Do they make everything on-site?

Yes — all handmade chocolates, artisan ice cream, and desserts are made right here by trained chocolatiers using premium couverture chocolate.

Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery

When I first walked into the Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery, I thought I had stumbled into Willy Wonka’s Aussie cousin’s shed — minus the Oompa Loompas and plus a killer view over rolling Surf Coast farmland. Sitting just outside Bellbrae in a beautiful coastal setting, this place isn’t your average sugar hit. It’s a love letter to chocoholics, artisan ice cream and good old Victorian produce, all wrapped in the smell of freshly roasted couverture chocolate and barista coffee.

A Chocolate Heaven

Forget the little tasting trays — this is full-on temptation. The Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie has over 400 handcrafted chocolate varieties, from truffles that melt faster than you can say “just one more” to bars laced with macadamia, lemon myrtle and chilli salt. The open kitchen lets you watch local chocolatiers temper, swirl, and decorate the good stuff right before your eyes.

The best bit? Everything is made on site using ethically sourced couverture chocolate from around the world — Ghanaian dark, Peruvian milk and Madagascan white. And yes, they give out free samples. More on that soon.

A Sweet Success

The story behind this sweet haven is as rich as their fudge sauce. Owners Ian and Leanne Neeland, inspired by European chocolate houses, wanted to build something family-friendly yet world-class — a place where locals and travellers could watch, taste and learn.

Since opening in 2012, it’s become one of Victoria’s most popular family attractions, welcoming over 700,000 visitors a year. That’s no small feat for a boutique chocolatier with a mission to spread joy — and create a positive ripple through the local community. They also support The Alannah and Madeline Foundation, contributing to children’s wellbeing across Australia.

Local Talent And Global Inspiration

From the viewing windows, you can watch chocolate making in full swing — ganache being whipped, pralines being hand-decorated, and moulds lined up like a cocoa-coated art gallery. The team blends global inspiration with local flair: their Belgian-trained head chocolatier mentors a new generation of Aussie creators who experiment fearlessly with flavour. It’s not just about sugar — it’s skill. The same team also run chocolate-making workshops and hands-on experiences where you can get behind the bench and make your own artisan chocolates.

Tasting Experiences That Hit The Spot

No visit is complete without tasting. You can taste your way through dark couverture chocolate, ruby and milk in guided sessions that explain the bean to bar journey. It’s a lesson in indulgence — and education.

Experience Type	Duration	Cost (approx.)	What You’ll Get
Classic Chocolate Tasting	30 mins	Free	Sample milk, dark, and white couverture chocolates
Premium Guided Tasting	45 mins	$18 pp	Discover exotic ingredients and flavour pairings
Junior Chocolatier Class	30 mins	$12 pp	Kids’ hands-on chocolate making experiences
Corporate Tasting	1 hour	$35 pp	Private team-building workshops and tastings

Not just for tourists. Locals from Melbourne’s West make a day of it — especially during the Hot Chocolate Festival, where Hot Chocolate Tasting Sessions feature 31 new flavours in 31 days.

Free Tastings

True to form, the Chocolaterie doesn’t do things by halves. Everyone gets free tastings on entry — a tray of velvety drops that showcase their signature handmade chocolates.

You’ll be offered both milk and dark couverture chocolate varieties, and if you can walk away without buying a bag of your favourite blend, you’ve got more willpower than I do.

Ice Cream Sampler — A Summer Essential

The Ice Cream Range deserves its own festival. Made daily in-house, it features 36 rotating flavours of artisan ice cream crafted from local Otway milk and seasonal produce.

You can grab a sampler flight — six mini cones of pure joy — and mix classics with seasonal trending creations like Passionfruit Meringue or Brownie Swirl. If you’ve ever visited Dooley’s Ice Cream in Apollo Bay or Gelato Gelato down in Lorne, you’ll appreciate the same level of freshness and flair.

Everything here is small-batch, handmade, and perfect for cooling down after a day on the Great Ocean Road.

High Tea With A Twist

This isn’t your nanna’s high tea. Served in a bright, glass-lined mezzanine overlooking indigenous gardens and lavender fields, it’s a proper indulgence. Think chocolate scones, mousse-filled tartlets, and dessert creations plated like art.

Paired with organic local teas or a bubbly glass of sparkling wine, the Chocolaterie’s High Tea With A Twist makes for an elegant outing — whether you’re celebrating a milestone, running corporate events, or just need an excuse for afternoon decadence.

Hands-On Workshops

Here’s where things get fun. The chocolate-making workshops turn visitors into chocolatiers, with guidance from the pros. It’s not all theory — you’ll pour, swirl, and decorate your own truffles using real couverture chocolate. For families, the Junior Chocolatier classes are a hit, complete with certificates, aprons, and sticky smiles. Adults can book advanced chocolate and ice cream-making masterclasses, often themed around seasonal events like Easter, Christmas, or Valentine’s.

And yes, you get to take your edible creations home — if they last that long.

Local Ingredients, Global Flavours

It’s sustainability you can taste:

Gippsland cream and Otway Milk for smooth ganache
Great Ocean Road honey in caramel fillings
Lemon myrtle and wattle seed for native flavour
Fresh mint from the on-site garden

Each bar tells a story of place — rooted in Australia, inspired by the world.

Family Friendly Fun: Beyond The Chocolate Fix

One of the best things about this Chocolaterie is how totally family-friendly it is. Beyond the tastings, kids can run wild in the gardens, play lawn games and explore the native gardens while parents relax with a latte from the Kid Friendly Café during their 1 Day Phillip Island Tour.

There’s coach parking for groups, private tables for picnics and plenty of alfresco dining options. It’s designed for accessibility too — access needs are well catered for, from wide paths to pram-friendly seating.

Whether you’re bringing the family, a busload of students or a tour group, this stop delivers smiles without stress.

Pod Café With A View And Menu To Die For

The on-site Pod Café isn’t just a side gig — it’s a destination. With panoramic views of the valley and paddocks, it offers indoor and alfresco/outdoor dining surrounded by lavender, native flora and open air.

Here’s a taste of the menu:

Slow-cooked beef pie with chocolate sauce
Pumpkin salad with cacao nib dressing
Freshly baked chocolate scones
Hot chocolates in 20 rotating flavours during winter

Seasonal Festivals & Experiences

If you love festivals & experiences, this Chocolaterie runs them all year round — each one a celebration of creativity and cocoa craftsmanship.

Here are some not-to-miss seasonal events:

Hot Chocolate Festival (August): 31 flavours in 31 days — from chilli to Turkish delight.
Brownie Festival (June): 16 brownie varieties made from dark couverture chocolate.
Rocky Road Festival (May): Build your own chocolate bar stations.
Easter Eggstravaganza: Tens of thousands of handmade chocolates shaped into bunnies and eggs.
Christmas Festival of Chocolate (December): Gingerbread houses, luxury chocolates and festive packaging.

Each event introduces new products, from seasonal trending chocolate creations to limited-edition wedding favours that showcase why this spot has become the heart of artisan confectionery on the coast.

Practical Info: Plan Your Sweet Stop

Location: 1200 Great Ocean Road, Bellbrae VIC (between Torquay and Anglesea)
Hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily (closed Christmas Day)
Entry: Free
Parking: Free, including Coach Parking and caravan bays
Workshops: Book chocolate-making experiences online
Products: Handcrafted chocolates, artisan ice cream, luxurious chocolate gifts
Website: greatchocolaterie.com.au

Handy Travel Tip

If you’re road-tripping from Melbourne’s West, this is your first sweet stop before Torquay. It’s about 90 minutes by car or 40 minutes from Avalon Airport. Combine it with a visit to Lorne Ice Cream and Smoothies or Y Port Campbell Icecreamery for the ultimate coastal dessert trail.