Cold Rock Ice Creamery Darwin

Cold Rock Ice Creamery occupies shop 2 at 21 Knuckey Street in the Darwin CBD, a make-your-own ice cream stop built for the Top End climate. It is not a long-sit-down cafe: the play is grabbing a cold treat at the footpath out front during a city walk with the dog, when the heat has won and the walk needs a finish line.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor footpath area in front of the store; inside is off limits, standard for a food premises. There are no dog treats on the counter, so pack your own water bowl and aim for a shaded patch of footpath, because midday Darwin is hard on a coat. Keep the visit short and leashed; the street is busy through the day.

Worth knowing

The whole concept is customisation: pick a base, choose your mix-ins, and watch it all smashed together on a cold granite stone in front of you. Lollies, Maltesers, Oreos, brownie, macadamias and seasonal fruit all go in, with sauces and hot fudge on top, and mango and lemon sorbets as the lighter option on a steamy day. Hours shift by day, opening midday and running latest on Friday and Saturday nights, so it doubles as an after-dinner stop.

Getting there and parking

Metered street parking runs along Knuckey Street with the West Lane car park nearby, and it is an easy walk from the Smith Street Mall end of the CBD. Dogs stay on lead through the city.

Close by with the dogs

Bicentennial Park along the Esplanade has shady grass and paths a few minutes away for the walking part of the outing, and the Darwin Waterfront has dog-friendly outdoor dining for something more substantial. For coffee with the dog, Four Birds Cafe and Postie Coffee are both in the city, with The Harvest Press also close by.

More options are on the NT dog friendly cafes guide and the Darwin City destination page.

Pepsi: the footpath tables catch afternoon sun, so an evening run works better for the dog, with the sorbet as your reward for waiting.