recipe fro treacherous conditions, not suitable for Ice Skating....

Ice Sheet on Clearwater at 6pm before the rain.
Photo by Alan Knowles
Saturday 9th July 10.05pm: Mystery Lake
From Alan Knowles by email
On Wednesday (6th July) I returned to Lake Mystery for a Bluebird skate on smooth snow ice.

Bluebird skating with Charlotte Woods (red) and Annette Jordan
Photo by Alan Knowles
Sunday 3rd July 6.45pm: Staveley Ice Skating and Curling Rinks
From their Facebook Page
New update on the Staveley Rink, check out their Facebook page.
Sunday 3rd July 3.52pm: Cheeseman Rink
From Liam Ashby by Messenger
90-10mm of ice very strong and will last well.

Solid Ice on the Cheeseman Rink. Photo by Liam Ashby
Sunday 3rd July 3.52pm: Little Lake Ida
From Liam Ashby by Messenger and Mike O'Connell by Facebook
Had a bit of a sketchy skate at Little Lake Ida this morning 35mm of noisy ice, was only skateable today for 1.5 hrs then the NW wind came in.

A Skate on sketchy Ice at Little Lake Ida. Photo by Liam Ashby
Saturday 2nd July 10.05pm: Mystery Lake and Little Mystery Lake
From Alan Knowles by email
After a 3-hour uphill bike ride through bogs, icy snow, tussock and matagouri, we reached Mystery Lake 430mts above Lake Clearwater for a superb main course on smooth snow ice, followed by the sweetest desert on Little Mystery. No Ice on any of the lower Ashburton Lakes.
Snow Ice on Mystery Lake, Skater Andrew Henderson.
Photos  by Alan Knowles

Blue Sky day at Little Mystery Lake, Skater Andrew Henderson.   Photos  by Alan Knowles.
Wednesday 29th June 7.12am: Bush Creek Rink, Arrowtown
From R A Crawford by email
The old Bush Creek Rink in Arrowtown is undergoing a restoration project.
See Bush Creek Ice on Facebook, Currently not ready yet but  hopefully not far off.  Check out there Facebook Page.

Bush Creek Rink restoration in progress. Photo R A Crawford
Wednesday 29th June 7.12am: Rum Gully Rink, Queenstown
From R A Crawford by email
We ventured up to the old Rum Gully Rink near the Skippers Saddle in Queenstown on Sunday July the 26th and found it in pretty good condition.
Solid Ice for 95% of the pond.

Rum Gully Rink by Skippers  saddle, Queenstown
Photo by R A Crawford

Hockey in the sun. Photo by R A Crawford
Saturday 25th June 8.58am: Rainbow Ski field Lake
From Alan Knowles by email
Skated the Lake on Rainbow Ski field 24th June: 20+mm snow ice and 3 deg thawing. If there is no more snow, this will be a sensational skate.

Clinton Wadsworth Skating the Rainbow Ski Field Lake
Photo by Alan Knowles
Friday 24th June 5.55pm: Poolburn Dam and Idaburn Dam
From Dave Young from his Blog: chipofftheiceblock
Check out Dave's report of his skate on Poolburn and Idaburn Dam today, on his Blog at chipofftheiceblock
Friday 24th June 5.50pm: Cheeseman Ice Rink
From Linda Dawber by Messenger.
The Ice was very thick but the surface got very slushy so we gave up before 2.00pm. All day we got puffs of warm and then puffs of cold air. All in all it was very pleasant, with good skating and easy access.

Cheeseman Rink with softening Ice. Photo by Linda Dawber.
Friday 24th June 5.40pm: Lake Ida, Little Lake Ida and the Hockey Rink, From Clive Murphie
Early Skaters got the Ice today at Little Lake Ida, the NW wind came in and washed out the ice at about 1pm, everybody stayed dry and several people got their first natural ice skate. Ice will be all gone after the NW due over the next few days.

Early Skaters at Little Lake Ida today. Photo by Jayde Stubbs.

So this is how thick the Ice was today, Jayde and Alice.
Photo by Julia Egan.
Looking east down Lake Ida today as the ice disappears.
Photo by Julia Egan

The Hockey Rink at Ida, 50mm soft Ice. Photo by Clive Murphie
Friday 24th June 5.40pm: Lake Evelyn
From Clive Murphie
Ice at both ends of Evelyn today but melting fast due to the early arrival of the NW winds. With the weather due it will probably disappear and we will need to wait for the next cycle of frosts for more ice.

Looking at the east end of Lake Evelyn, Photo by Clive Murphie

Taken from the west end of Lake Evelyn. Photo by Clive Murphie.
Friday 24th June 8.26am: Cheeseman Ice Rink
From Colin Holmes by email
The Westcoast Curling Club had a great night at Cheeseman last night. Four teams played on some very keen ice.

A great time was had by all, Photo by Colin Holmes.
Thursday 23rd June 8.27pm: Cheeseman Ice Rink
From Chris Ruske by Txt
Just leaving Cheeseman now, good Ice over the entire Rink. A touch crunchy but hard and fast. No wind.

I shared the Rink with some Curlers, Photo by Chris Ruske.
Wednesday 22nd June 7.13pm: Poolburn Dam
From Dave Young from his Blog: chipofftheiceblock
Check out Dave's report of his skate on Poolburn Dam today, on his Blog at chipofftheiceblock
Wednesday 22nd June 3.30pm: Cheeseman Ice Rink
From Forest Lodge Facebook Page
Solid as.....Thin layer of snow on the rink, ready to skate.
Check out the photos at Facebook Page
Saturday 18th June 3.45pm : Cheeseman Ice Rink
From Fred vS by Txt
Thin at the boards and by the shelter but thick elsewhere. Snow ice around 100mm thick. Some snow on parts of the road. One 2WD didn't make it.

Cheeseman in the snow. Photo by Fred vS.
Wednesday 15th June 10.03am : Tasman Glacier
From Alan Knowles by email
Mt Cook, It hasn't been cold enough yet for ice to form on the Glacier Lakes, a little ice on Hooker but none on Tasman.
Wednesday 1st June 10.41am : Cheeseman Ice Rink
From Forest Lodge Facebook Page
Sorry Team the Cheeseman Rink has been rained out!!!
Forest Lodge FB Post
Sunday 29th May 7.26pm : Cheeseman Ice Rink
From Josie Dawber by Messenger
Skated at Mt Cheeseman Rink today. It was mostly frozen and such a lovely day.

A lovely Day at Cheeseman Rink. Photo by Josie Dawber.
Sunday 29th May 5.03pm : Little Lake Ida
From Leigh Oliver by email
Had a good skate at Little Lake Ida, 40-50mm of Black cie. The ice thins out about half way on the right hand side.

Good ice on Little Lake Ida. Photo by Leigh Oliver.
Saturday 28th May 9.30pm : Little Lake Ida
From Jeremy Pullan by email
Went into Lake Ida today then through to Little Lake Ida. No ice on the Main Lake however at Little Lake Ida there was a good layer of black ice. Managed to get a skate though it was a little sketchy and was cracking, it did hold me. The boys had a good skate about 500mm of black ice.

Skating at Little Lake Ida. Photos by Jeremy Pullan.
Saturday 28th May 3.15pm : Lake Ida
From Mike O'Connell by Messenger
25mm of ice on the Rink at Ida, just able to stand on it.
Enclosure about 15mm over half the area, no ice on the main lake.

The Hockey Rink at Ida ...Just enough to stand on if you are light.
Photo by Mike O'Connell.
Saturday 28th May 3.15pm : Cheeseman Ice Rink
From Liam Ashby and Mike O'Connell by Messenger
Cheeseman 40mm of good ice, really needs another frost to lock it in.
Good day at Cheeseman Rink. Photo by Liam Ashby.
Saturday 28th May 9.30am : Cheeseman Ice Rink
From Forest Lodge Facebook Page
Latest pictures and report on the Forest Lodge Facebook Page
Saturday 28th May 9.10am : Lake Tekapo
From FredVS by txt
Karl VS with an early morning skate at the old Rink site on the shore of lake Tekapo below the new ice rink
Ice Skate on the shore of Lake Tekapo. Photo by Fred vS.
Friday 27th May 10.00am : Cheeseman Ice Rink
From Forest Lodge Facebook Page
Latest pictures and report on the Forest Lodge Facebook Page
Tuesday 24th May 9.47pm : Cheeseman Ice Rink
From WM by Email
Called in at Cheeseman today and was surprised to find it fully frozen with a hoar frost on top. It had a few holes round the edges where people had been testing the ice. A few places I tried seemed to support my weight, others failed. The broken bits looked to be about 50mm thick.
With a frost tonight it should be good for a skate tomorrow.

Frozen Cheeseman Rink.....Photo Credit WM
 

Check out the Archives from
previous years at the bottom of this page
 2021  Monday 3rd May-Saturday 17th 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
2021  Monday 3rd May-Saturday 17th July
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