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Just two weeks after opening, an ice rink at the heart of the Auckland CBD has already attracted thousands of visitors wanting to get a taste of a real winter.
The rink opened in Aotea Square on June 20 and will be up and running for six weeks.
Operator Paradice Ice Rink's Chris Blong said while he wouldn't confirm the actual number, he was pleased with the volume of visitors to the ice rink, which is well into the thousands.
"It's been well patronised by people in the CBD and we've had lots of families coming in the school holidays."
The rink has proved so popular some visitors have taken to Facebook asking what limits are in place, saying there are at times too many people on the ice at once.
But before it opened, the operators studied what outdoor rinks of the same size do overseas and imposed a limit of 180 skaters at a time, which is less than many American guidelines.
The rink is equipped with frames for people who haven't skated before, new skates and staff specially trained to fit them properly, and ice stewards on hand at all times.
Blong said mornings are the best time to avoid the crowds.
He said because the venture had proved so popular, there was a good chance the rink would return to the space again in the future. The final decision will be made in conjunction with The Edge, who manage Aotea Square, after it closes in August.
As an added extra, the stars of The Nutcracker on Ice are visiting the rink on Thursday and Friday from 2-3pm to give tips and put on skating displays.
- © Fairfax NZ News
