Hastings has country's best milkshake

GREAT SHAKES: Lulu and Max café in Hastings has won the Anchor NZ's Best Milkshake. PHOTO FILE

Lulu and Max café in Hastings has won the Anchor NZ's Best Milkshake nationwide competition for 2016.

Official judge, chef and personality, Nici Wickes toured the country to taste this year's top four regional winners, all vying for the national title.

Lulu and Max proved the ultimate scoop, claiming Anchor NZ's Best Milkshake with its Icey Chocolux shake - a winning combination of Anchor milk, Tip Top ice cream, chocolate powder and fresh, aerated whipped cream, which has since been flying out the door.

"Lulu and Max's Icey Chocolux milkshake was great in every way - fantastic use of Anchor milk products and fabulous balance of flavours, not too sweet but it still tasted decadent," says Nici. "This was my overall favourite, the one I would travel for, the one I could drink on a hot day or a cooler one, the one that left me looking forward to the next time I could enjoy it."

Now in its second year running, Anchor NZ's Best Milkshake Competition attracted a lot of interest with 305 competition entries and more than 26,000 votes from throughout New Zealand - showing that Kiwis take their milkshakes seriously.