If you’re looking for a place to stop for a cuppa and a slice, you’ve come to the right place. With its picturesque garden, enchanting woodland ambience and swathes of fern-draped trails, the Dandenong Ranges is the perfect playground for outdoors lovers and foodies alike.
The region is home to some of Victoria’s best bakeries, and you can expect to find a wide range of gourmet pies, cakes and fail-safe pasties. Rolling Pin Bakery is one of our favourites for its hot pies, family beef mince pies, curry pies and jelly slices (it’s also won the baking association’s pie awards).
Marysville Country Bakery
The dandenongs is a quaint albeit remote mountain range of little towns and villages. They abound with charming cafes, shops and museums. It’s a good idea to plan your itinerary well in advance so you can make the most of each and every nook and cranny. To top things off, there are many places to stay and dine in the area including hotels like Yarra Valley Hotel. If you’re a foodie or you have kids in tow, you can’t go past a farmers market for all of the fresh produce your heart desires. For something a bit more refined, a trip to the local bakers may just be your best bet.
If you’re looking for the best in class and a snazzy way to spend your budget, look no further than Marysville Country Bakery. They have a nifty menu of high-quality confections and some of the most impressive coffee machines you’ll find anywhere. You should also get a swag of their wares to take home with you.
Melina’s Bakery and Larder
Dandenong Market is a multicultural hub, offering food from around the world that is cooked fresh and homemade. A visit to the market is a truly unique experience. There’s nothing quite like tasting freshly brewed beer, enjoying a delicious meal from a world street food stall, or getting your hands on a locally-crafted coffee.
It’s also the best place to find gifts for the loved ones in your life this Christmas. Take your pick from the expansive selection of treasures, trinkets and flowers available in the Market Bazaar. Whether you’re looking for something that will last or an elegant piece of jewellery, there’s a shop for every person in your life.
There are four bakeries at Dandenong Market that fill the air with the sweet, satisfying aroma of freshly baked bread. Their secret recipes and cultural traditions are brought to life with each mouth-watering creation.
At Melina’s Bakery and Larder, owner Melina Longhurst brings old-style family traditions to the heart of Dandenong Market. Using her family’s baking recipe, Melina and her team produce a range of breads that are sure to appeal to the discerning palate. She loves to use local ingredients when possible, with milk and butter sourced from Warrnambool and Western Star.
Despite competition from supermarket bakeries, Melina is confident that the community still appreciates fresh, well-made breads that support a healthy lifestyle. The bakery offers a wide variety of sourdough, ciabatta, sunflower rye and multigrain breads as well as pies, pastries, quiches, macaroons and cakes.
Aside from their fantastic range of products, Melina and her team also love to interact with customers. They always have a smile on their face, and you can tell they really enjoy their job.
Melina’s Bakery and Larder is open every day at Dandenong Market, and accepts cash and eftpos. You can also follow them on Facebook to keep up with specials and news about upcoming events at the market. The bakery is located in the meat, fish and deli hall at stall M14.
Rolling Pin Bakery
Just a hop, skip and a jump from Gembrook’s Puffing Billy Railway Station is Rolling Pin Bakery, which serves up classic, no-frills sandwiches and pies. Those looking for something more decadent can check out their sweets cabinets, which stock a range of homemade lemon tarts, tea cakes and apple pies.
Regional bakeries aren’t afraid to bandy about a few superlatives, but Rolling Pin got official bragging rights in 2021 when its surf’n’turf pie – the bakery’s signature chunky beef topped with prawns in a rich garlicky, creamy sauce – took out top spot at the Baking Association of Australia’s pie and pastie competition. As well as the surprisingly flavoured prize-winner, you can expect homey country lamb-and-rosemary pies (among other classic and creative fillings) and fail-safe pasties and sausage rolls.
Choosing the right rolling pin can be tricky, but with careful use, it’s a long-term investment that will keep you going for years. Some styles are made of wood, which will help to build up a natural patina as you use it, while others, such as marble, offer the weight and smoothness that make them ideal for puff pastry. There are also stainless steel and silicone rolling pins, which are lightweight and easy to work with. Regardless of what you choose, the most important thing is to pick the one that’s right for your kitchen and baking needs.
Inverleigh Bakehouse
Located inside an old 1868 homestead on the High Street, Inverleigh Bakehouse is a local institution that doesn’t disappoint when it comes to artisan breads and tempting pastries and cakes. It’s a must for anyone passing through or visiting the area and is well worth a visit whatever your mood.
It’s a bakery that’s been around for decades and has hung up several pie awards on the wall, so it’s no wonder their turnovers, hot cross buns, dark-baked sausage rolls, cinnamon doughnuts, crusty sourdough loaves and cracking vanilla slice are as good as they get. But the real attraction here are their pies, including their award-winning country-still Shepherd’s Pie (rich veggie-and-mince filling with creamy mash on top).
Inverleigh Bakehouse is a great little stop off on your journey through the dandenongs. They have everything you could possibly want in a country bakery including bread, pastries, sausage rolls and cakes as well as organic coffee that is arguably the best in the region. It’s a lovely place to stop off for a chat, a cuppa and a bite to eat so be sure to make a point of grabbing some from their shelves while you’re there. We really enjoyed it and will definitely be back!
