Four of the best pie stops

Pies ready for judging in the Bakels New Zealand Supreme Pie Awards.

Head out on the road with our handy guide to the best pies - all winners of the Bakels Supreme Pie Awards

1: One Tree Bakery, Mt Maunganui

Their chicken and veg pie gave the Supreme winner pie a run for its money, says chief judge Tim Aspinall. The chicken was moist, with just the right sauce. If you're in the Bay, head to long-time winner Patrick's Pies in Bethlehem for a mean chicken pie, mince, vego or bacon and egg.

2: Paetiki Bakery, Rifle Range Rd, Taupo

A steak and cheese with just the right pastry and a nice dense filling with great flavour sounds worth a detour, especially since these guys also scooped gold for their scallop, prawn and vege ("that pie was knocking on the door of the (Supreme) winner. There was a very close gap" says Aspinall) and a silver for their mushroom, bacon and cheese combo.

3: Banana Pepper Café, Waihi

A person would be tempted to make the day trip to Waihi just for this caramelised rhubarb and wildberry beauty - described as "pretty divine" with just the right short pastry by the judges.

4: Silver road trips

A good looking chicken and vegetable pie awaits the intrepid traveller heading to Munchies Deli, Coromandel; chocolate and sour cherry goodness is yours at the Cake Box, Frankton, or a cracking steak and cheese from the Kaikohe Bakehouse Cafe.

Around Auckland?
Bernie's of Browns Bay has the country's top mince and mince and cheese pies. Head to Dairy Flat Bakery for their blueberry, apple and apricot treat, or Bakers Oven, Whangaparoa for a winning bacon and egg.

Pukekohe has two regular winners - Greenland Cafe and Target Bakehouse, or check out up-and-coming Penny Lane, Onehunga and Corner Bakery Hillsborough.

Heading further south?
New Zealand's supreme pie is the Clareville Bakery of Carterton's lamb cutlet with kumara mash. Waipukurau's Angkor Wat Bakery has a winning vegetarian pie and a silver-winning seafood.