After a fiercely contested search for pastry prowess, one pie has risen above the rest in Ballarat’s beloved pie competition.
Flaky or crumbly? Chunky steak or classic beef? Potato-topped or chicken and leek? However you like yours, few Aussie staples inspire quite as much debate as the humble pie. And now, the arguments can finally be settled – at least in Ballarat, where the city’s iconic annual pie competition has returned for the whole month of August.
Local judges have finger-licked their way through buttery pastry and oozy fillings to decide which flaky contender deserves the ultimate bragging rights of Ballarat’s Best Pie for 2026. One bake took out the upper crust after impressing judges with its pastry perfection and creative spin on familiar flavours.
The official awards ceremony was held on Saturday 1 August 2026 at Itinerant Spirits, hosted by Tim Bone, MasterChef Australia semi-finalist, Good Chef Bad Chef co-host and judge for Ballarat’s Best Pie.
And while the judges’ favourites are out, there is still an equally important title up for grabs. For the rest of August, 30 venues will showcase their very best pies to the public and compete for the title of People’s Choice Pie. So make sure to swing into Ballarat to fill your rumbling belly with the flakiest, tastiest pies and cast your own vote. And no, they’re not all beef. Spanning savoury to sweet, everyone will have a favourite.
Ballarat’s Best Pie
The Shared Table’s Sher Wagyu Reuben pie struck gold. (Credit: Chris McConville)
Beating the entries of 29 other pie shops, The Shared Table‘s Sher Wagyu Reuben pie was crowned Ballarat’s Best Pie for 2026. Also snapping up top honours in the Best Savoury Pie category, this delicious parcel combines decadent braised wagyu with pastrami flavours, sauerkraut, cheese, dressing, and pickles in a rye-flour pastry, and is made with local produce.
“Delicious and surprising has been our motto since opening as we’ve always strived to serve fine food with a twist – mixing and matching many types of cuisines, often landing in fusions that surprise and delight our customers. That’s how our spin on the Reuben was born," explains Dianne Ray, owner of The Shared Table.
Coming in a close second spot was Cookie Cult’s Struck Gold & It’s Sticky pie, available at Yellow Espresso, which also took home the Best Sweet Pie award. Third place was awarded to The Buninyong Hotel‘s Sri Lankan chicken curry pie – the result of a team of Sri Lankan-born chefs preparing a traditional dish from their homeland and serving it Aussie-style.
Best Sweet Pie
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Try Cookie Cult’s Struck Gold & It’s Sticky pie at Yellow Espresso. (Credit: Chris McConville)
The pie won 2nd place overall, as well as the best sweet pie category. (Credit: Chris McConville)
Sugar addicts will be lining up at Yellow Espresso to try Cookie Cult‘s Struck Gold & It’s Sticky pie – the winner of the Best Sweet Pie category. The creation features a signature chocolate chip cookie base, soft sticky date pudding, vanilla custard, caramel sauce and honey glaze.
Best Bakery Pie
This richly flavoured bake from Sovereign Hill is worth every crumb. (Credit: Chris McConville)
Comfort food doesn’t get much better than Sovereign Hill’s slow-cooked blade steak pepper pie, which was awarded Ballarat’s Best Bakery Pie for 2026. Drawing inspiration from the 1850s goldfields, the slow-roasted brisket encased in a golden crust is rich, warming and packed with flavours. Try it for yourself at Hope Bakery at Sovereign Hill.
Brilliantly Unexpected Pie
Flying Chillie’s pandan flower pie features Asian-inspired flavours. (Credit: Chris McConville)
Butter puff pastry, salted palm sugar caramel, pandan cheesecake and coconut mochi come together to form Flying Chillie’s pandan flower pie – the winner of this year’s Brilliantly Unexpected Pie category. Drawing on Asian flavour profiles, this mouthwatering creation is available at The Salty Sparrow Cafe Ballarat.
How to vote for People’s Choice Pie
Voting for the Ballarat People’s Choice Pie is open from 1 to 31 August and can be cast at the official Ballarat’s Best Pie voting page. Enter the draw to win a Ballarat escape valued at over $2000.
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Eleanor Edström is Australian Traveller’s Associate Editor. Previously a staff writer at Signature Luxury Travel & Style and Vacations & Travel magazines, she's a curious wordsmith with a penchant for conservation, adventure, the arts and design. She discovered her knack for storytelling much earlier, however – penning mermaid sagas in glitter ink at age seven. Proof that her spelling has since improved, she holds an honours degree in English and philosophy, and a French diploma from the University of Sydney. Off duty, you’ll find her pirouetting between Pilates and ballet classes, or testing her friends’ patience with increasingly obscure vocabulary.
Rest and recuperate in the East Gippsland region, a haven of natural hot springs, seasonal festivals and really tasty things to eat.
It’s about this time of year that the buzz of the summer holidays is well and truly behind us, and the pressures of the day-to-day are starting to pile up. The solution? A proper weekend escape, ideally one with a focus on rest, relaxation and total reset.
East Gippsland delivers all three in spades. Here, you’ll find charming towns, natural scenery alive with wildlife and easygoing experiences – think steamy hot springs and idyllic lakefront stays that practically force you to unwind.
The Gippsland Lakes are one of the region’s highlights, a sprawling network of glassy waterways with a seriously calming atmosphere. Spend a few days here, and you’ll be well and truly recharged.
Here’s where to eat, stay, explore and unwind for a wellness-focused weekend in this gorgeous region.
Getting there
Visit lakeside villages like Lakes Entrance.
East Gippsland is a patchwork of towns, each with its own personality: coastal gems like Marlo and Mallacoota, lakeside villages including Metung, Paynesville and Lakes Entrance and a smattering of inland communities.
From Melbourne, getting to each is easy. The region can be reached by car in around four hours, just a smooth drive along the Princes Highway.
If you’re driving to or from Sydney, many of the towns sit along the legendary Sydney to Melbourne coastal drive, which winds its way through Lakes Entrance, Orbost, Marlo and Mallacoota.
Having a car makes exploring the region a breeze, as you can pull over at farm gates, take scenic detours and go at your own relaxing pace.
Winter delights
Experience that East Gippsland Winter Festival. (Credit: Naomi Rahim)
Winter is a particularly good time to visit. The East Gippsland Winter Festival is a raucous celebration of wintery food, drink, music and experiences, taking place over an entire month and in different towns.
Expect re-enactments, games, roving performances and fiery displays at the Bruthen Medieval event. Feast your way through regional bites and watch live wood carving and a hotly contested dumpling-eating competition in the waterside town of Metung. Head to Lakes Entrance for one of the festival’s signature events, Lakes Lights: Gardens of the Galaxy – a slightly cosmic and totally mesmerising display of lights. Or book a seat at the Nicholson River Trestle Bridge Long Lunch. This long-table feast stretches across the entire bridge, with sweeping river views and top-tier local produce.
Where to stay
Rejuvinate at Metung Hot Springs.
Metung is also a much-loved destination for natural hot springs – warm mineral pools believed to restore and detoxify the system. Here, you’ll find a network of tranquil springs fed with water sourced 500m below the surface, all at varying temperatures but with a healthy mix of soothing minerals and trace elements. Each looks over the stunning surrounding lakes, only adding to the sense of serenity.
Extend the relaxation by booking into Metung Hot Springs. The property is home to a collection of glamping tents – either perched on the hillside or overlooking the lagoon – that deliver after-hours access to the springs. These are no ordinary tents; expect plush linens, beautifully curated furnishings, warm service and a complimentary gourmet breakfast delivered daily.
Alternatively, book a night or two at Idle Lake House – a gorgeously appointed hideaway in Lakes Entrance. The aesthetic is moody, modern and very cool, and the property is situated right on the water’s edge with floor-to-ceiling windows that immerse you in the surroundings.
Where to eat
Sit down at the floating restaurant, Sodafish. (Credit: We Are Explorers)
Given its wealth of fresh seafood and exceptional produce, East Gippsland is home to a vast selection of eateries, with options to suit all tastes and budgets.
For something a little bit fancy, Sardine Dining in Paynesville is a must-visit. The hatted restaurant serves a seasonal seafood-focused menu made with premium local ingredients, while the adjoining wine bar is a top spot for a regional drop and a light snack.
If you’re after a relaxed bite, Sodafish in Lakes Entrance is your best bet. This floating restaurant sits right atop the water, with a vibrant and fresh menu centred on locally caught seafood. Anything off the menu is delicious, but the whole roasted snapper and locally sourced fish and chips are standouts.
Or luxuriate with a long afternoon at the nearby Slipway. This waterfront dining precinct hosts a mix of vendors serving casual food, craft drinks and regionally made goods.
Exploring the great outdoors and local culture
Keep an eye out for the locals. (Credit: Tyson Mayr)
No wellness weekend would be complete without immersing yourself in the beauty and tranquillity of East Gippsland’s outdoors.
Head to Raymond Island – a small island just off Paynesville – to spot local koalas along the Koala Trail. This two-kilometre stretch is one of the few places where you can see koalas doing their thing in their natural habitat, with more than 200 living on the island. Leave the car in Paynesville; the trail can only be accessed on foot.
Next, explore the Gippsland Lakes Discovery Trail, which starts in Colquhoun and ends in Lakes Entrance. Across 23 kilometres, you’ll spot native flora and fauna (including lace goannas) and pass by remnants of the tramway that once serviced timber workers in the area.
Finish up your East Gippsland jaunt with a visit to Gunaikurnai Cultural Hub. The centre houses an Aboriginal Art Gallery displaying contemporary works by Aboriginal artists, and a Bush Cafe serving breakfast and lunch classics and excellent cakes. Pick up a slice and a coffee for your trip back to the city.
