Cue The Great British Bake Off Musical soundtrack as you round the corner to this bakery with the cult following in Copacabana on the NSW Central Coast. Hayley Thorncraft and Joanna Fairall are partners in life and work and met while on the job at Black Star Pastry (home of the iconic strawberry watermelon cake). That’s some serious culinary cred. Justify the detour to the charming coastal village by loading up on delectable treats such as a cheesy, pull-apart fougasse or kouign amann. burnthoneybakery.com.au

This bakery’s vibe is its tribe. Dress like a spa therapist from White Lotus so you can look the part at Sunday Sustainable Bakery. The bakery meets cafe is considered one of regional Australia’s best and buzziest and is highly commended for its commitment to social and environmental principles. Pick up a vanilla slice or a still-warm apple cinnamon turnover. The unassuming bakery in the back blocks of Byron Bay has also risen to prominence for its pies. sundaysustainablebakery.com

While technically within the bounds of South West Sydney, this historic town still offers a country village vibe. But there’s nothing old-school about the town bakery, B85 Artisan, the creation of pastry chef Kim Fulko Lim. Befitting a chef who started his pastry career with Christopher The at Black Star Pastry, the minimalist glass display case advertises elaborate laminated pastries, delicate tarts and one-off bakes, which regularly sell out before closing time. You’ve also got to be quick to get your hands on the sourdough loaves, which have a loyal local following. Shop 7/180 Argyle St, Camden; b85-artisan-bakery.square.site

The almond croissants and cinnamon buns at this coastal bakery duke it out for cult status, but regulars know to grab an extra cheese & onion croissant if it appears at any of the four locations around the Illawarra region. Growing out of the much-mourned Sandygoodwich cafe, Millers’ Bakehouse is the brainchild of baker Emma Huber, whose skills has seen her bakehouse grow into a local phenomenon that also sustains a wholesale trade. Various locations around Wollongong and surrounds; millerslocalbakehouse.com

The Three Blue Ducks new triple threat in the Southern Highlands has something for birds of all feathers. As well as the flagship farm-to-fork restaurant on the the 600-acre regenerative farm, the same team bake up farmhouse bread and laminated pastries at The Bakehouse, and offer a bustling brunch service at on-site cafe The Farmhouse, where plates overflow with estate produce, with still more available to take home at the in-house gourmet grocer. 6 Railway Road, Burradoo; threeblueducks.com/venues/burradoo

Racine has been on the radar for road-trippers since opening its doors as the sister venue to Racine restaurant in 2012. More than a decade on, the restaurant has closed but the organic bakery is still going strong after moving to a larger venue in Summer St, Orange. The bakery with the buttered yellow interiors remains a beacon for bread-heads in its new possie in the Orange Arcade. Start your day with a morning bun and coffee or Biscoff croissant finger slicked with chocolate. racinerestaurant.com.au

This take on a German konditorei (bakery) has been a fixture for its Blue Mountains community for more than four decades. Don’t miss the fresh-baked pretzels, with their glossy golden shell and soft, chewy centre, served in house with the traditional mustard for dunking; as well as the danishes, studded with seasonal fruits. Baker Nicholas Schwarz has taken over the ovens from his father Alex, signalling there’s decades of baking to come. 30 Station St, Wentworth Falls; @schwarzpatisserie

The new owners of the Robertson Pie Shop (est. 1961) have given the interiors a refresh with a palette of soft greys and eucalyptus greens that echo the surrounding bushland. The old-school nostalgia of a road trip is heightened when you’ve got your hands wrapped around a chicken, leek and camembert pie. An absolute highlight in the Highlands. 4400 Illawarra Hwy, Robertson; robertsonpieshop.com.au

Charm is the watchword at this cafe and bakery in the quaint village of Millthorpe, 20 minutes out of Orange. Inside a cottage where a grapevine creeps along the verandah, you’ll discover all the standard bearers of a perfect country bakery – think fresh fruit crumbles, a textbook caramel slice and fresh-baked tea cakes, all alongside coffee and a brunch service that will make any city slickers feel right at home. 12 Pym Street, Millthorpe; theoldmillcafe.com.au

What began as a desire to raise the bar in hospitality across the Central West has turned into somewhat of a foodie empire for The Byng St Group, who now boast four locations in the region. Its flagship, the Byng Street Local Store, is the first and arguably most popular, with excellent food and Allpress coffee served daily from its famous red door. byngstreet.com.au

It’s hard to miss Goldfish Bowl Bakery, and it’s not just because of the giant goldfish mural swimming right across the exterior. This is one of Armidale’s favourite sources of artisan bread and good coffee, and is always buzzing with regulars catching up over breakfast or wood-fired pizzas; or picking up their usual supply of sourdough loaves. 3/160 Rusden St, Armidale; goldfishbowl.com.au

Good sourdough needs to develop its full character over time. The bakers at Milkwood Bakery in Berry make a phenomenal array of organic sourdough and baked goods from scratch each day. Queues start early outside the Berry bolthole for creations such as the cinnamon scroll or pecan tart. Of course, you can also punctuate your road trip with a pie or pizzette. The panini stuffed with roast pork, provolone cheese, romesco sauce, rocket, caramelised onions and Italian pickles is also sensational dot com. milkwoodbakery.com.au

On the winding way down the south coast of NSW, factor in a stop at famed bakery Slow Dough in Kiama for focaccia so fragrant you can follow the scent from as far away as the Kiama Blowhole. The signature loaf at the beachside sourdough bakery on Bong Bong St is the Ancient Grain studded with rye berries, pepitas, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, linseed and poppy seeds. slowdough.com.au

Waiting for weary road trippers just off the Hume Highway, this sprawling bakery is as popular with families as it is truckers. From the same family that owns Braidwood Bakery, Trappers knows its audience: and its audience wants pies. Chunky steak; country chicken and pepper; plus solid gold classics like apricot turnovers and finger buns – this is country baking to the core, but with AllPress coffee to go with it. 4 Sowerby St, Goulburn; trappersbakery.com.au

What started as a lockdown project to keep the Bells at Killcare staff employed and the community fed has became a permanent fixture for the Central Coast’s most luxurious hotel. Bells Bakery & Larder continues to serve up the house-made pastries and sourdough that baked its way into local hearts, alongside bougie larder provisions ideal for completing the perfect beach picnic. 107 The Scenic Rd, Killcare Heights; bellsatkillcare.com.au