Find your way, lickety split, to these purveyors of South Bank’s best ice creams, gelatos sundaes, popsicles and frozen yoghurts to get the scoop on everyone’s favourite frozen treat. All you have to do is select cup or cone…

Ben & Jerry’s

Ice cream with a conscience has been Ben & Jerry’s mission since the company fired up its churn in 1978. But these fair trade scoops are more than just mindful – they’re some of the creamiest and most-delicious in the world. There’s more than 600 Scoop Shops around the world, and now you can get your Phish Food, The Tonight Dough and Chunky Monkey fix right in the heart of South Bank. Vegans aren’t forgotten either thanks to Ben & Jerry’s excellent dairy free options like Lemon Sorbet, Strawberry Marshmallo and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Non-Dairy. Cones and cups aside, if you want more than a basic scoop, you can book ice cream catering (yes, please!), buy ice cream cakes or choose from the menu of sundaes and bakery items too.

New Zealand Natural

Cool and natural just like the country it’s made in, New Zealand Natural stakes a claim for South Bank’s most popular ice cream joint with fresh, quality ingredients and a classic selection of flavours. Get a scoop or two (go big or go home!) or mix it up with a frozen yoghurt, a smoothie or an extra decadent sundae.

Cold Rock

The original mix-your-own ice cream shop, Cold Rock at South Bank is the perfect post-swim treat when the weather’s hot and humid (and even if it’s not, to be honest). There’s dozens of flavours and a plethora of mix-ins creating more than 3000 possible combinations, so Cold Rock calls for repeat visits to make your way through every creamy iteration. All in the name of research, of course!

Happy Pops

Hailing all the way from the sunny shores of Noosa, Happy Pops in Stanley Street Plaza is the answer to your make-your-own ice cream on a stick dreams. First pick your naked pop to decorate, then choose a fave chocolate drizzle before picking up to three sprinkle toppings to pretty up that pop. Made using all-natural Australian ingredients, minus the preservatives, there’s even dairy-free options so the vegans in your life can get in on the action too. If making choices sends you into a spin of overwhelm, don’t stress. Just pick from the selection of pre-made premium pops and get to the licking part quicker. A word of warning: if your little people are particularly pulled by the lure of a lickable treat, steer clear of this shopfront. If you aren’t willing to buy them a kids’ mini pop (or three) you may just have a tantrum on your hands in front of the very aesthetic display… 

Geláre

What do you get when you combine all-natural ingredients, an extra hit of cream and less air? The utter decadence that is a scoop (or two) of Geláre. Situated on Little Stanley Street, the ice creamery is a temple to all things sweetness. All your favourite flavours make an appearance but you can also get acquainted with a few surprising ones if you’re feeling adventurous. And, in exciting news for vegans, Geláre also serves up an organic, dairy, soy and egg-free scoop (sweetened with organic agave syrup) that’s so creamy you can barely tell it’s dairy free!

Gelato Messina

Lining up for ice cream may feel weird but, trust us, it will be worth your time at cult favourite Gelato Messina. Just a few blocks down Melbourne Street from the cultural centre, this ever-popular ice cream and gelato mecca sits with overflowing tubs of freshly churned magic waiting to wow your tastebuds. Known for their fun, produce-driven pairings, textural recreations and zany interpretations you can pick from 35 standard flavours and five rotating specials each week. Not sure what to pick? You can sample as many as you like because these decisions are important. Vegans can get amongst the sorbet action too and if you want a bit more Messina, then there’s cakes, chocolate and merch to takeaway too.