The clear, frosty weather has meant the Maniototo Ice Luge has opened earlier this winter than it has for several years, and has helped create good conditions on the Naseby skating rink, as well.
"It's been great. We've had really good weather lately," Maniototo Ice Rink and Luge manager Susie Farrell said. "It's been really cold, with lots of frosts. That's what we want, we want the cold weather."
About 500 people made the most of the high quality ice at Saturday's Naseby Ice Festival, which featured skating, curling and luging.
International coaches Adam Jedrzejko, of Poland, and Greta Pinggera, of Italy, were coaching visitors during the day on the natural ice luge, which has been open for about two weeks.
Jedrzejko, who has returned to Naseby for his fifth season, and Pinggera, who is in Naseby for the first time, will be based in the Maniototo for the winter.
Pinggera was the women's world luging champion in 2017 and also won the World Cup the same year.
Jedrzejko is Poland's top natural track luger.
The ice was also centre stage in Alexandra on Saturday, when the Alexandra Ice Skating Club held its annual figure skating championship at Ice InLine.
About 50 people competed.
