Fresh Out of the Oven: The MADE NORTH CANTERBURY Pie Trail Returns This July

Following the success of last year’s inaugural trail, the MADE NORTH CANTERBURY Pie Trail is returning this July, giving locals and visitors the perfect excuse to get out and explore North Canterbury one pie at a time.

Now in its second year, the Pie Trail features 18 participating pie stops stretching from Kaiapoi and Rangiora through to Parnassus and Hanmer Springs.

And yes, that means plenty of opportunities to eat your way from the coast to the high country.

From classic mince and cheese to gourmet creations packed with local flavours, North Canterbury’s bakeries, cafés and eateries are bringing plenty of variety to the table. There are also a number of special pie creations available throughout July, so it’s a great chance to try something a little different.

A trail worth taking

The Pie Trail is all about celebrating the people behind some of New Zealand’s favourite food — the local bakers, cafés and eateries making pies right here in North Canterbury.

Last year’s inaugural trail saw hundreds of reviews come through, with people travelling across the region to tick off pie stops and share their favourites.

Woodend Bakery received the most reviews in 2025, earning serious pie bragging rights. But with 18 stops on the trail this year, the competition is wide open.

“We were blown away by the response to the first Pie Trail,” says Kelly Lynch, Marketing Specialist at Enterprise North Canterbury.

“We saw hundreds of reviews come through, people travelling across North Canterbury to tick off pie stops, and so many locals and visitors getting behind our fantastic bakeries and eateries. Woodend Bakery received the most reviews during last year’s Pie Trail, so we’re looking forward to seeing which pie stop earns those bragging rights this year.”

Eat. Share. Win.

Taking part is pretty simple.

Eat: Pick up a pie from any participating Pie Trail stop throughout July. You can stick to your usual order or go completely rogue.

Share: Take a photo or video, get creative and leave a review on the Pie Trail website. Tell us what really matters — who has the flakiest pastry, the cheesiest filling or the best meat-to-pastry ratio?

Win: Every review or social media post earns you an entry into the draw to win a YETI prize pack — and the ultimate honour of being crowned 2026 Pie Hard of the Year.

So whether you’re grabbing a pie after the kids’ sport, stopping for smoko, heading off on a winter road trip or simply deciding that it’s a perfectly reasonable day for a pie, the Pie Trail is ready to roll.

“The MADE NORTH CANTERBURY Pie Trail is about celebrating the makers and bakers behind the pies we all know and love,” says Kelly.

“It’s a fun way to get out this winter and during the school holidays, support local and enjoy a good pie along the way, whether it’s after a sports game, on your smoko break, on a roadie or just because.”

Where will your pie adventure take you?

The MADE NORTH CANTERBURY Pie Trail officially launches on 1 July, with 18 stops waiting to be discovered across the region.

Grab your mates, the family or your most committed pie-loving companion, pick a direction and start exploring.

After all, there are worse ways to spend a winter.

Find the full trail map, participating stops and competition details at ncpietrail.co.nz.

Follow @ncpietrail on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok and share your pie adventures using #ncpietrail.

The MADE NORTH CANTERBURY Pie Trail is part of the MADE NORTH CANTERBURY initiative by Enterprise North Canterbury, celebrating provenance in the region and supporting local food and drink producers and eateries.