Coolah Bakery

If you're passing through Coolah on the road between Tamworth, Dubbo and Mudgee, this bakery in Coolah is a handy place to pull up, and locals say it's the pies that make the stop worthwhile. The range is a good one, with spicy pepper steak and steak Diane among the favourites, and a mild curry chicken and veggie pie that gets a mention too. We've heard travellers and townsfolk alike speak well of them.

It works as both a takeaway stop and a place to sit down. There are tables inside, and the room is kept clean, which people appreciate on a long drive. Coffee is a regular talking point, with flat whites and chai coming out hot and quick, and a barista named Kelly gets a nod for a good cup. Out the front there's a spot that suits anyone travelling with a dog.

Beyond pies, regulars come back for sandwiches with generous fillings on fresh bread, sausage rolls, and sweet treats from the cabinet. The carrot muffin with cream cheese icing is one locals single out. Prices are generally seen as fair for what you get, and the staff are friendly and helpful, a point that comes up again and again.

To be fair, opinion isn't unanimous. A few people have found the pastries drier or the pies more ordinary than they'd hoped, and some feel the baked goods aren't made on the premises, so it suits you best as a friendly cafe-style stop rather than a traditional bake-it-all-in-house bakery. Pies can also run low later in the afternoon, so an earlier visit improves your choice.

There's easy parking, with a free car park and street parking nearby, wheelchair-accessible parking and entrance, and cards and tap payments are accepted. Breakfast and coffee are on offer, and the hours run through the week including weekends, though it's worth checking before you head in.