Schluter's Bakery

Schluter's Bakery in Blackall, Queensland, is the sort of stop that works for locals and for anyone driving through on the way to Longreach. Pies are what most people talk about, and we hear the pepper pie is the one to try, with big chunks of tender meat rather than the mushy filling you get elsewhere. Sausage rolls get a good word too, and one traveller on the road west went out of their way to say so.

Beyond the pie warmer, there's a proper range of country bread. The white and the grain, sliced or unsliced, have people raving, and the wholemeal comes in three loaf sizes. We've also heard the bread is made without preservatives, and the sandwiches and rolls are made fresh each day. Sweet things are well covered: lamingtons that one local called the best they've ever had, vanilla slice, finger buns, apple turnovers and a cream bun that left someone wishing they'd bought more than one. The apple pies come in the big size only, so if you want one, don't leave it late in the day.

They do coffee, breakfast and takeaway, and some customers reckon the coffee is a pleasant surprise for a bakery this far out. Staff come across as friendly, and the owner is happy to stop for a yarn. One visitor found the pies on the salty side and didn't rate the coffee, so tastes clearly vary.

A few practical points. There's no inside seating, so it's really a grab-and-go stop, and a couple of visitors have been caught out by cash-only payment, so it's worth carrying some cash or asking when you walk in. There's free parking out front and on the street, with a wheelchair-accessible car park and entrance. Hours are weekdays and a shorter morning on the weekend, and it's worth checking before you head in.

If you're after country bread, a hot pie and a decent coffee in Blackall, this is the spot to pull up at.