Food and Drink

How To Road Trip Your Way Through The Southern Highlands Pie Time Festival

All roads lead to pie.

Pie Time Festival Southern Highlands
Phot By Anikona

The humble pie is an Australian classic, with a cult following, so it’s only fitting that one of the best pie regions in Australia is hosting a four-week pie festival. Dubbed Pie Time Festival, the Southern Highlands, also known as the food bowl of New South Wales will be hosting masterclasses and a myriad of other pie-themed events starting Tuesday, 1 June to Wednesday, 30 June. 

Pie lovers will get a chance to sample as many meat pies they can handle on this self-guided pie trail starting at Mittagong and ending at Sutton Forest. 

Mittagong

Start in Mittagong with a selfie with the giant pie at the Southern Highlands Welcome Centre, where you will also find information about the region. Mittagong is known for specialty shopping and heritage trails including the Fitz Roy Ironworks historic site. Stop by Sturt Gallery and Craft Centre before heading to Bowral.

Where to get pies in Mittagong

Stops along the way

The next stop is Bowral, but you will find lookouts and picnic spots at the top along the way. Travel along Oxley Drive and keep an eye out for lookout signs if you want to take a break. If not, continue to Bowral for more pies and art galleries. 

Sonoma Bakery Bowral Pies
Photo Courtesy Sonoma Bowral

Bowral

In Bowral, you will find a lot of pie shops, regional art galleries, and boutique shops. Visit the Botanic Gardens, pick up some local wine and produce, before stopping into one of these pie shops.

Where to get pies in Bowral

  • Gumnut Patisserie: This award-winning pie shop is serving a massaman curry beef pie. 
  • Scottish Arms: Expect pub-style pies. 
  • Sonoma Bakery Bowral: Sonoma will be giving away 100 pies made fresh by the Sonoma pastry wizards. To join The Great Pie Hunt follow @sonomabakingco on Instagram and stay tuned as Sonoma release clues on where you can find their signature pie tokens hidden throughout Bowral. Each token will nab you one of their flaky, buttery, and chunky meat pies. 
  • The Mill Cafe: Get the pie of the day and a glass of wine for $26.
  • The Bradman Cafe: Located at the Bradman Museum, pick up a pie and explore the cricket hall of fame.

Moss Vale

Once in Moss Vale, you will find specialty homewares stores filled with treasures for your home. Pick up something special before heading off to a pie lunch. Before leaving Moss Vale, you will need to decide if you want to go to Robertson or Sutton Forest, or you could do both.

Where to get pies in Moss Vale

Choose Your Finish Line

Pie Time Festival Southern Highlands
Photo By Sjenner13/Getty Images

Robertson

The drive from Moss Vale to Robertson passes through some of the region’s lushest and most expensive pastureland where award-winning cattle graze and thoroughbred horse studs pop in and out of the landscape. The town of Robertson is home to Robertson Cheese Factory where artisan masterpieces sit alongside bric-a-brac making a visit to these two locations essential whilst in town.

Where to get pies in Robertson

Sutton Forest

The drive from Sutton Forest is only 10 minutes, but it features rural vistas and is home to a number of the region’s award-winning vineyards. After stocking up on some bottles, enjoy the historic town of Sutton Forest.

Where to get pies in Sutton Forest

Pie Time Festival Southern Highlands
Photo By Fabian Krause

Other pies to try in the Southern Highlands:

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Food and Drink

Red Rooster Is Serving Free Chicken and Piping Hot Cash This Christmas in July

Get your early dose of festive cheer.

Red Rooster Christmas in July
Instagram / @redrooster_au

The cold weather in most parts of Australia coinciding with EOFY celebrations is the closest thing that we’ll get to snowy Christmas vibes. And if you’re in dire need of some festive cheer after the first six months of 2023, grab your ugly sweater and head to your nearest Red Rooster for Xmas in July deals.

From June 29 – July 31, 2023, Red Rooster is serving up free food items, a chance to win $10,000 or one of 10 merch packs valued at $400 and other fun prizes. All you have to do is sign up as a Red Royalty member and spend $5 on at a location near you or online.

Each week there’ll be new delicious deals and prizes to win. The week one deals have already dropped and they’re looking pretty tasty. You can get access to them via your Red Royalty account. The more you purchase, the more chances you have to win.

Spoiler alert: you can get 10 chicken nuggets for free, right now. Brb running to Red Rooster.

Terms and conditions apply. Visit Red Rooster’s Christmas in July to see all the deals.

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