The Bakers Duck, Toowoomba: Heading west? Beloved Toowoomba pastry pit stop The Bakers Duck is famed for its artisan loaves and sweets – morsels crafted the old-fashioned way using organic and locally sourced ingredients. The selection is broad and chock-full of phenomenal options, but if we were forced to choose for you we’d opt for the churros croissant, fruit-loaded danishes and the decadent custard tart. Oh, and we reckon nab one of The Bakers Duck’s signature Bellevue loaves, because having excellent bread on hand is always a plus.

Kenilworth Country Bakery, Kenilworth: Hailed by many as one of the state’s best pilgrimage-worthy pastry spots, Kenilworth Country Bakery is famous for its excellent selection of carb-loaded goodies and as the home of its one-kilo doughnut challenge. It’s these gargantuan doughnuts that will likely draw your attention here –  giant strawberry rings and humungous jam-and-cream buns will make the trip worth it. Don’t forget the rest of the selection, though – there’s a bounty of regular-sized doughnuts as well as sausage rolls, pies and savoury tarts.

Tins & Trays, Gatton: This popular patisserie is located within a gorgeous character-filled Queenslander, and its range of treats is just as eye-catching! A seasonally changing dine-in menu showcases many patisserie treats combined with the best local produce available. Beef sausage rolls with caramelised miso, specialty pies boasting French butter puff pastry and flaky croissants (enjoyed with forest-berry compote or as the base for the croissant eggs Benedict) are surefire winners. If you’re more inclined to grab some eats for the road, Tins & Trays’ eclairs, doughnuts, tarts and cookies will make for great travel snacks.

Lovett at Kalbar, Kalbar: If you’re swinging through the Scenic Rim soon, stop in and stretch your legs (and stomachs) at Kalbar-based cafe and bakery Lovett. For some hearty and homemade nourishment, we suggest nabbing a couple of golden-crust, freshly baked pies, spiced blueberry tarts, old-school cream- and jam-filled matchsticks, and much more.

The Goomeri Bakery, Goomeri: Just past Gympie sits the small town of Goomeri, home to one of the most charming bakeries you’re likely to encounter in Queensland. Specialty French pastries and artisanal breads are a focus here, each lovingly crafted and presented. Want something sweet? Try the lemon curd and orange cream tart, strawberry-custard danish or mini pavlovas. Feel more like a savoury bite? A slow-cooked lamb-and-rosemary pie, Angus beef pie or spinach-and-fetta roll should satiate your appetite.

Foxy’s Bakery, Stanthorpe: A Stanthorpe staple, Foxy’s should be high on your list of stops when passing though this Granite Belt locality. Owned by local couple Kris and Fiona Fox, Foxy’s is a family-friendly dispensary for all sorts of freshly baked treats. Stocking up is advised, especially when it comes to Foxy’s bakewell tarts (butter shortbread topped with raspberry coulis and almond cream), citrus tarts with tangy lemon curd, fresh cinnamon coated and jam-filled doughnuts and chocolate-dipped eclairs with Chantilly cream. You will want multiples of each.

Little Tree Bake & Brewhouse, Samford: While still not too far from the boundaries of Brisbane, the leafy heart of Samford Village is still a worthwhile spot for a weekend drive – if only to savour a taste of the artisanal bakery goods from Little Tree. Local, sustainable and seasonal produce are incorporated into Little Tree’s bespoke range, from the beef-and-shiraz pies and pancetta savoury tarts to the cauliflower, leek and gorgonzola pasties and organic malt sourdough loaves.

Old Fernvale Bakery, Fernvale: Nestled in Brisbane Valley is a veritable baked-goods icon. Old Fernvale Bakery has been operating for decades, becoming a slice of local history in and of itself. A bakery doesn’t earn institution status without a phenomenal product range at its core – here you’ll find jaffa cream tarts, strawberry cream cronuts, fruit flans, kiwi fruit and passionfruit gateaux, and gluten-free vanilla slice. That’s not all! Old Fernvale Bakery’s pie menu is a thing of legend, with a jaw-dropping range of fillings including classic steak, butter chicken, goat and chilli, turkey, cranberry and camembert, and kangaroo pies.

Zest Pastries, Stanthorpe: Food is one of the greatest sources of zest for living, so any bakery named Zest is likely to have the right kind of exciting quality we seek in our pastry products. This Stanthorpe locale is all about doing things the right way – everything is handmade from scratch using some of the best produce the Granite Belt has to offer. The result? Fabulously flaky pies, dreamy danishes, sensational sausage rolls and choice croissants. What else could you need?

Blackbutt Bakery, Blackbutt: If you’re hurtling down the D’Aguilar Highway towards Kingaroy, pull over when you get to Blackbutt for some rest and recuperation. The best spot to recharge is at Blackbutt Bakery, which boasts a seriously impressive selection of sweet and savoury items. We’re talking salted caramel and vanilla custard slice, lemon butter and white chocolate muffins, creamy garlic mushroom and chunky steak pies, and even a bison pie!

Image courtesy of The Bakers Duck