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It’s perfect weather for a drive through the beautiful Yarra Valley right now. What’s that you say? It’s lunchtime and feeling a bit hot? Great news, the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery is hosting its annual Ice Cream Festival!
The irresistible event is happening from Wednesday 12 February until Sunday 23 February 2020 at Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery as well as its sister locations Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie and Mornington Peninsula Chocolaterie.
Taste all 144 (!) specialist flavours if you want, because it runs flat chat for the next twelve days. Entry to the festival is free, with ice creams starting from $4.80. We are invited to visit and sample from their spectacular lunch and snack menu as well as enjoying a ton of special Ice Cream Festival treats.
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Every year the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie make some pretty CRAZY ice cream and gelati flavours, so be a little bit brave at the tasting station. Think char-grilled corn, banana bread and kombucha and coconut! Each unique combination is created by head flavour masters and is all made fresh, on-site, daily.
You can even get your ice cream on a pizza, in a waffle sandwich or get giant deep-fried ice cream balls!
You can absolutely taste them all if you are really indecisive and we try quite a few. The team are very patient and totally happy to help with any questions. If they don’t know an answer about a product, they will find someone who does.
The spectacular views of the Yarra Valley, 40 acres of manicured gardens and occasional oompa loompa spotting is just the beginning.
Brace yourselves as you walk through straight into the HUGE chocolate shop and production viewing rooms. There are rows of clear glass (and standing blocks for the little ones) so you can see the master European chocolatiers at work making your favourite treats.
Pulling Little Red away from the production line is hard, especially as they have just started Easter bunnies and bilbies for this year. But there is so much to see!
Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery has just finished a monster renovation including a new dining hall with covered outdoor decking.
The new cafe has uninterrupted 180-degree views of the spectacular Yarra Valley and surrounding orchards. It doesn’t matter where you sit, it looks good.
There is also a huge Coco bean tree installation with a light-up display in the middle that will keep little ones entertained guessing what colours will flash next, which helps while you peruse the menu. Goldilocks is in awe!
The dining room is spacious and the colouring sheets are plentiful.
The refurbishment includes a refresh of the cafe menu. We have the kids lunchbox as well as the kids fish and chips, both of which go down well with the girls. (FYI don’t eat before you come, the portions are pretty generous for children’s meals).
While the Ice Cream Festival is running, try the super sundae and grab extra spoons, you won’t be disappointed!
If you are a real ice cream aficionado then pre-book a 40-minute tasting session. For just $20 you get to sample twelve flavours and then create your own designer ice cream pop. (Note Yarra Valley Chocolaterie sessions are booked out but there’s still availability at Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie and Mornington Peninsula Chocolaterie).
After gorging yourselves on treats and finally deciding on your favourite take home purchases, grab yourself a spoon full of pastilles and head out the back for a kick of the balls and run around the orchards. You can also head down to visit the resident goats, feed the cows and check out the wetland conservation area.
If you do miss the Ice Cream Festival (boo) then keep an eye out for the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie‘s many great programs and workshops that are run through the year. During our visit the kids also try their hand at becoming Junior Chocolatiers. Being the little chefs they are at home the girls really enjoy the experience – look at this big grins!
There are a ton of adult and teen classes available too. Just make sure you call through to book before you arrive.
If tastings are more your thing, they have gourmet ice cream and chocolate tastings on Every. Single. Weekend.
A visit to Yarra Valley Chocolaterie‘s Ice Cream Festival really is a treat for families. We don’t scream for ice cream, but we sure eat a lot! And there’s no place better to do it than in picturesque Yarra Glen.
Click here for more things to do in the Yarra Valley with Kids
Sample the best gelato and ice cream in Melbourne
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text el_class=”thon-hot-tips-panel”]HOT Tips:
- Dietary needs and in tolerances can all be catered for, all you have to do is ask;
- Pack hats and sunglasses regardless of the weather, you are bound to head outside with kids at some point. (Its just too inviting);
- Do not eat before you go. Free samples are encouraged;
- Head down through the cherry trees to visit the farm animals and spot some local wildlife;
- Be mindful of signage to private residences and dams;
- Pre- book your tastings and workshops to avoid disappointment on the day.
- Junior Chocolatier workshops are $40 per child. They run for 45 minutes on Saturday mornings and school holidays and are a “Parent free zone”;
- Group tastings spots are called over the loudspeaker on the weekends. Chocolate $3pp, Chocolate and ice cream $6pp. Min. 12 people.
- Vote for your favourite flavour to win 144 mega scoops to enjoy in every season.
- Pram access;
- high chairs;
- indoor play – colouring-in;
- disabled toilet;
- change table;
- free parking; but try and get there early on the weekends to avoid the tourist buses and big queues;
- try 144 different ice cream flavours during the Ice Cream Festival;
- Free entry, free chocolate tastings & watch Chocolatiers at work;
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I hope this post has helped or inspired you! Subscribe to my weekly newsletter to find out more ways for your family to have fun together!
