Charlies Gelato Garden

Charlie’s Gelato Garden is well worth a visit if you are in the area. It is my favourite place to get Gelato (sorry Giapo!).
Charlie’s has an amazing selection of gelato and sorbetto. The flavours are constantly rotating with new flavours added regularly. They also have a flavour of the month which is either festive or seasonal. If your favourite (I have many) isn’t on display that day they quite often have it out the back and happy to get it for you.
The sundaes are a must but be prepared to share as those guys are huge!
Their woodfired pizza and strawberries are also amazing but very elusive. It’s almost impossible to get the strawberries as they sell out so fast.

On a hot summers day in Rodney, North Auckland, there is nothing more indulgent and carefree than heading to Charlie’s Gelato Garden for a wood fired oven pizza and gelato to follow. The pizzas, limited to only three or four choices, are delicious and expertly cooked outside near by while you bask in the hot kiwi sun around their big tables.
The gelato is all fresh and delicious, a great way to bookend a pizza lunch.
More shade out the back would be appreciated for those hot summer days, but there is no criticising the pizza or gelato, a great little spot for holidaymakers and locals in the Matakana/​Sandspit/​Omaha area.

There is nothing like Charlie’s Ice Cream. It’s just like eating a cold piece of heaven. My favourite is the Doris Plum Sorbet flavour and it’s as if you’re eating an actual plum — but better because it’s sweet and had the most amazing texture. There are even big chunks of plum in the ice cream.
I’ve only just discovered Charlie’s but now I don’t think I’d want anything else. It’s great because they use fresh, local ingredients so your guilty treat isn’t really that guilty after all.
I had Charlie’s at a wedding I went to where they served it in waffle cones for the dessert. It was the perfect way to have dessert because by that time in the evening people were up mingling and didn’t want to be constrained to their tables to eat anymore. It’s such a good company and makes me proud to be an Aucklander.

What used to be an unattended stall on the side of the road where you could pick up grapes for a small fee deposited in the honesty box, has now become a busy gelato shop, café and gallery on Sharps Road in Matakana. You can get your delicious homemade gelato in a cup or a cone and enjoy it in the seats outside overlooking the orchard, or alternatively you can buy tubs of the gelato to take home and feast on. Flavours such as passion fruit, mango and strawberry are all made on the premises, with real fruit and with as many local ingredients as possible. There is also a selection of dairy and fat free sorbetto to choose from, but I would have to recommend the ‘easter egg’ flavoured gelato special of the month, it was fantastic. If you’re not in the mood for an icecream, then there is a wide range of homemade sweet treats to choose from, such as brownies, scones and lemon meringue pies, or you can just buy a bunch of delicious grapes to take home for 3 – 4 dollars per bag. They also do woodfired pizza every Sunday from 11am-​4pm, however we unfortunately visited on a Saturday so weren’t able to try (but thats ok, that can just be one more reason to be back next time we’re in the area!).

Yes, the car park is full for a reason. For $ 4 (1 scoop) or $ 5 (2 scoops — why wouldn’t you?) this is a mandatory post-​beach stop off. Lemon Meringue, Apple Crumble, Mango sorbet, Ginger Beer, Peanut Butter Cup… ah, still so many to try! The flavours are chunky and inventive, and the scoops substantial. If you’re a little indecisive (who me?) they’ll even let you try before you buy. There’s a great outdoor area, with large tables, to sit and lick. Or have a wander through the onsite art gallery. On Sundays in February and March, the outdoor pizza oven gets fired up. These pizzas are the real deal — fresh and authentic, and only $ 16 each. This locally orientated business was once a little (but well known) road side stall. You’ll be happy to know you can still buy their delicious strawberries and grapes to take home, but be quick come harvest time around the end of February.