Just Open: Gelato Messina, Coolangatta, Gold Coast

Queensland fans of Gelato Messina will no longer have to buy an airline ticket to get a taste of their favourite gelato, after the iconic Sydney ice-cream brand opened a store on the Gold Coast on Monday.

"The response in Coolangatta has been amazing so far, lots of locals coming by which is perfect, as we really consider ourselves a 'local' small business," said co-founder Declan Lee.

"We've got a great team up there and it's been amazing seeing the reaction to our gelato. So far, so good."

As per the Sydney and Melbourne stores, where lines and jostling crowds are commonplace, the "Cooly" Messina offers 40 signature flavours including crowd favourites such as salted caramel and white chocolate, or milk chocolate with choc-peanut fudge, as well as the more traditional tiramisu and pistachio.

There are also five gelato specials that change every week and nine bespoke gelato cakes with names more likely to appeal to adults than kids' party-goers (Dr Evil's Magic Mushroom, Juliette, and The Block.)

The opening special, paying homage to Queensland summer, is "COOL-in-GATTA", mango sorbet swirled with vanilla gelato and macadamia crunch. But it's the salted caramel and white chocolate, that Messina sells double of all the other flavours in the other states, which is proving the most popular with Queenslanders too.

Gelato Messina, shop 33, 72-80 Marine Parade, The Strand, Coolangatta, gelatomessina.com