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The battle of Australia’s 18 best summer ice creams

Emily Murphy Emily Murphy
These cult-favourite ice creams prove Australian summers are built on nostalgia, loyalty and strong opinions. 

There are many ways Australians mark the start of summer. Swapping jumpers for thongs. Complaining it’s already too hot. And standing in front of a freezer, debating ice cream like it’s a life decision.  

Every summer, the same cult favourites rise to the top, sparking fierce loyalty, friendly rivalry and the occasional “sorry but that one’s overrated" hot take. From supermarket legends to scoop shops with lines out the door, this is the annual, unofficial battle for Australia’s most beloved summer ice cream, ranked only by how fiercely I love them. 

18. Paddle Pop

A cornerstone of Australian childhoods. Creamy, simple and deeply nostalgic, Paddle Pops are proof that you don’t need fancy flavours to win hearts. Still elite, still dependable and still best eaten on a hot afternoon when you probably should’ve had lunch. 

17. Drumstick

drumstick
Drumstick comes in new flavours.

Ice cream with theatre. The chocolate-lined cone, the crunchy base, the way everyone saves the last bite for maximum satisfaction. It’s so iconic that it’s now part of Australia’s Big Things ice cream legacy, which feels entirely correct. 

16. Cow and the Moon

The gelato shop that turned pistachio into a religion. Known for balance, depth of flavour and queues that barely move, Cow and the Moon is for people who say “just one scoop" and then immediately order another. 

15. Lifesavers

The ice cream version of the lolly you used to sort by colour. Sweet, refreshing and gone in about 30 seconds. Still fun. Still nostalgic. 

14. Bubble O’Bill

A cowboy hat, a bubblegum nose and a personality all of its own. It’s chaotic, divisive and impossible to forget. An icon, whether you loved it or not. 

13. Zooper Dooper

Not technically ice cream, but spiritually essential. The freezer staple of Aussie summers, best enjoyed dripping down your wrist on the hottest day of the year. 

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12. Calippo

The squeeze, the slurp, the citrus hit. Calippos are refreshment first, dessert second, and perfect when it’s too hot for anything creamy. 

11. Cornetto

The sophisticated cousin to the Drumstick. Chocolate tip, crunchy cone, creamy centre and just enough drama to feel indulgent. 

10. Cyclone

A tropical throwback that tastes like swimming carnivals and beach kiosks. Bright, fun and instantly nostalgic. 

9. Icy Pole

Simple, effective and still undefeated in extreme heat. Sometimes you don’t need bells and whistles, just cold, sweet relief. 

8. Milo Scoop Shake

Comfort in a cup. Chocolatey, creamy and deeply familiar, this one feels like a hug from your childhood pantry. 

7. Connoisseur

The freezer staple you buy “for guests" and then eat yourself. Rich flavours, smooth textures and quietly luxurious without being flashy. 

6. Frosty Fruits

Peak nostalgia. The kind of ice cream that lives in grandparents’ freezers and tastes like backyard summers. Sweet, refreshing and deeply sentimental. 

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5. Splice

The perfect balance of creamy vanilla and icy fruit. One bite and you’re instantly transported to holiday mode. 

4. Messina

You might not be able to find these in your local corner store, but no ice cream list is complete without the juggernaut. Weekly specials, experimental flavours and queues that prove Australians will wait patiently for exceptional gelato. Love it or roll your eyes at it, Messina has earned its cult status.

3. Magnum

Decadent, indulgent and unmistakable. Thick chocolate shell, rich centre and zero apologies. This is ice cream as a treat.

2. Weis Mango and Ice Cream Bar

A national treasure. Real mango flavour, creamy vanilla and the confidence of an ice cream that doesn’t need gimmicks to be perfect. 

1. Golden Gaytime

The undisputed legend. Biscuit bits, caramel, vanilla and nostalgia all working together in chaotic harmony. If summer had a flavour, this would be it. 

Will this spark debates? Absolutely. Should it. Definitely. Because in Australia, summer isn’t just about the heat. It’s about standing in front of the freezer, arguing passionately, and knowing deep down that the best ice cream is the one you’re eating right now. 

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Emily Murphy
Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her time at the company she has been instrumental in shaping its social media and email presence, and crafting compelling narratives that inspire others to explore Australia's vast landscapes. Her previous role was a journalist at Prime Creative Media and before that she was freelancing in publishing, content creation and digital marketing. When she's not creating scroll-stopping travel content, Em is a devoted 'bun mum' and enjoys spending her spare time by the sea, reading, binge-watching a good TV show and exploring Sydney's vibrant dining scene. Next on her Aussie travel wish list? Tasmania and The Kimberley.
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The secret Sydney suite life: a luxury under-the-radar stay right on the harbour

    Kate Bettes Kate Bettes
    Continue
    This winter, these secret Sydney harbour suites are the staycation we’ve been looking for.

    Whether it’s the crisscrossing ferries or the white sails of the Opera House rising out of blue depths, Australia’s biggest city lives for its harbour. But while locals might glance at that watery expanse on their daily commute across the Bridge, it can still be hard to truly connect with Sydney’s maritime soul. The secret: seeing the harbour eye-to-eye, right at water level. And what better place to submerge yourself in that energy than sleeping there? That’s where Pier One Sydney Harbour comes in (and with new all-inclusive bed and breakfast benefits, there’s even more to love).

    All-inclusive VIP benefits

    Who Is Elijah Amenities at Pier One Sydney Harbour
    Book in for the all-inclusive VIP treatment.

    The hard truth is that it will be very difficult to tear yourself away from your ultra-luxurious harbour home-away-from-home to explore the city. If you want to make leaving even harder, opt for Pier One’s all-inclusive VIP treatment.

    The Bed and Breakfast with Suite Benefits package turns up the volume on what is already the ultimate staycation, with complimentary valet parking, daily breakfast for two and turndown service. The biggest perk? Enjoy a bottle of French champagne every day during your whole stay

    Pier One Sydney Harbour

    Pier One Sydney Harbour
    Step into a piece of history with all the modern comforts. (Credit: Dave Wheeler)

    The five-star Pier One Sydney Harbour is quite literally old Sydney through and through. Built on what was once a working cargo wharf and the passenger terminal for those heading to the North Shore before the bridge was constructed, the heritage building sits right between the tangle of cobblestones, pubs and alleyways of The Rocks and the historic docking zone of Walsh Bay – at the centre of the city’s old sea trade.

    If knowing the hotel’s history isn’t enough to get your sea-longing going, the interior design certainly will. As soon as you step up to the concierge desk in the lobby of the restored building – which underwent a $15 million redevelopment in 2019 – you’re immersed in Sydney’s seafaring tale. Weathered wood panelling and white marble floors surround you, while loop lighting installations hover above the bar island just beyond, ringed with stools ready for intimate, martini-tinted conversations. Steel rivets and timber beams speak to its past, and glass-walled views anchor you firmly in the present-day life on the harbour.

    Pier One Suites

    Pier One Sydney Harbour admiral suite
    Enjoy incredible views from your suite.

    Across the 189 rooms and suites built on and over the water, the maritime theme continues. Sculptural aged brass fittings, exposed girders, colour schemes that evoke shifting currents, and mirrors that reflect ripples that – depending on your booking – sit just metres from your pillow.

    United on theme yet unique in set-up, each room or suite is different. On the ground floor, dog-friendly rooms with direct access to the pier are all prepped for pampered pups, while others have views and even balconies overlooking Walsh Bay, the Bridge and the Harbour.

    But the 19 suites step things up even more. Gaze out through floor-to-ceiling windows, or get even closer. Your private balcony is made for sipping a Nespresso coffee on as the sun comes up – or soaking in the bathtub of the Admiral Suite on the deck, a drink from the locally stocked mini bar in hand. This mini bar was recently completely transformed, so you have more Aussie favourites to choose from, including alcohol and snacks.

    Dining at Pier One

    Pier Bar Pier One Sydney Harbour
    Settle in for an afternoon of good drinks and views.

    Once you’re checked in, start your afternoon with a spritz at PIER BAR – or arrive by boat via the private pontoon if the occasion calls for it – and settle into one of the cabanas. Weekdays bring Happy Hour (or ‘sunset hour’ at Pier One); weekends bring the DJs. After an even sweeter experience? The Everyday Creamery and Matcha Kiosk is slinging mango and vanilla soft serve – classic and those spiked with Midori and gin alike.

    PIER Dining is an ode to contemporary Australian flavours across the terrace, pier and dining room. On its seafood-leaning menu are Sydney rock oysters from Merimbula, potato scallops with salmon roe and crème fraîche, chicken with melting sundried tomato butter, vodka rigatoni with Shark Bay prawns. And the ‘Pierlova’ – that’s pavlova with chocolate, dulce de leche and banana is worth saving room for. Make sure to ask for the wine list – it’s 100 per cent Australian drops.

    Around town

    luna park, sydney opera house and sydney harbour bridge
    Explore the neighbourhood during your stay. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    If you’re strong enough to polish off just one last pastry from the breakfast buffet and walk out the door, we applaud you. Luna Park across the harbour beckons with its wide grin, while a glance upward might spur you to climb the Bridge’s famous iron arches. The Opera House – just across Circular Quay from the Museum of Contemporary Art – sings out for a concert.

    You’ll want to book ahead for those hot-ticket performances at Sydney Theatre Company and Sydney Dance Company, just a few minutes’ walk south of the hotel. Ten minutes further brings you to the waterfront bars, restaurants and clubs of Barangaroo, or the karaoke, gardens and dim sum of Chinatown further afield.

    Keep the mellow of your weekend getaway going with a stop at Barangaroo Reserve, watching the yachts go by – all before returning for that Sydney sundowner at Pier One.

    Ready to make that Pier One stay a reality? Book the ultimate Sydney staycation at pieronesydneyharbour.com.au