A WINTER WONDERLAND
10 MARCH 2023
Go On, You'll NEVER Guess!
After being in Blenheim for a month with mostly outdoor activities, we were really keen to start doing some fun and exciting indoor activities for those Autumn rainy days and the days where we just don't feel like hiking (which is rare, but it happens!). We love to do activities that are really fun and also different, so it was a no brainer that we would head to the Ice Bar to try a new experience.
We had been to the International Antarctic Centre 2 days before, where we experienced the snow and windstorm at a cold -18 degrees C brrr! So we were getting used to doing cold things by this point.
We were soooo excited to take the girls there and it was a complete surprise for them... they didn’t know what was happening until they got in the building. We were hoping it wouldn’t be until they actually stepped inside the ice bar but unfortunately we got a briefing before we went inside!
The girls tried to guess where we were taking them as we told them they needed a jacket and beanie and it was going to be cold. They thought it might be to the snow up one of the mountains because Mt Hutt had had a dumping of snow the week before. It’s fun listening to them guess as they have never seen an ice bar before so would never have been able to guess! Such tricksters, we are.
We had been to the International Antarctic Centre 2 days before, where we experienced the snow and windstorm at a cold -18 degrees C brrr! So we were getting used to doing cold things by this point.
We were soooo excited to take the girls there and it was a complete surprise for them... they didn’t know what was happening until they got in the building. We were hoping it wouldn’t be until they actually stepped inside the ice bar but unfortunately we got a briefing before we went inside!
The girls tried to guess where we were taking them as we told them they needed a jacket and beanie and it was going to be cold. They thought it might be to the snow up one of the mountains because Mt Hutt had had a dumping of snow the week before. It’s fun listening to them guess as they have never seen an ice bar before so would never have been able to guess! Such tricksters, we are.
It's ALL Made Of Ice!
The look on the girl’s faces when they stepped inside was priceless and they were sooo excited to be in this winter wonderland. The first think they did was run up and lick everything, juuust to make sure it really was ice, yum. At one point, Sienna was waddling around like a penguin, finding her next sculpture to lick... it was freaking adorable and what made it even cuter was the fact that she did it because she was in the zone, not because anyone was watching.
Almost everything inside the ice bar is made from ice, including the shelves, bar, table hockey, sculptures, chairs and even the cups and the chandelier! They are sculpted by one of the world's top ice carvers and we think they do a pretty neat job!
We ordered a cocktail and the girls had a mockail...well, apple juice, and it was really exciting for them to be drinking out of an ice cup. I'm surprised it didn't get spilt as they found more enjoyment from licking and biting the cup than they did actually drinking from it. We were warned to hold onto our cups as they can get slippery... and yes, we experienced that.... Lath spilt most of our cocktail - oops.
We were given jackets and gloves and although I bought my own jacket, I put their one over top as I get super cold, so I felt pretty warm but we did end up in the lobby a few times to warm up as we were standing around a lot so it got cold. The girls ended up putting a 2nd pair of gloves on their hands as they were like little icicles.
In the corner near the door there is a dress up booth where you can take photos dressed up in silly hats and wigs. The girls spent A LOT of time playing here, making silly faces and having a lot of fun which helped keep them warm(ish) too as they were jumping around a lot. They made a friend who was there with her mum and they spent well over an hour playing table hockey and dressing up in the booth.
Almost everything inside the ice bar is made from ice, including the shelves, bar, table hockey, sculptures, chairs and even the cups and the chandelier! They are sculpted by one of the world's top ice carvers and we think they do a pretty neat job!
We ordered a cocktail and the girls had a mockail...well, apple juice, and it was really exciting for them to be drinking out of an ice cup. I'm surprised it didn't get spilt as they found more enjoyment from licking and biting the cup than they did actually drinking from it. We were warned to hold onto our cups as they can get slippery... and yes, we experienced that.... Lath spilt most of our cocktail - oops.
We were given jackets and gloves and although I bought my own jacket, I put their one over top as I get super cold, so I felt pretty warm but we did end up in the lobby a few times to warm up as we were standing around a lot so it got cold. The girls ended up putting a 2nd pair of gloves on their hands as they were like little icicles.
In the corner near the door there is a dress up booth where you can take photos dressed up in silly hats and wigs. The girls spent A LOT of time playing here, making silly faces and having a lot of fun which helped keep them warm(ish) too as they were jumping around a lot. They made a friend who was there with her mum and they spent well over an hour playing table hockey and dressing up in the booth.
Happy Ice, Happy Life
It was definitely a happy place at the Below Zero Ice Bar - the music was pumping and everyone was smiling and having loads of fun! We love the fact that kids are allowed in and they have mocktails for them too.
Another awesome feature was the ice sleigh that was sitting in the middle of the room with fur on the seat and feet part so you don't slide around. It's the perfect place for a family photo!
The lights in the bar changed to all sorts of colours (don't make me name them pleeeeease I'm tired!) which we thought was a fun touch and added to the ambience of the bar.
There is no time limit on how long you can spend inside and you can enter without purchasing a drink which is perfect if you just want to experience the ice bar.
When we felt like we all had had enough, we dropped off our gloves and jackets and talk about the ice bar all the way back to Wanaka.
Another awesome feature was the ice sleigh that was sitting in the middle of the room with fur on the seat and feet part so you don't slide around. It's the perfect place for a family photo!
The lights in the bar changed to all sorts of colours (don't make me name them pleeeeease I'm tired!) which we thought was a fun touch and added to the ambience of the bar.
There is no time limit on how long you can spend inside and you can enter without purchasing a drink which is perfect if you just want to experience the ice bar.
When we felt like we all had had enough, we dropped off our gloves and jackets and talk about the ice bar all the way back to Wanaka.
Know Before You Go
- Kids are allowed (yaaaay!)
- You can purchase cocktails and mocktails inside the bar
- Long pants are recommended so you're more comfortable in the bar
- You can lick the ice to your hearts content!
- We paid $8 for the kid’s mocktail and $19 for our cocktail
- For updated prices and hours click here
- You can leave and enter the bar as many times as you need to so you can warm up or go to the bathroom (which isn't made of ice, don't worry!)
- There is no time limit for staying in the bar
- The floor is really grippy so you won't be slip sliding around the place
- The Below Zero Ice Bar is open Friday - Sunday 2pm till late
Mappy McMap Face
Getting There
The Ice Bar in Queenstown is tucked down a little alley way on Searle Lane, off the main road, so we had to park a couple of minutes away and walk there (oh the humanity!).
Conclusion
The Below Zero Ice Bar is such a unique experience that will have everyone smiling from ear to ear. The look on kid's faces is priceless and they will love trying to lick eeeeverything! It's a pretty amazing place with beautifully crafted sculptures and it's a great activity to do in the middle of busy Queenstown. And why not jack the kids up on sugar from the Remarkables Sweet Shop before hand (just around the corner) to make it even more fun!
Gallery of the Below Zero Ice Bar
Check out the rest of the awesomeness that didn't make it to the main blog but deserves to be shown.
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