Put a lid on it: Hayden’s Pies is known for producing some of the best pies in NSW. The South Coast is blessed with great bakeries. But this Ulladulla outlet has advanced the old-school art of baking pies to new heights of brilliance. The chunky steak in rich gravy is a staple. But the pie topped with mash potato is an indulgent dream come true. While Hayden’s showcases a slew of pies, it also roams the globe for inspiration for its desserts, doling out classics such as New York cheesecakes and Portuguese tarts. haydenspies.com.au

This bakery’s vibe is its tribe. Dress like a spa therapist from White Lotus so you can look the part at Sunday Sustainable Bakery. The bakery meets cafe is considered one of regional Australia’s best and buzziest and is highly commended for its commitment to social and environmental principles. Pick up a vanilla slice or a still-warm apple cinnamon turnover. The unassuming bakery in the back blocks of Byron Bay has also risen to prominence for its pies. sundaysustainablebakery.com

Good sourdough needs to develop its full character over time. The bakers at Milkwood Bakery in Berry make a phenomenal array of organic sourdough and baked goods from scratch each day. Queues start early outside the Berry bolthole for creations such as the cinnamon scroll or pecan tart. Of course, you can also punctuate your road trip with a pie or pizzette. The panini stuffed with roast pork, provolone cheese, romesco sauce, rocket, caramelised onions and Italian pickles is also sensational dot com. milkwoodbakery.com.au

This corner café with the dinky duck-egg blue La Marzocca coffee machine is a magnet for caff-fiends who want to spend a long weekend dining and drinking around Mudgee. Head to the French-inspired bakery for pumpkin, fetta and pesto quiche. Or plump for a pain au chocolat with an espresso made with Deluca Espresso beans. The artisan bakery and patisserie created by chef Kim Currie is an offshoot of regional restaurant Zin House, one of the best winery restaurants to dine at in NSW. Pick up a crusty baguette to go. lowefamilywineco.com.au

The black tahini scroll and raisin, fennel and sesame sourdough are great examples of the hybrid creations on offer at Honorbread in Bermagui. The best bakeries in regional NSW have a sustainable bent. This organic bakery cafe named after founder Honor Northam is part of the Good Reusables program of Closed-Loop Recycling, a return and reuse system for Australian cafes to try and stop the use of single-use plastics. The bakery also has a pop-up stall at Sage Farmers Market, held every Tuesday from 3pm at Riverside Park, Moruya. honorbread.com

The real secrets to the authentic Italian treats being made at Bertoldo’s Pasticceria lay hidden in the stories behind each recipe. Founded in 1952 and run by members of the Bertoldo family ever since, one bite of the biscotti, cannoli or nougat will take you back to the Old Country. The beloved fourth-generation family bakery in Griffith is a celebration of multicultural Australia. Time your visit to coincide with the Riverina Region’s Festa delle Salsicce (Festival of the Sausage). @bertoldospasticceria

Consult a few ‘Best Bakeries and Cafes in regional NSW’ lists and Birchwood will crop up. Instead of eating something portable, like meat encased in pastry (pie), kick off your carb-loading road trip with phenomenal baked goods such as the carrot cake or fruit Danish. Or a smoked wagyu reuben. You can also pimp your chilli scram with sides such as bacon, mushies or potato rosti. The Vietnamese iced coffee is also worth veering off the highway for. birchwoodjindabyne.au

Break up your road trip with a bush walk followed by a warm croissant that shatters at first bite at Black Cockatoo Bakery. The South Lawson Waterfall Circuit is a three-kilometre circuit that loops in four waterfalls near Lawson. But Black Cockatoo Bakery should also be on your radar when visiting this village in the Blue Mountains. Pick up a faux fur parka at one of the second-hand stores in the village, procure some pastries and enjoy them outdoors while watching the passing hip parade. You’ll be glad you brought your eco bag to stock up on a loaf of the naturally leavened, slow-fermented sourdough. blackcockatoobakery.com.au

Cue The Great British Bake Off Musical soundtrack as you round the corner to this bakery with the cult following in Copacabana on the NSW Central Coast. Hayley Thorncraft and Joanna Fairall are partners in life and work and met while on the job at Black Star Pastry (home of the iconic strawberry watermelon cake). That’s some serious culinary cred. Justify the detour to the charming coastal village by loading up on delectable sweet treats such as the Dirty Bun or Apricot Danish. burnthoneybakery.com.au

It’s impossible not to be swayed by the loveliness of the laminated pastries at Cubby Bakehouse in Chinderah. Vegans will also want to veer off the highway for the raspberry coconut slice, prettied up with seasonal fruit and edible flowers. The display cabinet is an absolute spectacle and one caveat for those who love brownies as much as the delicious team do, is they might be sold out. Heading to a birthday party in the country? You can pre-order a birthday and celebration cake or pick up a cookie dough six pack to bake at home. cubbybakehouse.com

Racine has been on the radar for road-trippers since opening its doors as the sister venue to Racine restaurant in 2012. More than a decade on, the restaurant has closed but the organic bakery is still going strong after moving to a larger venue in Summer St, Orange. The bakery with the buttered yellow interiors remains a beacon for bread-heads in its new possie in the Orange Arcade. Start your day with a morning bun and coffee or Biscoff croissant finger slicked with chocolate. racinerestaurant.com.au

Four generations of the Fechner family have now been involved in the running of the Apex Bakery in the luscious Barossa. These days the family-run bakery continues to embrace the same traditional slow-ferment doughs, cooked in the same historic Scotch oven. Drop by for breads, pies, and pastries, and don’t miss out on their much loved ‘hangover cure’ the Apex Pasty. Best for: Signature dish the pasty. apexbakery.com.au

Within a quaint cottage in the Clare Valley sits the Clare Rise Bakery. So popular it’s just welcomed a second store, this family-run bakery sells armfuls of rustic indulgences. For lunch, grab one a Buttery Chicken Pie or Bacon Quiche, followed by a slab of double choc cheesecake or raspberry brownie. Best for: Rustic bakery classics. facebook.com/clarerisebakery1895

Housed in a heritage building that was once the local general store, Home Grain Bakery remains true to its country roots with traditional bakery classics, from sweet slices to hearty pies. The latter has a rotating line-up of flavours, with Home Grain’s Pie of the Month a changing celebration of local produce. Best for: Country classics facebook.com/HomeGrainBakery

Small but mighty, Kipling’s Bakery is a popular pit-stop from those on their way to the Yorke Peninsula from Adelaide. While there’s plenty of savoury baked goods to satisfy hunger pangs, like hearty pies and pasties, it’s the donuts for which Kipling’s is famous, classic cinnamon, and glossy iced chocolate included. Best for: Home-style donuts. facebook.com/p/Kiplings-Bakery