When it comes to ice cream New Zealand knows how to do it right. As a country, New Zealand consumes the most ice cream per capita each year, at a whopping 28 liters each (that’s 8 gallons to those in the USA)!
So, it would stand to reason that our ice cream is exceptional and not to be missed while you are on the road exploring in your Roam Motorhome. Nothing beats a cooling ice cream or sorbet on a hot day, or even a refreshing treat on a cooler wintery day.
Our ice creams are packed with top quality dairy, locally grown fruit and boast a huge range of exotic flavour combinations that will blow your mind.
From North to South, here are a few spots you can get that scoop at…
Mangonui – Village Creamery
The best little ice cream and shake spot in the far North. Their Ferrero Rocher milkshake is amazing and not to be missed. Take a break in this sunny seaside town and wander the waterfront while you enjoy your frozen treats.
Find them at 126 Waterfront Road, Mangōnui
Kerikeri – Kerikeri Gelato Company
From dairy free options, frozen yogurt and traditional gelato, you won’t be disappointed by a stop here. Their passionfruit frozen yogurt along with the traditional chocolate gelato get rave reviews. The family previously owned a spray free blueberry farm but now make excellent frozen treats from locally sourced ingredients.
Find them at 1381 State Highway 10, Kerikeri
Whangarei – Bocky Boo’s
Plant based options abound here alongside sorbet and gelato. Their coconut salted caramel is to die for and the friendly staff and fun store will be a welcome stop off while in Whangarei.
Find them at 71 Cameron Street, Whangārei
Matakana – Charlie’s Gelato
Charlies is an institution in the area and is a must stop on your way past, in fact you should detour to make sure you go past! Their range of flavours are incredible and you will want to try them all! Personal favourites include their Black Doris Plum and their Dark Chocolate. They have a cute garden to sit in and enjoy your ice cream plus they sell take home containers to slip into the motorhome freezer for later on!
Find them at 17 Sharp Road, Warkworth
Auckland has a slew of parlours to visit, all are tops, and it is only restricted to how long you have and where you head in the city.
Try Duck Island, an absolute winner, locations all over Auckland (and Hamilton and Wellington now), Island Gelato, Takapuna Beach Café (which conveniently has a motor camp right next to it) and Scrunchy Millers in Milford on the North Shore.
Cambridge – GelatAmore
Generous sizes and a big range of flavours gives GelatAmore the big tick when heading through Cambridge. Their sorbets are refreshing and not too sweet and the banan split and sundae are worth a look too.
Find them at 1/44 Victoria Street, Cambridge
Mt Maunganui – Copenhagen Cones
A 30-year history makes this a well known and loved store. Queues sometimes line the street outside as a testament to how good their products are. Their gelato, dairy free options, frozen yogurt and fun toppings in their signature freshly made waffle cones make a perfect addition to a walk on the beach nearby.
Find them at 14 Adams Avenue, Mount Maunganui 3116
Hahei Beach – Little Lato
Little Lato are all over NZ for a good reason and this store in sunny Hahei is a gem. Their award-winning frozen delights, like dairy free Raspberry Lamington and Espresso Martini, are not to be missed. They are innovative and sometimes quirky with their flavours so try something new while in one of their stores. In Hahei you can find them at the Hahei General Store or other locations including Takapuna in Auckland, Rotorua, Taupo and Timaru.
@littlelato
Taupo – Luna’s Gelateria
The glass fronted cabinets beckon you in with the array of colours and flavours on offer. With many dairy free options available alongside traditional gelato you will be sure to find a flavor that takes your fancy. Free tasters are available to help with your all-important choice. Once you have chosen wander down to the lakefront and enjoy the scenery while you munch your frozen treats.
Find them at 29 Tongariro Street, Taupō
Napier – Rush Munroe’s in Hastings
Rush Munroe’s are New Zealand’s oldest ice creamery and are still going strong with their creamy treats. Located in a pretty garden setting where you can sit and enjoy your ice cream, Rush Munroe’s use only natural ingredients and make a deliciously creamy ice cream. Favourites include their Maple Walnut and the Feijoa ice cream – if you’re not familiar with this fruit then it’s a must try while in Hastings!
Find them at Albert Square Park, 201 Heretaunga Street West, Hastings
Lick This (Marine Parade)
Another long-standing icon in Hawkes Bay, Lick This has an outstanding range of flavours, both ice cream and dairy free sorbets. Family favourites include Peanut Butter Choc Chip and the ultimate kid favourites of Bubblegum and Unicorn! They also made fantastic waffles which can be topped with their delicious ice cream. Located right on Marine Parade in Napier, this store is calling your name when you’re in the Bay.
Find them at 290 Marine Parade, Napier
Taranaki – Little Liberty Creamery
This plant-based creamery churns out such delicious flavours you wouldn’t know there isn’t a hint of dairy in them. Their products are made with a base of cashew nuts, cacao butter and coconut milk and boast flavours like Almond Mocha, Peanut Butter Cluster, Brown Sugar Vanilla and Mint Chocolate Chunk.
Find them at 40 Matai Street, Inglewood, Taranaki 433
Wellington
Kaffee Eis – From a ‘coffee shop that sold a little bit of ice cream’ to a multiple award-winning gelato and sorbetto store, Kaffee Eis is one of New Zealand’s top places to get your frozen delights! This year in the NZ Ice Cream and Gelato awards they took home awards for their Lemon Sorbet, Passionfruit sorbet and Strawberry sorbet, all 3 getting gold awards and their Chocolate and Forest Fruit gelato bringing home silvers. Several more flavours were awarded bronze awards. You get the picture, right? This place is where you need to stop when you’re in Wellington!
Find them in Marion Square, Wellington Central
Nelson area has several top locations to visit while there. The first is Penguino Ice Cream Café, where their Lavender & Coconut dairy free and Mango & chili flakes flavours both won medals in this year’s awards. An ice cream platter is also available here, giving you the opportunity to try several of their epic flavours.
Find them at 85 Montgomery Square, Nelson
Appleby Farms Ice Cream parlour and truck.
Another award-winning producer with a slew of medals for their delicious frozen treats. Sometimes the simple flavours are best and their Vanilla Bean is tops in this department. Appleby’s use A2 milk for all their products.
Find the Scoop Parlour at 153 Trafalgar Street or the truck at Tahnuanui Beach in summer
Christchurch has several top spots to check out with the best in town being Rollicking Ice. This little spot has the most impressive looking ice cream display and you will be sure to find a flavour to suit, from creamy gelato to real fruit sorbets and take home dessert boxes, there is something for everyone – including the motorhome freezer!
Find them Near the Riverside Markets and Bridge of Remembrance, Central Christchurch City
Also worth a mention are Gelato Lab and Utopia Ice!
Queenstown and Wanaka are also spoilt for choice with several options in the area but the standout is Patagonia Chocolate in Queenstown with its liquid chocolate on tap that they smother on your cone or cup and then fill with your choice of the most epic of ice cream or sorbet! It is heavenly! They also make a hot chocolate not to be missed and sell loads of take-home treats. Stores are also in Wanaka and Arrowtown, just not with the chocolate on tap.
Find Patagonia Queenstown at 2 Rees Street, down by the lake.
In summer you will also see signs for fresh fruit ice creams at roadside stalls or at orchards. These are a real Kiwi treat and are frozen fruit, usually berries, and churned with ice cream or frozen yogurt. A real family favourite, make sure to stop and try one if you see them advertised.
