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OBrien two kids skating

Glide across Australia’s largest ice arena at the O’Brien Icehouse

Feel like going ice skating, but you've never done it before? Or are you a pro skater looking to practice and hone your skills on the ice? Well, whatever it may be, the O'Brien Icehouse has got you covered with the best ice skating rink Melbourne has to offer for both beginners and experts! 

The O'Brien Icehouse is Australia's largest indoor ice arena, and whether you're just taking your first few steps on your skating journey or are already on the way to becoming a world-class figure skater, people of all ages and abilities can enjoy a thrilling gliding experience at the O'Brien Ice house that will leave you wanting more.

OBrien two kids skating

O'Brien Icehouse Ice Skating Melbourne

The O'Brien Icehouse is the perfect place to enjoy ice sports and entertainment in the Docklands area. Available for various ice sports events and public skating, the dual-rink facility contains two Olympic-sized rinks and is open daily!  You can enjoy ice skating fun seven days a week, 364 days a year!

On top of hosting national and international skating events, the world-class Docklands ice rink facility also offers skating lessons and games for figure skating, ice hockey, speed skating and curling. It is also called home by both Melbourne Ice teams as well as the Melbourne Mustangs.

OBrien Icehouse skaters

During the school holidays, public skating at the O'Brien Icehouse offers free 15-minute lessons at 11 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm. They also have friendly Ice Ambassadors on standby who can give you advice during your skate. 

In addition to being known as the heart of ice sports and entertainment in Australia, the ice skating rink also offers a wide range of activities suitable for all ages and skill levels. 

The facilities include stadium seating enough for 1,000 people, 2,300 pairs of skates for hire, rink-based sound and light systems, a specialist winter sports gym, café, bar and four function rooms that are perfect for celebrations or parties.

The best part about celebrating at The O'Brien Icehouse is that the staff will take care of everything! All you'll have to do is sit back, relax and enjoy your time on the ice.

O'Brien Icehouse Ice Skating Essentials

As you can expect from an ice skating rink, The O'Brien Icehouse is chilly; in fact, the rink stays at a constant 16°C temperature! But after doing some laps around the rink, you'll probably start to feel a bit warmed up and won't even notice the cold. However, it would still be best to wear something warm such as a beanie, gloves and long thick socks to ensure you'll be comfortable throughout your skating adventure.

Admission to the O'Brien Ice House also includes free rental of helmets. Using these, especially if you're a beginner, is a must as it will help protect you from any injuries in case of an accident that might happen while you're on the ice. You might even find the security of wearing a helmet will give you more confidence as you glide through the rink.

OBrien Icehouse skating rink

However, do note that for small children, the rink's XXS-sized helmets might still be too big for them, which is why it would be best to bring your own helmet in this situation.

Finally, if you don’t have your own skates, O'Brien Icehouse also offers skates for hire. Ask their friendly Skate Hire staff for assistance, and they'll be happy to help you find the perfect pair! Their available Skate Hire sizes range from a size 7 for toddlers to a size 14 for men.

Seals and Skate Aids are entirely optional but should your desire to hire some for your visit, Seals cost $7 per hour rental, while skate aids cost $4 per hour rental. Locker hire is also available and costs $4 per 3 hour rental.

O'Brien Icehouse Docklands

This Docklands ice skating rink is open every day except for Christmas Day. There are no scheduled sessions which means you can enter the rink at any time and start as early as their opening time at 9 am.

When purchasing your ticket at the venue, prices for adults begin at $32.00, $28.00 for Concession/Students and $17.00 for children under the age of 8. For discounted prices, O'Brien Icehouse offers a promo called ‘Tight Tuesday’, with prices for adults beginning at $17.50, $17.50 for Concession/Students and $16 for children under the age of 8.

You can save even more by opting to book online as they offer up to 13% off ticket prices for regular public skating dates and up to 10% off for ‘Tight Tuesday’ tickets.

One final thing to note is that you will have to bring your credit or debit card to The O’Brien Icehouse as it is a cashless venue.

See also: 11 Tips for Visiting the Royal Melbourne Show

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OBrien Icehouse
O'Brien Icehouse – PIN this picture to save this post!
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Joyce Watts is a former intellectual property, IT and media lawyer turned serial entrepreneur.

As well as being the founder of TOT: HOT OR NOT she helps businesses with their SEO, email marketing & social media as BrightSmart.com.au; she owns an online bike store CycleStyle.com.au and develops and produces creative experiences for families via WheelieGoodFun.com. She used to publish another popular lifestyle and food blog called MEL: HOT OR NOT The decisive guide to Melbourne.

She lives in inner-city Melbourne with her husband, two children and seven bikes.

In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community.

We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

 
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