Skating in New South Wales

Six of the seven are ice rinks. The odd one out is RollerFit in Tempe, which teaches roller skating in multi-level classes pitched at children aged 7 and up, so a first-timer sibling and a more experienced child can share the same session. Reviewers describe a welcoming community that turns newcomers into regulars, and advise wrist guards and knee pads for the first few classes.

For young children on ice, Macquarie Ice Rink in North Ryde is the one our verdict favours: instructors are patient with first-timers, the surface has recently been renovated, and one guide mentions a Kiddies Club for preschoolers and calls it Sydney's only Olympic-sized rink. Small rental skate sizes run sparse, so ask for them when booking. LCC Ice Rink in Prestons goes younger still, with coached playgroup sessions taking 2-year-olds and, according to one source, a heated viewing area for parents; reviewers note the hire skates vary in sharpness. Erina Ice Arena on the Central Coast hires out penguin support frames, provides free helmets, and has skate patrol staff who will help directly on the ice; a guide says it takes children from about age three.

Ice Zoo Sydney suits school-age kids and teens who like loud disco sessions and group birthdays, but note that one guide reports it has left Alexandria for a temporary Mascot site while a Wolli Creek rink is built, so confirm the location before you go. Hunter Ice Skating Stadium in Warners Bay is described as the only ice rink in the Hunter region, with a beginner cordoned area and support frames; reviewers suggest calling ahead because published schedules are not always current. Maximum Skating in Smeaton Grange is closed temporarily, and a liquidator is reported to be seeking buyers for its roller rink business.