Get your skates on, the ice is here

The Ice World skating rink in the Town Basin will open to the first customers today.

A whopping 30,000 litres of water has been frozen and awaits the gliding blades of budding ice skaters in the Town Basin today.

The rink is open for action after work has been going on since the beginning of the week, with the marquee being set up on Tuesday.

The 16m by 30m rink was covered with water on Wednesday and left to freeze.

This is the first time Whangarei has had an outdoor ice rink and a chance to get a glimpse of what a white Christmas in the Winterless North looks like.

Skates will be available for hire at the rink and all levels of ability are welcome.

The rink will open 10am to 10pm daily from today until January 26, except for Christmas Day. Admission costs $20 for adults, $15 for children and $50 for families.

Ice World has previously taken the rink to Porirua, Christchurch, Wellington, Rotorua, Palmerston North, Nelson, Tauranga, Hamilton and Auckland.