Overview
We sing songs about it at primary school, disguise it as 'cake' at birthday parties, and wedge it between cookies to pass it off as a sandwich. We're equally as innovative when it comes to flavours as we are modes of consumption – Gourmet Foods of New Zealand once made Speight's-flavoured ice cream as a joke, only to receive orders for more from all around the world.
As the constitutional and cultural capital of New Zealand, it's only fitting that Wellington offers not only the tried and tested frozen delights we've grown up with, but leads the way in developing innovative tasty treats to tickle your taste buds and keep you cool during this balmy summer season.
The Bresolin
With a lifetime's worth of McDonald's and Mr Whippy associations to overcome, my brain initially struggled to compute "The Bresolin + soft serve". Even if it had, I don't think anything could prepare me for this experience. Pictured is the weekly soft serve, which at the time was Jaffa: chocolate soft serve, crushed honeycomb, jaffas, and orange sauce. It may not be the prettiest of ice creams, but who doesn't love a bit of rustic charm? Light but jam-packed with flavour, and the perfect balance of smooth and crunchy. The following week, they served caramel and raspberry with popcorn. Popcorn! The Bresolin will make you reconsider everything you've ever thought about soft serve.
278 Willis Street, Te Aro
Kaffee Eis
What's not to love about an absurdly extensive range of over 40 equally delicious flavours of sorbet and gelato, and a combination of beach front and city centre locations? Everyone has their favourite location, but Frank Kitt's Lagoon surely has to take the cake with the outdoor seating area and consistent queues out the door. The Cuba St and Courtney Place branches are also open late to cater to your post-daylight cravings. Staff are consistently friendly and happy to offer samples of each flavour because, let's face it, this may be the most important decision you make all day. I highly recommend the Bon Bon Rocher. If all else fails, this is one game of eeny meeny miny moe that won't leave you disappointed.
Frank Kitts Lagoon, 49/77 Jervois Quay, Wellington
Berry Culture
It's not technically ice cream, but it's cold and delicious so I'm sure you'll forgive me. Plus, this frozen yoghurt contains four strains of live cultures and is 96% fat free. Pictured is the ever-popular berries and white chocolate option – an amazing combination of tart and sweet. You can choose from the list of yoghurt creations provided, or choose your own toppings. It may all seem a little overwhelming at first, but owner Sarah Harrow is a trouper –explaining the process to each customer with endless enthusiasm. Did I mention it's served out of a truck? Extremely 'gram-worthy.
Outside Moore Wilson's Fresh, 93 Tory Street, Te Aro
The Oriental Bay Store
While many dairies have slowly fazed out the scoop/rolled ice cream, the Oriental Bay Store has capitalized on its prime beach front location to bring you all of the standard garishly coloured Kiwi classics you know and love: Goody Goody Gumdrops, Hokey Pokey, Orange Chocolate Chip, alongside the more upmarket scoops of Kapiti Ice Cream for the more discerning ice cream connoisseur. Top marks to Kapiti's gingernut flavour. The only downside to the Oriental Bay Store is that there are only four cabinets of flavours to choose from… but is that really a downside?
252 Oriental Parade, Oriental Bay
Gelissimo Gelateria
Gelissimo headquarters are located in the New Zealand Stock Exchange building - perfect for a more corporate gelato experience, or to enjoy a few metres away to the water's edge. Or you could take a stroll on a fine day to Oriental Bay and visit the Freyberg store that sits right on the beach. Avoid any sense of guilt in the knowledge that Gelissimo make their gelato with fresh organic whole milk. It's gotta be good for ya.
Taranaki Wharf, 11 Cable Street, Wellington
Five Boroughs
There's something to be said for a classic banana split, and Five Boroughs has many things to say about it. Three scoops of chocolate and jelly tip Tip Top ice cream, surrounded by banana and topped with whipped cream, almond slices, chocolate sprinkles and berry sauce has all your dessert bases covered.
4 Roxburgh Street, Mt Victoria
Tommy Millions
Pizza and gelato! Pizza and gelato! I doubt I need to say more, but just for the sake of talking points to fill awkward silences, the gelato is made right here in Wellington by Gelissimo and the mint chocolate chip flavour pictured here is just gosh darned delicious. Thank the deity you can buy it by the litre.
Corner of Courtenay Place and Taranaki Street, Te Aro
Espresso Cafe
While it may not be the most sophisticated culinary experience, there's no comparison for that sense of delight when you're handed a hundred-and-thousands covered ice cream and challenged to consume it before the sun does. I don't care how old you are. Bonus points awarded for the ice cream truck's location ten steps from the water's edge at Oriental Bay - still totally within the 'togs' zone.
66 Oriental Parade, Oriental Bay
The Frogurt Store
After overhearing more than one person declaring they would "die for a froyo" on the beach this weekend, including the Frogurt Store in this line up seemed unavoidable, despite the cringe-worthy contraction of frozen yoghurt to 'froyo' or 'frogurt'. The Frogurt Store is a family owned and operated business, and was the first self-serve frozen yoghurt store to hit Wellington. Create your own masterpiece by choosing your froyo flav, add all the toppings your heart desires, then pay for the weight of your creation. It's pretty fun. The chocolate hazelnut flavour, pictured here, was refreshing and tasty. They even have a, wait for it, Froto Booth. Don't be the yo-pro with froyo FOMO.
89 Courtenay Place, Te Aro
Wooden Spoon Boutique Freezery
A lesser-known Wellington delicacy is well hidden in the depths of the Moore Wilson's Fresh and New World City and Thorndon freezers: Wooden Spoon Boutique Freezery has absolutely nailed the art of the ice cream sandwich, and pre-made and packaged them for your enjoyment. Their ice cream is made in small batches by hand, and the perfectly soft cookies are made locally too by Dough Momma. Pictured is the classic: vanilla ice cream sandwiched between chocolate chip cookies. Pro tip: let it melt a bit before you take a bite to avoid breaking your teeth. Words can't express how good these are. And since it's classified as a sandwich, I say it's a perfectly acceptable lunch choice. Check out Wooden Spoon's website – you can sign up to get ice cream delivered to your door. I wouldn't joke about such a thing.
Note: While not technically an ice cream joint, we couldn't not include Wooden Spoon on our list.
Moore Wilson's Fresh, 93 Tory Street, Te Aro
Photography by Mika Shiota