Kiama ice cream and gelato, 6 places to get a scoop near the coast

Choose your Kiama ice cream stop

Kiama's ice cream shops sit within a few minutes' walk of each other in the town centre, close to the harbour and Blowhole Point. Two more are a short drive south, in Gerringong and Berry. Hours change with the season and the weather, so check before you go.

Spin the flavour wheel at The Original Ice Creamery

The Original Ice Creamery has been scooping on Terralong Street since 1982, and Destination Kiama calls it an iconic Kiama landmark. It is family run, with more than 60 flavours of ice cream, gelato and sorbet, plus sundaes, shakes and a lolly room. If you cannot decide, spin the wheel of flavours and let it pick for you.

It is also the one to visit with the dog: Destination Kiama lists gelato for pets, and its Google listing says dogs are allowed at the outdoor tables. The shop is near the Manning Street end of Terralong Street, so Blowhole Point and the harbour are a short stroll downhill.

Order a thickshake at Cafe Kiama and Scoops

Cafe Kiama and Scoops Ice Creamery is a cafe and ice creamery in one, a short walk west along Terralong Street. Destination Kiama lists 50 flavours of ice cream, sorbet and real Italian gelato, old-school banana splits and sundaes, and extra-thick shakes, iced coffees and iced chocolates.

It also suits a mixed group. Some can order hot waffles, pancakes or a warm chocolate brownie with a scoop on the side, while others have Vietnamese street food such as banh mi and rice paper rolls. It stays open into the evening, so it works for dessert after dinner in town.

Taste farm gelato at The Pines Gelato Bar

The Pines is a family-run dairy farm in Kiama that farms regeneratively, according to Destination Kiama. It makes cheese, yoghurt and artisan gelato from the milk of its pasture-raised cows. The Pines Gelato Bar on Collins Street is where to try that gelato in town, and the business describes it as the only locally made gelato in Kiama.

Collins Street runs off Terralong Street past a row of heritage weatherboard terraces, so it is an easy detour on the way to the harbour. The bar keeps shorter hours than the Terralong Street shops and is closed on Monday and Tuesday, so plan for Wednesday afternoon or Thursday to Sunday.

Grab local gelato at the Wednesday farmers' market

If you are in Kiama on a Wednesday, the Kiama Farmers' Market sets up at Coronation Park on Manning Street from 3pm (2pm outside daylight saving), starting with the ringing of a bell. Destination Kiama lists gelato made from local milk among the stalls, alongside fruit and vegetables, cheese, sourdough and street food, and says The Pines sells its products at the market every week. The market is a 23-minute walk from the apartments. More detail is in our Kiama markets guide.

Drive south to Missi Moo Moo in Gerringong

Gerringong is a hilltop village about 10 minutes' drive south of the apartments, above Werri Beach. Missi Moo Moo is a boutique ice cream and sweet treat shop on Fern Street, the main street. It describes its scoops as handcrafted, with locally made flavours. Pair it with a swim at Werri Beach or a coffee in town. See our Gerringong guide and Gerringong cafes and restaurants.

Add The Dairy Bar to a Berry day trip

Berry is a heritage country town about 20 minutes' drive south. The Dairy Bar sits in the historic Central Creamery precinct beside The Treat Factory, and its own website says its gelato is handcrafted and made on site. It also serves Devonshire teas, coffee and cafe meals, so it makes a good morning tea stop. Plan the rest of the day with our Berry day trip guide.

Walk your ice cream to Blowhole Point or Black Beach

The Terralong Street shops are a short walk from the water, so take your cone for a stroll.

• Blowhole Point: walk down to the Kiama Blowhole and the Kiama Lighthouse. Kiama Council lists a playground, barbecues, undercover picnic tables, toilets and a rock pool on the reserve, and the lawns under the Norfolk Island pines look over the sea. From the apartments it is about a 35-minute walk (2.9 km).
• Black Beach: the small beach between the harbour and the town centre. Destination Kiama describes a large grassy reserve, a picnic area, public toilets and a granite ping-pong table, with ocean pools on either side. It is about a 30-minute walk (2.5 km) from the apartments.
• The harbour: watch the fishing boats in Robertson Basin from the grass. Read more in our Kiama Harbour guide.

Plan an ice cream stop with kids

A few things make an ice cream run with children easier:

• Plan for summer crowds. Searches for Kiama ice cream peak in the December and January school holidays, so allow time for a queue on warm evenings.
• Ask for a cup. Cups suit little hands and windy days on the headland better than cones.
• Pick a shop with seats. Cafe Kiama and Scoops has seating inside and out, so it works when the weather turns.
• Finish at the playground. Blowhole Point Reserve has a playground and toilets, a short walk from the shops.
• Check the day. The Pines Gelato Bar and Missi Moo Moo are closed on Mondays, so choose a Terralong Street shop early in the week.

If you are heading to Jamberoo Action Park, it has its own ice cream outlet, Bombora Scoop, inside the park. For more ideas, see things to do in Kiama with kids.

Stay a short drive from the Terralong Street shops

The town centre ice cream shops are about 3 minutes by car from Kiama Ridge Waters, and Easts Beach is a 15-minute walk the other way. Each of our three-bedroom apartments at 2 Surfleet Place sleeps six, with a full kitchen and garage parking for two cars, and groups can book several on the same site. See family accommodation in Kiama.

Most of our apartments take pets on request, with a $200 cleaning fee, so the dog can share the gelato too. See pet-friendly stays, browse the apartments or check availability. For more sweet stops and coffee, read our Kiama cafes guide.