Planet 72 Icecreamery

Planet 72 Icecreamery sits at 402 Esplanade, Torquay, directly opposite the beach on the Hervey Bay foreshore, and the local press has crowned it the best ice cream shop in Australia. It is a walk-up counter rather than a sit-down cafe, and dogs are welcome at the outdoor seating, which makes it an easy treat stop on a foreshore walk.

The dog setup

Dogs are permitted in the outdoor seating area out front. It is a high-traffic strip beside a busy Esplanade footpath, so keep your dog on lead and to one side, and bring your own water bowl because this is a takeaway counter with no table service. The beach, parkland and benches across the road give a settled dog somewhere to regroup while you queue.

Worth knowing

The name is the menu: 72 flavours of ice cream and sorbet, including around 18 dairy-free and vegan options, plus thick shakes and lollies, with rock salt caramel and ginger ice cream among the signatures. Doors open 9am to 9:30pm every day, so it covers the after-dinner run as well as the afternoon. Expect queues in summer and on weekends; evening visits on weeknights are the calm window.

Getting there and parking

Street parking runs along the Esplanade and the side streets, and it is tight at peak times, so an off-peak visit is easier with a dog. The shop is a short stroll from the Torquay beach access points and sits on the main foreshore walk.

Close by with the dogs

Under Fraser Coast Council rules the foreshore is on-leash unless signed otherwise, and the 24/7 off-leash beach zone starts at Tooan Tooan Creek and runs to the Scarness Jetty, a short drive up the Esplanade. The fenced runs at Urraween Dog Park are inland if you want shade and agility gear, and Aquavue Beachfront Bar & Eatery is the sit-down option a short walk along the sand.

More of the area's dog-friendly venues are on the Torquay destination page, and the full list is in the QLD cafes index.