Ice Cream Festival

Overview

I scream, you scream, we've all been screaming for ice cream — and for once the gods have answered our prayers (and then some). The Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery is once again hosting their annual Ice Cream Festival from February 8–19. But this year they're doubling the dairy hangover — they've since opened their Great Ocean Road venue, so they'll be holding the festival there too.

You may want to prepare the smelling salts because they'll be trotting out 12 new flavours a day. For 12 days. That's 144 unique flavours all up. Cue Homer-esque drooling.

For $15 you can try four flavours of your choice, indulge in an $18 tasting session that covers 12 flavours at once, or just rampage around the place like a deranged, hungry Pac-Man and try to taste 'em all. Compare the relative merits of flavours like pear and blue cheese, lemon star anise, smoked chocolate and five spice and bacon maple syrup — all while relaxing in the huge grounds in either the Yarra Valley or Bellbrae (or both). The view may well be lost on you as you slide into a sugar-induced happiness coma, but that's okay. They aren't inventing all those flavours for you to not try them.

The festival will take place at both the Yarra Valley (Yarra Glen) and Great Ocean Road (Bellbrae) Chocolaterie and Ice Creameries. View the website for more details.