There are few things that epitomise a summer holiday more than ice cream…
The race to beat the summer heat and catch those drips before they are lost to hands or the ground, the sticky and colourful mess surrounding the little one’s grins, the never-ending lick or bite debate….and the tears that come when the less coordinated do not realise that the cone must stay upright for the ice cream to stay put, resulting of course in an empty cone, an empty belly and a sad scoop of melting ice cream on the ground. It’s a mistake rarely made twice.
Our region produces over 2 billion litres of milk each year*, so we’ve definitely got the goods to make it all happen for you and your family this summer. We’ve put together a list of 10 of our favourite artisan ice cream shops for you to try – in no particular order, because it was hard enough picking just 10 let alone the very top 1!
The pretty village of Timboon is a foodie wonderland, and for those with a hunger for delicious fresh local produce, it’s a must visit on your Great Ocean road itinerary. Timboon Fine Ice Cream’s flagship store is heaven for the young and young at heart. There’s even a ‘Sundae School classroom where an educational and over-the-top indulgent ice cream experience is available to groups of 10 or more. The range of flavours makes for difficult decisions but personally, the Passionfruit Meringue flavour wins every time.
The sister store of Timboon Fine Ice Cream down the road is Port Campbell Ice Creamery, which gives you another chance to try a different flavour of Timboon’s finest. Try one on the beach, try one on the Jetty. Wherever you do it you’ll be glad you did.
Step into Dooley’s Ice Cream and you’ll get a fair idea of what you’re in for when you see the swathes of awards displayed on the walls (there’s hardly a vacant space!). All the flavours you can expect to be found are here, plus some that you won’t. Dooley loves to experiment, and you’ll find seasonal concoctions using ingredients like chilli, Vegemite and even charcoal (which is surprisingly delicious). They’ll let you taste before you commit to a flavour so don’t worry, you can always retreat to the Mint Choc Chip (recommended!).
Take a bee-line to Kepler Street and the blue and white striped awnings to escape the summer heat. Pick a flavour to have it mixed on the spot on the cold rock, or skip the theatrics and simply enjoy the delicious creaminess of the ready made selection — all made with local Jersey milk from nearby Nullawarre.
Take a break from the beach and go strawberry picking! Just out of town at Portland Strawberries you can also grab one of their divine artisan ice creams or frozen yoghurts made with the freshest of the fresh strawberries picked on site.
We are super excited that our home-grown Aussie icon dairy brand Bulla is planning to open a flagship visitor experience in our region — Murray Street Icecreamery will be located at the Bulla factory site in Murray Street, Colac.
Ice cream and dairy lovers will have a full paddock to plate experience, with the centre showcasing every step of the production process for the company’s dairy products.
Indoor and outdoor seating spaces will also be available for visitors to relax and enjoy an ice cream or some yoghurt straight from the source.
For a taste of the continent, try Gelato Gelato in Anglesea or Lorne…or both! They’ve taken out national awards for the best gelato in Australia, and are situated perfectly in both spots to provide you with the ammunition to extend your day at the beach with the kids and deliciously.
Some may struggle to keep under control on arrival at this chocolate factory fantasy! The Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie and Icee Creamery is a sweet assault on your senses with the smell of fine chocolates and bright and colourful displays adorning this vast chocolate shop and cafe in Bellbrae, between Torquay and Anglesea. If you think this is just too much for the young ones, that’s okay, there’s a walk-up window serving their divine range of just their ice cream.
You can’t miss it, and you shouldn’t! If you’re hanging out in Lorne for the day in summer, an ice cream is more than likely high on your agenda at Lorne Ice Cream and Smoothies. A selection of delicious and some sophisticated flavours awaits at this Mountjoy Parade shop, where you’ll see the yellow sign stating what it’s all about. The sundaes offer a healthier alternative, but meh? You’re on holiday!
Make your last stop before you return home from your summer holiday at Surf Coast Strawberry Fields. Stretch your legs one last time before returning to the big smoke and spend a couple of hours here strawberry picking. The food truck on site sells their very own strawberry ice cream and you’d be crazy if you didn’t try it.
Whichever you choose, wherever you are, we are certain you’ll all enjoy it – or even better, why not try them ALL on your travels, then you can pick your own favourite!
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Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Great Ocean Road region the Wadawurrung, Eastern Maar & Gunditjmara. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging. We recognise and respect their unique cultural heritage and the connection to their traditional lands. We commit to building genuine and lasting partnerships that recognise, embrace and support the spirit of reconciliation, working towards self-determination, equity of outcomes and an equal voice for Australia’s first people.
