With the temperatures creeping up and day stretching out, it's time to start thinking about what the warmer weather can bring... namely, ice cream. From Golden Bay to Nelson, we’ve collated an account of frozen goodness in cones scattered about our region that boost our moods and put us in the mindset of warmer, longer days.
Picking your own berries in Nelson Tasman is about as summery as it gets, but for those who don’t want to wait until berry season, Berry Lands also offers a pop-up shop at Old Factory Corner. Treat yourself to a cone or cup of real-fruit ice cream after you’ve sourced local, artisanal produce from the Corner.
A convenience store with a difference, namely that it's right on Kaiteriteri's famous beach stretch and serves real-fruit ice cream, gelato and other frozen treats all year round.
Famous for their cherries, Thomas Bros serves real-fruit ice cream (featuring the famous cherries) from November through to March. It is one of the few opportunities where you can taste cherry ice cream from fruit picked just along the road at the orchard’s 2.5-ha cherry block.
As the name suggests, Motueka Creamery is located in Motueka and proudly produces award-winning ice cream inspired by our region's offerings. Try the Mt. Arthur Snowfall Vanilla, which won a gold medal at the 2023 NZ Ice Cream & Gelato Awards. Buy a tub at New World Motueka then go online for some recipe inspiration.
You simply can't return from Abel Tasman and its surrounding beaches without stopping for a T.O.A.D Hall treat on your way back to Nelson. They serve only New Zealand-made organic ice cream and yogurt and have a large variety of flavours available. The berries are always sourced locally if possible.