Coronet Peak opens New Zealand’s first ever Ice Castles experience

Queenstown ski field Coronet Peak is enhancing its offerings to visitors with the opening of a new interactive experience The Ice Slides.

Created by by Utah, USA-based Ice Castles, the attraction features tunnel slides, turrets, peep holes and a large throne that have been created by professional ice artisans, including an award-winning ice carver. The team has hand placed thousands of icicles and ice blocks each day since construction began in June to create the 4000-ton structure.

The attraction is located next to the main Coronet Express chairlift within easy walking distance from the base building deck.

Guests will be able to race down winding slides encased entirely in ice and get those all-important photos perched on a frozen throne. The ice is illuminated at night with colour-changing LED lights which will add to the magic of Coronet Peak’s night skiing on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Introducing the attraction, Coronet Peak Ski Area Manager, Nigel Kerr says the experience is all about sharing the magic of winter, especially with those who don’t ski or snowboard, commenting “the changing country-of-origin mix of New Zealand tourism means more people are attuned to sightseeing all year round, summer or winter.

“This is part of moving our product mix to appeal to them as well as our regular pass holders who will love the surprise.”

Ice Castles Chief Executive Ryan Davis said the icy attraction was the first for New Zealand, stating “we love being able to bring our experience to the Southern Hemisphere. Our team is all about giving more people around the world another way to enjoy the outdoors together, make memories, and freeze time with their loved ones.”

Ice Castles is a seasonal entertainment company that creates elaborate, frozen castles, slides, and other structures each winter in six cities across North America.

Made entirely of frozen water, the giant structure at Coronet Peak has taken 52 days to build with a crew of six ice artisans from across the United States and Canada having moved to area to construct the experience.

Davis says the project has had its challenges, adding “for example, every new location needs new suppliers for items such as plumbing parts and hard hats.

While these were easy to source locally, other items had to be shipped from overseas, and this required a lot of patience.

“Instead of a castle, we built something equally interactive and exciting. Ice slides, especially when you can race each other, are hugely popular, so we’re delighted with the result.”

The light display will operate on Coronet Peak’s night ski evenings, running on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from late July.

Price to use the attraction are $35 for those aged 12 and over, $29 for those age six to 11, while under fives are free.

For more information go to icecastles.com/new-zealand

Images courtesy of Coronet Peak/Chris Hoopmann.

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