Gum Tree Pies Wodonga

Gum Tree Pies Wodonga is the kind of pie shop people plan a stop around, and that goes for locals and for travellers heading along the freeway. It's a bakery in Wodonga, Victoria, with a handmade pie as the main event. The pies are big, the pastry comes out golden and flaky, and the fillings are generous. People talk about proper chunks of steak and gravy that's thick and well seasoned, with no grisly bits.

The flavours get a lot of talk. The steak and Guinness pie has its fans, as does the steak and mushroom, the pepper steak, the steak and bacon, and a lamb and mint jelly pie. The Thai green chicken curry pie comes up often too, though one person found it leaned a little sweet. The sausage rolls have a following of their own, and one local called theirs the largest they'd ever been handed. If you want something for afterwards, the caramel slice and the dense chocolate brownies get good words.

The business has been going for six years, and it's the work of Sebastian and Melinda Nedziak. Sebastian is a trained chef, and they started experimenting with pies at their café back in 2007. That background shows in the cooking.

You can dine in or take your order away, and there are tables inside and out. One local described the setting as peaceful, with chairs in the fresh air and not much going on around. The coffee gets a mention as well, particularly the iced latte. Tomato sauce is free if you want it. Staff are friendly, if a touch busy at times, and one visitor who was accidentally charged for an extra pie had it refunded straight away.

Pricing is fair for the size of the pies, and people tend to describe it as good value. Parking is free, with a car park and street parking, the entrance is wheelchair accessible, and they take cards and tap-and-go payments.

They're open every day, but check the hours before you head in.