We don't get a white Christmas Down Under, so sadly that means we miss out on some of the classic traditions that appear over and over in all the festive films. One of those is the picturesque romance of an ice skating outing – but don't fret, because Melbourne has got the next best thing: a Christmas roller rink.
We'd argue that a roller rink is just as good as an icy one – you get all the fun of ice skating, but without the freezing temps, which sounds like a win to us. The pop-up festive roller rink is coming to Carlton in the lead-up to Christmas, for an Aussie take on the skating tradition.
If you've got your own skates, you can show off your fancy footwork with free entry. Otherwise, it's $10 to hire skates, with a small fee for online bookings. The rink will take over Argyle Square, just off Lygon Street. Take the kids or head there for date night, with the rink open until late for skating under the stars while grooving to some tunes.
Enjoy a bowl of pasta from one of the many nearby eateries before your session and some gelato from Pidapipo afterwards, and you've got yourself a great summer evening.
Or get a takeaway and kick back at Piazza Italia right next to the rink, which will get a Christmas makeover with colourful decorations and light-up bell swings. The roller rink is part of Melbourne's Christmas Festival, and there is plenty of festive fun running right up until December 24 across the city. The rink opens on December 14, for more information check out the website.
