Perth isn't a place that many would associate with ice skating—us Perthlings don't bat an eyelash at 40 degree days and complain when the temps hit lows of 18—but it turns out ice skating in Perth is very possible and it's all sorts of fun.
It’s something pretty much all of us have tried and long-since forgotten, but surely it’s about time ice skating made a comeback. It’s infinitely cheaper than most of our other hobbies, but also, what could be better than a few laps around the rink, pumping up the jam to a few choice tracks from the 90’s?
Whether you're trying to escape the summer heat or you want to make the most of winter, Perth has the goods when it comes to ice ice baby.
Here’s where you can go ice skating in Perth.
Winter Village at Ice Cream Factory
Northbridge
The temperature has been dialled right down at Perth’s iconic Ice Cream Factory event space as it's been transformed into a frosty winter wonderland complete with daily snow showers, an indoor ice skating rink to keep you warm while you glide around, private igloos, plus plenty of comfort food and alpine-appropriate drinks. Their Brunch and Skate packages are the way to go—with outdoor ice skating sessions at 10am on Saturdays and Sundays, you can hit the ice rink for 45 minutes of fun before plonking yourself down in a private igloo to enjoy a well-earned brunch, all for just $35 per person (or $22 each for kids) including skate hire.
Perth Ice Arena
Malaga
As home to the official Perth Thunder ice hockey team, you’d be forgiven for thinking Perth Ice Arena is all about sports, when in fact, they’ve got a whole lot more to offer. Sure, you can learn to play hockey, but you can also test out your athletic abilities with a figure skating lesson or two, or grab your mates and bust a move at disco night. General skate entry (including skate hire) will set you back a measly $20, and discounts apply for group bookings. We feel a birthday party plan coming on…
Cockburn Ice Arena
Bibra Lake
In addition to all the usual suspects—ice hockey, figure skating and such—Cockburn Ice Arena also offers mid-week ‘Cheapskate’ sessions on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 8-10pm. And at only $15 a pop including skates, it’s a cheap and cheerful way to spice up your life. Better yet, they've also got a sweet rinkside bar and grill so you can just ditch the skates and grab a pint instead and enjoy some of the tasty food specials they're slinging on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Winterworld Fremantle
Fremantle
Winterworld hits Fremantle each year in June and brings with it Australia's largest outdoor ice skating rink. While it was unfortunately cancelled due to the on-and-off COVID restrictions this year, they’ll be back next year in 2022 for a bigger and better season. We promise there’ll be fire pits, hot chocolates, and ice skating galore.
Want more? Here are all the best things to do in Perth if you're a giant kid.
Image credit: Winterworld Fremantle