Every road tripper worth their salt knows about Bindoon Bakehaus off the Great Northern Highway. The bakery’s celebration cakes have a cult following, from light and luscious sponge cakes to dark and decadent mud cakes. Prince Harry famously visited the bakery in 2015 to enjoy a banoffee eclair. But the Bindoon Bakehaus is also regarded as one of the best regional bakeries in WA for its sourdough loaves of seven seeds or jalapeno and cheddar cheese. Those with children will appreciate the Kiddies Bakery, which has a play oven and baking bench. 27 Binda Place, Bindoon; bindoonbakehaus.com.au

Have you even been on a road trip in Western Australia if you haven’t inhaled a few Redz Pies from the popular Esperance Bakery. Redz Pies nods to the owners of the bakery, the Redman family and is popular year-round for this post-surf staple. There’s no mark this country bakery doesn’t hit: dinky signage – tick. Curried egg and lettuce sambos – tick. A few blocks back from the beach: bingo. An easy contender for one of the best road-trip pies in WA. 74 Pink Lake Road, Esperance; @redzpies

Anna and Steve Momsen took over this Dunsborough general store and cafe in 2018 and went in with one rule: that everything on the shelves was local and sustainable. Steve, a Perth-trained chef who spent 14 years working in Denmark, built the food side around hygge, the Danish concept of cosiness and comfort. Expect organic sourdough, cinnamon scrolls, banana bread and Danish rye on weekends. 8/35 Dunn Bay Road, Dunsborough; merchantandmaker.com.au

Bred Co. mills local grains sourced from a farm just 70 kilometres away. By concentrating the growing, milling and baking to the Great Southern Region, the artisan bakers produce bread that tastes singularly of the region. It’s bred with cred. Products on offer at this regional bakery in WA include the calingiri, triticale schrot brot and soft white sourdough hightop. Viennoiserie is also made onsite each day. As well as being one of the best regional bakeries in WA, Bred Co does a mean brew. 15 Albany Highway, Albany; bredco.com.au

Margaret River Woodfired Bread was co-founded by Gotthard Bauer (Yallingup Woodfired Bread) and is led by Santana Chorborn who bakes loaves of bread by hand for hungry locals that congregate outside the dinky little Margaret River bread shop each day. The rustic bakery has a pop-up at the Margaret River Farmers Market each week. Follow the lead of the local surfing community and pick up a loaf of the Wave bread (white pure wheat), which you can enjoy simply slathered in butter. Unit 2/32 Boodjidup Road, Margaret River; @margaretriverwoodfiredbread

Home is really where the hearth is. West Australians understand what all the fuss is about at the Falcon outpost of this WA bakehouse. There are a few offshoots in Perth and Mandurah, as well as drive-through bakeries in Myalup. But the Falcon bakery is WA’s most awarded bakery and, crumbs, it deserves the kudos for its chicken laksa pie, peri-peri vegetable version and spicy little lamb rendang number. There are grab-and-go family pies in the offing and a rotating pie of the week. 609 Old Coast Road, Falcon; miamibakehouse.com.au

There’s a lot to see and do while road tripping around Western Australia, from swimming with whale sharks to sipping world-class wines. While Rotters, as it’s affectionately known, is a ferry ride rather than a drive, it’s famed for more than its quokkas and is on the map for lovers of a good old-fashioned pie. Lean into the nostalgia of it all by enjoying a day on the beach followed by a steak and mushroom pie. The vanilla slice also has a cult following for its signature Botticelli wobble. Go for a post-prandial stroll along the foreshore to work off the calories. Maley St, Rottnest Island; @RottnestBakery

Dust the red dirt off your coveralls and head into this off-the-beaten-path bakery in Quindalup. German owner Gotthard Bauer gets up before dawn to bake up to 1200 different styles of sourdough by hand each day: wholemeal, wheat, rye and fruit loaf. Drive down a bush-lined track to find the biodynamic bakery with the Indian Ocean on its doorstep. Yallingup Woodfired Bread also has sister venue Gugelhupf, known for its pies, quiches and gugelhupf, a sweet yeast-leavened cake. 14 Balmoral Road, Quindalup; @gugelhupfyall

Operating on the main street since the 1960s, this quirky cafe with the vintage vibes is the undisputed choice for B&E rolls for the salty-haired surf brigade. Famous for its eclectic, bohemian spirit and decadent treats, this Margs bakery serves up everything from almond croissants to hearty brunch plates and excellent coffee. It gets incredibly busy, but joining the morning line is a rite of passage for van lifers passing through Margaret River, home to some of Australia’s best wineries and cellar doors. 89 Bussell Highway, Margaret River. margsbakery.com

You can eat your body weight in meat pies while travelling around Western Australia. But one of the ultimate pie stops on the road between Bunbury and Perth is the Pinjarra Bakery in the Southend Shopping Centre. Pick up a couple of pies or pastries from the bakery, which also has outlets in Waroona, Port Kennedy and Maddington. Road trippers should plan a return visit for The Great Australian Bite (gourmet steak and gravy) or Ned Kelly (gourmet beef, bacon, cheese and egg). 6/2 Peel St, Pinjarra; pinjarrabakery.com

Befriend your fellow pie pilgrims queuing up outside this coastal powerhouse that has been feeding sun-drenched beachgoers since 1941. This down-home bakery is a certified institution in Duns and legendary for its classic meat pies, fresh loaves and sangas. Whether you’re fueling up before a surf or grabbing a sweet treat for the drive back to Perth, the bounty of baked goods on offer at this Margaret River bakery make it a must-visit stop. 243 Naturaliste Terrace, Dunsborough. dunsboroughbakery.com

Make a beeline to Bread Local for its innovative creations such as the BBQ beef mac and cheese pie or decadent chocolate éclair the size of a pillow. It’s also worth travelling the seven or so hour drive from Perth for the pepper-beef and caramelised onion focaccia. The bakery recently moved premises and is now in an even better position to be of service to the local community. Check the blackboard for specials such as the mortadella pesto and bocconcini focaccia. 167 Pink Lake Road, Pink Lake; breadlocal.com.au

You’d be picking a fight with members of the Grey Nomads Facebook page if you dared question their recommendation of the pies on offer at the Mingenew Bakery. The little bakery made the news in 2021 when it sold 20 kilograms of vanilla slice in one day. That’s a hella lot of snot blocks. Some 300 pies also flew out the door during wildflower season in Western Australia. Pack a few jam doughnuts for the drive north to Ningaloo. 56 Midlands Road, Mingenew; @mingenewbakery

Follow the aroma of freshly baked bread to this artisan bakery in the small country town of Toodyay in WA’s Avon Valley. The bakery is just an hour’s drive north-east of Perth and is worth the day trip for its pies alone. If you’re pie-curious, order the BBQ beef smoked brisket and jalapeno pie, which won gold at an industry award. The beef pastie is not too shabby either and designed to eat on the go with a crust you can grab in both hands. Those with kids in tow might want to add more hole foods to their diet with a few delicious donuts. 123 Stirling Terrace, Toodyay; @toodyaybakery

A quick scroll through the Dardanup Bakery Facebook page and you will declare this dinky bakery a drool-worthy place to pull up while on a pilgrimage to find the best pies in Australia. Best of all, you won’t need to max out the credit card at this particular fuel stop. Those wondering what to do in Dardanup should pick the brains of locals queuing at the bakery who might share their favourite walking trails. Visit the whimsical wonderland of Gnomesville while you’re in the vicinity. 13 Charlotte St, Dardanup; @dardanupbakery