Ganmain Bakery

Ganmain Bakery is the sort of country bakery that people plan a drive around. It sits in the small town of Ganmain in New South Wales, and the pies are known locally. Locals will tell you the filling is mostly meat with just enough gravy, rather than the other way around, and one regular says they stock up every time they're back through Wagga.

The pie range goes beyond the plain. A chicken, corn and camembert pie gets a big wrap, and the sausage rolls and cornish pasties are also on the menu. Wraps and salad rolls are on the counter too. If you're after something sweet, the apple turnover has its own fans, and the chocolate and raspberry lamingtons are sold in take-away packs that travel well. The pies freeze, so one customer has bought extra to take home.

It's not only a grab-and-go stop. You can dine in, and breakfast is on, including a big breakfast that one road-tripper from Sydney heading for Mildura said hit the spot with local tomatoes and mushrooms. The coffee gets good words too, with one traveller calling it the best of their whole trip. Takeaway is simple if you're on the road.

The staff are a big part of the appeal. People talk about friendly service, good humour with an awkward lunch order, and a chatty line of locals while you wait. Getting in is straightforward, with a wheelchair-accessible entrance and car park, free street parking nearby, and card and mobile payments accepted.

One visitor who drove a fair way arrived late morning hoping for a bigger spread and left underwhelmed, and another came after the lunch rush to find only a few plain pies and sausage rolls left, though they still rated them very tasty. Going earlier in the day gives you the best choice.

Ganmain is a lovely little town off the beaten track, and this bakery is a good reason to pull over. Check the hours before you head out, as they're shorter on weekends.