Alpine Winter Festival: Bondi

First published on 12 May 2010. Updated on 5 Apr 2011.

You no longer need to travel to the other side of the world for a piece of outdoor ice skating action. Following the success of last year's festival, the folks behind the Alpine Winter Festival are back with a bigger and better family-friendly offering to celebrate the chill with a second location - Bondi!

You can now perform your toe loop with Bondi Beach as a backdrop on an 600m² ice rink entitled the Bondi Bergstation. When you're done with the skates (or when they're done with you), you can warm your tootsies at the nearby alpine hut in front of a blazing log fire with a mug of hot chocolate in hand. If you're after more substantial fare, you can feast here on goulash, bratwurst and bratkartoffeln. Round it all off with a beer, a cocktail or a glass of champagne at the slinky St Moritz Bar to give you that genuine après-ski feeling.

Or, if all of that's simply far too energetic, then just soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the European folk music as you sip on a steaming Glühwein.

Finally, head home - warm and content with a newfound appreciation of winter. Now that's pretty cool.