Top five country pie shops

Australia's most significant contribution to the global fast-food industry (apart from beetroot on a burger) is, of course, the wonderful meat pie…

Do you appreciate a good pie when you're out on the road? Gushing with gravy, smothered in tomato sauce and encased in golden pastry, there’s nothing quite like it. But how far off the highway would you go to find one you really loved, and would you be tempted by a different and exotic filling? If you've got a little time up your sleeve before you make that next DC slot, try these establishments on for size...

About an hour north-west of Melbourne, the historic township of Kyneton lies just a short five-minute drive off the Calder Highway. If you park up and take a stroll to the main drag, opposite the Kyneton Town Hall you'll find the Country Cobb Bakery, which always seems to enjoy a steady stream of customers. Little wonder, given its standard pies and sausage rolls are hearty and delicious and the bakery recently won Australia’s Best Pie award with its satay seafood offering. What we love is the unlimited bottles of tomato sauce on every table instead of those measly sachets you get elsewhere.

Of course you could get a standard meat pie at this NSW south coast bakery, and a very good one too. Or you could go out on a limb and try something exotic like Thai green curry, Peking duck or beef rendang. On Australia Day, eat the coat of arms (yes, emu and kangaroo) or just plump for one of the standard, juicy creations. Whatever you choose, it’s a great lunch stop should you find yourself on the Princes Highway on New South Wales' South Coast.

There’s not much in Blackbutt but if you're on the D'Aguilar Highway somewhere between Kingaroy and Brisbane, what you will find is one of Australia’s most creative bakeries. The pies speak for themselves: how about crocodile in Thai curry sauce or even more bizarrely, the Big Mack – two all-beef patties, cheese, special sauce, onions and pickles in a sesame-seed pastry.

It's only a short run between Hobart and Launceston but if you need to break the drive, you might as well stop at Bakery31 in the picturesque town of Ross. This colourful, weatherboard establishment is famous for its scallop pies: a handful of meaty shellfish in a curry sauce, encased in flaky pastry. But there’s plenty more including your standard meat pie (delicious!) or, for something fancy, try the salmon and Brie.

You won’t get tourist buses flocking to this friendly country bakery (let alone a dedicated website), but what you will taste is arguably South Australia's best meat pies outside of a gourmet pub. The Chunky Beef variety is a corker: luscious lumps with carrots and peas and crunchy pastry, or the Drover version adds a dark pepper sauce. It’s a great stop should you ever find yourself west of Tailem Bend.