The dish Holiday ice cream guide

Wherever your New Zealand holiday roadie takes you, we have the best ice cream spots and flavours worth a stop (or detour) along the way! From classic cones to innovative creations, these Kiwi brands offer delightful treats for every ice cream lover.

Sparrow & Sweet is a community focused team, crafting award-winning small batch artisan gelato made fresh in their Pukekohe store. They opened their doors in March 2023, and have already won three medals in the New Zealand Ice Cream and Gelato Awards!

Their new Takanini store opens this month – definitely worth a detour off the motorway on a roadie! You might also find Sparrow & Sweet’s food trucks at Auckland events over the summer months.

Island Gelato was born on Waiheke Island ten years ago. Today, you can find their multi-award-winning gelato across five scoop stores, and at Farro. In 2023, they were ranked by the Financial Times (UK) as one of the world’s greatest 25 ice-cream stores!

Island Gelato has an endless passion for flavour, texture, freshness and colour. Everything they put into our gelato is high quality, honest, and delicious. The proof is, quite literally, in the pudding!

Every batch of Little ‘Lato gelato is churned to velvety perfection, just like founder Hannah learnt at Gelato University in Italy (yes there is such a place!). At the heart of their flavour philosophy is curiosity and surprise, and the imaginative fusion of ingredients.

Little ‘Lato’s extraordinary gelato flavours for those on gluten free, nut free, or vegan diets are also out-of-this-world delicious. You can find their multi-award-winning scoops in plenty of destinations across the country this summer!

Lewis Road Creamery have added even more indulgence to their super premium range! Introducing Rocky Delight ice cream, a mix of rich chocolate, butter crumb shortbread, nutty flavours, and a luscious marshmallow ribbonette — it’s truly delightful.

Available in 470ml tubs from New World, Pak’n Save, Farro, and Woolworths stores – so you’ll find this treat wherever you go on holiday! Now also scooping at The Lookout in the Sky Tower, and The Capitol and Bridgeway Cinemas.