Bakers have been busy perfecting their best pie recipes for the inaugural Southern Highlands Best Pie competition. 

While judging is not open to the public, it is the event that will decide the best pies in the Southern Highlands. 

The winning pies will be announced on Friday night and will be available for tasting at the Southern Highlands Pie Time Festival on June 24-25.

The competition, to be judged on Thursday and Friday, was open to any baker in the Southern Highlands. 

The first Pie Time festival will feature pie tasting, local food, wine, beer and cider stands, cooking demonstrations, pie eating and pie throwing competitions.

The festival will run from 10am-3pm both days. 

Admission will be $5 for adults and kids under 15 years will be free. Tickets can be purchased at the gate on the day, or at http://pietimefestival.floktu.com/.

If you’re hungry enough you can also enter the Southern Highlands Pie Eating Competition. 

If you think you could eat a large pie in a number of minutes, or seconds, register for the event here, http://pietimefestivalpieeatingcomp.floktu.com/. 

The competition will be held at 1pm on Saturday and 1.30pm on Sunday. 

Cooking demonstrations will also be held at 11am and 2.30pm at the festival on Saturday and Sunday. 

Pie-eaters will have the opportunity to win the ‘Ultimate Pie Lovers Experience’ of a gourmet pie lunch for 10 people at the award-winning Centennial Vineyards Restaurant, cooked and presented in front of the fireplace by chef and owner Robin Murray, by purchasing a pie or pie dish throughout June and entering their experience on pietime.com.au. 

If you can’t make the festival you sill have the chance to taste the Highlands best winter warmers. 

The Southern Highlands Pie Trail will allow visitors to  sample the range of pies crafted by more than 300 local pie outlets in the region. 

Find the pie trail at https://www.southern-highlands.com.au/events/pie-time?tab=pie-trail. 

Visitors are invited to stay in the Southern Highlands for a Pie Time Short Break ‘pie-cation’ at the iconic Peppers Craigieburn Bowral. 

The special accommodation package includes their signature pie and wine for two people, a welcome drink on arrival and is available from June 1 to August 31.