Duck Island Christchurch

Sitting pretty on the corner of High Street for all the world to see, Duck Island Ice Cream has landed its first South Island scoop shop. And, of course, it fits right in. With its signature pastel pink walls, mid-century curves and atomic-pop personality, the store brings playful energy to a vibrant street, especially after dark when sweet tooths come a-calling.

Founded by chefs and ice cream enthusiasts in the mighty, dairy-rich Waikato back in 2015, Duck Island has built a loyal following for its small-batch approach and creative, seasonally driven flavours, all hand-crafted at the Hamilton HQ. That same iconic ice cream makes the trip south, arriving in a rotating lineup of 24 flavours on the scoop at any given time. 

A handful of staples hold their ground: Fairy Bread, Pecan Butterscotch and White Chocolate Macadamia have long enticed crowds in the North to line up down the street, while specialty flavours come and go with the season and mood. All sorbets are vegan, and there's always a strong range of dairy-free and gluten-free options so nobody misses out. Ice cream is for everyone, after all.

But like any good parlour, the menu extends well beyond the simple single scoop on a cone. Sundaes are built to share or indulge solo, milkshakes can be made with oat milk, and their floats are certified crowd-pleasers. For the curious or the indecisive, 'the flight' offers eight small scoops and a wafer, making it ideal for a date night or a family outing. 

While the house-made toppings and sauces set, browse the shelf stocking branded caps and tees – which may seem rather enthusiastic for ice cream until you've tasted this one. Can’t get enough? Grab ice cream scoops and boxes of waffle cones for the home setup, alongside pints and sandwiches from the freezer. 

Bright, fun and addictively delicious, Duck Island is perfectly placed for an after-dinner stroll down High Street – because there's always room for ice cream when it tastes this good.