Four (and more) of the best pie shops

Pie stops at the right shops are an essential part of a journey.

No road trip is complete without a classic Kiwi pie. Keep this guide in the glovebox and be sure to sample the best on your travels at home and away

1: Greenland Bakery and Cafe,

3 Market Square, Botany Town Centre, ph (09) 272 8628

After years of fruit pie wins, the supreme winner of this year's Bakels Supreme Pie Awards is that best-selling favourite, mince and cheese. David Liem also sells prize-winning chicken and vegetarian varieties.

2: Champion Bakery and Cafe, 93 Rodney St, Wellsford, ph (09) 423 8148

Head up north for the aptly named Champion's gold-winning mince pie: perfect pastry + a perfect filling = the perfect lunch break.

3: Better Quality Pies, 2 Tarewa Rd, Rotorua, ph (07) 349 1556

A chicken and vegetable pie is a thing of joy: this one won gold, so worth the detour. Or cross to the Western Bay of Plenty to Patrick's Pies, 19 Bethlehem Rd, Tauranga, ph (07) 579 2328 whose vegetarian stir-fry in a spinach cream sauce won gold. Long time award-winner Patrick Lam also scooped silver for his chicken pie, and bronze for his seafood and mince and cheese pies.

4: Mairangi Bay Bakery, 326D Beach Rd, ph (09) 479 1610

Head to the North Shore where these guys won gold for their brandied apple, apricot and grape pie and a gold for their seafood combo of salmon, scallops and crab with leek.

They also won silver for their steak pie.

While you're there, head to Euro Patisserie, 1028 Beach Rd, Torbay, ph (09) 473 7535 for their gold-medal chicken, cranberry and camembert pie. Drive further north to Dairy Flat Bakery, 1443 Dairy Flat Highway, ph (09) 426 6061 for the bronze-winning bacon and egg pie.

Or wherever you are, look out for Dad's Pies: this Silverdale-based wholesaler won the best commercial pie category.