What’s the only thing better than a day out at the coast? A day at the coast with ice cream. From your traditional double scoop of chocolate by the beach to specialty ice cream (Kakadu Plum anyone?) served up in a former dairy shed, the Eurobodalla is standing by to scoop up a cold treat for visitors.
Mogo Ice Creamery and Rock Face Café Mogo
Just ten kilometres south of Batemans Bay, Mogo may be small on population but it’s big on attractions. This village of 322 residents is best known for the Mogo Wildlife Park, but it’s also attractive for the fact it has not one, but two great ice cream options.
The Mogo Ice Creamery and Outdoor Café boasts a funky setting (it’s housed inside a refurbished retro petrol station); the homemade ice creams are best enjoyed under the shaded pergola. This pet-friendly cafe also offers lunch (burgers, hot potatoes and homemade meals) and is well known for its award-winning scones.
A stone’s throw away, Rock Face Café and Takeaway Mogo offers seriously good traditional takeaway food (yes, excellent burgers), but wait – there’s a twist. Homemade goulash, homemade relish and delicious schnitzel made by the Hungarian owners all get rave reviews from visitors. Of course, there’s also ice cream – but in this case it’s homemade Russian ice cream. Which will you choose? Vanilla, mango or raspberry?
Tilba Real Dairy (ABC Cheese)
At first glance, a building labelled ABC Cheese Factory, in the heritage village of Central Tilba, doesn’t scream “get your scoops here”. Unless, of course, it’s also the home of Tilba Real Dairy, the company that’s earned a stack of accolades for dairy products from double cream to delicious camembert.
Ice creams are usually enjoyed outside in the fresh country air, and don’t forget to leave some room in the car boot for some take home goodies. Pot set yoghurt, fresh bottled milk, and local cheeses are all specialities here. If your visit happens to be a Monday or Wednesday morning you can even peek at the production process during your visit.
Narooma Ice Creamery Cafe
Lamington gelato in a cone? Salted caramel in a take home tub? Or perhaps just a simple up of Mars Bar ice cream. You name it, there’s a creative, decadent option waiting at the Narooma Ice Creamery Cafe. The café, located on the northern edge of this seaside town at 46 Princes Highway, features a rotating menu of house-made ice cream flavours, so every visit is different, even if your appetite for ice cream is consistently high. If you’re looking for something heartier this ice creamery offers plenty of options for breakfast, lunch or ready-made take home meals.
Batemans Bay Ice Creamery
With over 40 flavours of gourmet ice cream served in home-made waffle cones and a sneaky view of the Clyde River, it’s unsurprising the Batemans Bay Ice Creamery has been a favourite in the region for over 37 years. Visitors in need of a caffeine fix will appreciate the wood roasted coffee, while those who have had their fill of ice cream (if that’s even possible) can turn to a sweet or savory crepe, Belgian waffle or, if you’ve really left your sweet tooth at home, one of the company’s much-loved bacon and egg rolls.
Bodalla Dairy Shed
Just 40 minutes from Batemans Bay, Bodalla Dairy Shed offers ice cream that’s so fresh it’s only available on site where it’s produced. Here, even their signature flavours have zest – options include Kakadu Plum and the changing ‘experiment’ flavours might include hokey pokey, chili chocolate or berry cheesecake.
More than just a delicious ice creamery, the Bodalla Dairy Shed has plenty of other options onsite to entice visitors: from the edible (living milkshakes or fresh breakfast and lunches in the milk bar) to the entertaining – there are daily animal feedings at 10am and 4pm – a chance for the kids to bottle feed a poddy calf or hang out with an alpaca).
Staying locally? Check out Bodalla Dairy Shed’s curbside delivery packs to local areas like Bodalla, Potato Point, Turlinjah and Tuross.
Moruya Ice Cream Cafe
From creamy banana to chocolate obsession, the 13 flavours of ice cream on offer from Moruya Ice Cream Cafe near the Moruya Bridge will keep visitors on the lookout for a cold, sweet treat happy indeed.
Despite the new owner, Shawn Gehrig, taking over the business in one of the toughest years on record, he’s managed to keep his sense of humour over the past twelve months. When a blackout hit Moruya shortly after his arrival during the 2019 fires, Shawn won the hearts of locals by first cranking up the generator, and then installing a sign at the café’s counter saying, “taking bookings for baby showers in September” (nine months after the incident).
