8 Aussie pies worth driving for

Flaky pastry, luxurious filling and steaming gravy – the pie is an absolute Australian classic. You’ll find some delicious flavour combinations, like steak and mushroom or chicken and camembert. But a pie’s best pairing? A road trip through some of Australia’s most beautiful settings.

Here are eight of Australia’s most delectable pies, along with the road trips that will get you there.

Elaine’s Gourmet Pie Café, Canberra

Fresh hand-made pastry, slow-cooked chunks of meat and just the right amount of gravy – it all comes together at Elaine's Gourmet Pie Café. With three locations across Canberra, you can grab one of these gourmet delights as you set off to explore the city’s museums, galleries, breweries and vibrant bar scene. Or, work off that pie by venturing into the mountains and national parks that frame the city; Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve is a local favourite.

An authentic Elaine’s pie is worth the drive, so make a road trip of it. Hop in the car and drive three hours from Sydney, stopping to explore the cellar doors and quaint historic towns of the Yass Valley, before continuing to Canberra for your culture – and pie – fix.

Bels Bakery, Port Macquarie

A local institution, Bels Bakery is the go-to for a traditional meat pie in New South Wales’ Port Macquarie, especially for the hungry surfers who emerge from the waves each day. 

A Mid North Coast road trip will serve up coastal views and World Heritage-listed national parks – along with a tasty Bels pie, of course.

Along the way, discover the vast swathes of uncrowded beaches, get your wildlife fix at Billabong Zoo, and be sure to keep an eye on the horizon for the humpback whales that migrate along this stretch of coast each year between May and November.

Gladysdale Bakehouse, Yarra Valley

Ready for the ultimate beef burgundy pie? Then it’s time to head to Gladysdale Bakehouse in Victoria’s picturesque Yarra Valley. Master baker Jason Rush uses grass-fed beef from farms up the road and red wines from the surrounding vineyards to create a pie that’s true to its fertile surrounds.

You’ll find Gladysdale Bakehouse just over an hour from Melbourne, and though it’s possible to do in a day trip, you’re sure to crave more of the foodie regions of Yarra and the Mornington Peninsula, so it’s worth making a road trip out of it. 

Set off from Melbourne to the Yarra Valley, sampling the abundant local wine and produce. Then, carry on a scenic drive to the Mornington Peninsula for rippling rock pools and picturesque beaches.

Mocka's Pies, Port Douglas

Mocka's Pies, located in Queensland's tropical town of Port Douglas, has been a local gem since 1969. At this shop, you'll find surprising – yet very Aussie – pie flavours like kangaroo with red wine and spicy crocodile laksa. You can stop in at any time of day, too, with buttery croissants and coffee on offer.

Pick up one of these Aussie delights along the Pacific Coast Way, winding from the Gold Coast to Cairns along reef-fringed beaches, rolling green countryside, and tropical rainforest.

Blue Edge Bakery, Bicheno

Tasmania’s fresh seafood is well-known around Australia, so it’s no surprise that flavours of the sea have made their way onto the pie scene. Blue Edge Bakery, located north of the Freycinet Peninsula in Bicheno, makes the best seafood pies around; they even won Tasmania’s ‘Best Scallop Pie’ award in 2019.

Grab one of Blue Edge Bakery’s delicious pastries along the Great Eastern Drive, a five-day road trip from Hobart to the Bay of Fires. You’ll be awed by the coastal beauty and lush green rainforests contrasting powder-white beaches.

Tommo’s Pies, Darwin

It doesn’t get more Aussie than the outback, so picking up a true blue Aussie pie in the Northern Territory is a quintessential experience. Tommo's Pies in Darwin opened in the seventies, and they haven't stopped making pies since. Expect a simple menu of classic flavours, including vegan options and a ‘pie of the month.’

It’s not just the pies that draw visitors to Darwin though – this tropical city is also the perfect start to a Top End road trip. The route from Darwin to Katherine offers cage diving with crocodiles, waterhole hopping through Kakadu National Park, and rich Aboriginal culture in Arnhem Land.

Apex Bakery Barossa, Tanunda

If you thought you knew all of the Barossa’s gourmet secrets, think again. Apex Bakery Barossa, located in South Australia’s leafy town of Tanunda, will wow you with their savoury meat pies, which they’ve been baking for almost a century. Pick up their specialty – venison ragù pies – before dropping into a few of the vineyards that frame the town. 

You can reach this famous Barossa bakery on a gourmet road trip of South Australia, which will take you on a tour of the state’s culinary hotspots. Sip on local wine, sample freshly made cheeses and savour succulent seafood as you pass through the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale and the Adelaide Hills.

Bindoon Bakehaus, Bindoon

Using local free-range meats and fresh vegetables, Bindoon Bakery’s pies are rustic and full of flavour. This Western Australian bakery, located a one-hour drive north from Perth, has tried-and-true combinations, as well as a few gourmet options, like their famous steak and blue cheese pie. For those with a sweet tooth, the banoffee éclair is as good as it gets – it even received Prince Harry’s tick of approval. 

Stop in for a pie (or éclair) on a relaxed weekend getaway; set off from Perth and head east into the vast Western Australia countryside to Northam, Toodyay (stop here for a locally grown assortment of fruit, wines, bread and olive oil) and Australia’s only monastic town of New Norcia.