Hebby's Bakery

Hebby's Bakery in Gloucester, New South Wales is a family-owned bakery with its roots in 1935, and it has the feel of a proper country bakery. Pies, sausage rolls, cakes, sandwiches and hot and cold drinks are made on-site, and the shelves look full and fresh from the oven. It's an easy stop for anyone passing through town or heading along Thunderbolts Way.

Pies are the main drawcard here. Locals rate them as flavour-packed, with fillings people single out by name: chicken and curry, pork and pineapple, the classic Aussie meat pie. Opinion is a little mixed on the finer points, with the odd person finding the pastry softer or the pies smaller than expected, but plenty of people say they'd stop in again. Pies come out hot, so give them a minute.

Beyond the pies, people mention the sausage rolls, salad rolls and freshly made sandwiches, which get a lot of love for their chewy crust, soft middle and fair prices. The vanilla slice and caramel slice are favourites from the cabinet, and there's a gluten-free range of desserts, which is a welcome find for anyone avoiding wheat.

Custom cakes are another strength. One local was thrilled when the team put together a milestone birthday cake on very short notice and helped arrange a delivery out of town. Catering and delivery are offered across the Gloucester, Forster and Taree areas, so it's worth asking about larger orders and timing.

You can dine in or take away, with seating inside and a few spots out the front, plus coffee and breakfast on the menu. There's an accessible entrance and car park, free street parking nearby, and card and tap payments are accepted. The staff are generally described as friendly, polite and quick. The sandwich bar finishes up earlier than the rest of the shop, so check the hours before you head in, especially if you're after a made-to-order lunch.