Australia’s Iconic Big Things: A Road Trip Guide

Australia’s Iconic Big Things: A Road Trip Guide

“Go big or go home,” so the expression goes, and Australia certainly received the memo. Australia’s penchant for ‘Big Things’ dates back to the 1960s, with the unveiling of Adelaide’s Big Scotsman and the Big Banana in Coffs Harbour, delighting visitors with their oversized charm. Today, there are reportedly over 150 Big Things across the country, with some sources suggesting over 300, though the exact number depends on how “big” is defined. While some on our list may be medium-sized, checking them off is a quintessential reason to hit the highway on an Australian road trip. The quirkier, the better. Here, we highlight some of the most iconic larger-than-life attractions, ranked by state—not by appeal—along with lesser-known gems like Larry the Lobster in Kingston, South Australia, recently crowned champion in ABC Rural’s ‘Which Big Thing is the Best?’ poll by Warwick Long.

Queensland: The Sunshine State’s Big Thing Extravaganza

Queensland loves its Big Things, with a surprising variety scattered across the state—from fruit and a giant gumboot to a cane toad, kangaroo, and even a giant easel. Here are nine of the best in Queensland:

1. The Big Pineapple
   Located in Woombye on the Sunshine Coast, the Big Pineapple opened in 1971 on the Sunshine Plantation between Noosa and Caloundra. This 16-metre fibreglass icon, once part of Prince Charles and Lady Diana’s 1983 Royal tour, drew over 1 million visitors annually at its peak. Plans are underway to restore its heritage-listed glory. The 170-hectare site features a ginger beer brewery (Diablo Co.), a water park, education programs, accommodation, a Wildlife HQ zoo, a Tree Top Challenge with high ropes and ziplines, and events like the annual Big Pineapple Music Festival. Sunshine & Sons distillery launched Pineapple Parfait Gin in 2021 to mark the landmark’s 50th anniversary, and there’s a push for it to become the mascot for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.

2. The Big Kangaroo
   Matilda, the 13-metre-tall kangaroo mascot from the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games, now stands outside a Chevron mega servo station on the Bruce Highway in Traveston, near Gympie. Originally weighing six tonnes, she’s been relocated multiple times, from a Gold Coast water park to a Kyborg truck stop. Though her winking and ear-wiggling days are over, she still turns heads as a roadside icon.

3. The Big Cane Toad
   Nicknamed “Buffy” after its Latin name Bufo marinus, this fibreglass cane toad in Sarina celebrates the town’s cane farming history. Located on the Bruce Highway, the toad—once a papier-mâché float for a sugar festival—honors the large, poisonous species prevalent in the region, despite its introduction as a pest control measure.

4. The Golden Gumboot
   Tully, south of Cairns, boasts the 7.9-metre Golden Gumboot, a monument to its status as Australia’s wettest town, with over four metres of annual rainfall. Featuring a white-lipped green tree frog, the gumboot was restored after Cyclone Yasi in 2017, now painted golden with a vibrant green frog.

5. The Big Bullock
   Rockhampton’s Big Bullock comprises seven large statues, including a Brahman Bull and Droughtmaster, honoring the town’s Beef Australia Expo. Located at key city entrances, these quirky statues have faced vandalism, but remain a nod to the Beef Capital of Australia.

6. The Big Easel
   In Emerald, a 25-metre-high easel by artist Cameron Cross features Van Gogh’s sunflower painting, made from 13.6 tonnes of steel. Finished in 1999, it’s the world’s largest rendition of the artwork, celebrating Emerald’s sunflower production history. Visit during the annual Sunflower Festival over Easter.

7. The Big Barramundi
   Normanton’s six-metre-long Big Barramundi honors the elusive freshwater fish in the Norman River, marking the town as the Barramundi Capital of the North. Built in 1995, it’s one of three barramundi Big Things in Australia, alongside an 8-metre saltwater crocodile, Krys, the Savannah King.

8. The Big Cassowary
   At Wongaling Beach Shopping Centre in Mission Beach, this five-metre-tall fibreglass cassowary represents the Cassowary Coast’s flightless birds, known for their red and blue wattles. It’s a safer alternative to encountering the real 1.7-metre, 76-kg birds in the rainforest.

9. The Big Apple
   In Stanthorpe, 2.5 hours southwest of Brisbane, the Big Apple celebrates the Granite Belt’s apple orchards. Located near Sutton’s Juice Factory, Cidery and Café, it offers apple pies, cider tastings, and a nod to Queensland’s fruit bounty.

South Australia: Unexpected Big Thing Wonders

Famed for vineyards, beaches, and festivals, South Australia surprises with Big Things in unlikely places. Here are three highlights:

1. The Big Lobster (Larry the Lobster)
   Kingston’s 17-metre steel-and-fibreglass lobster, built in 1979, attracts foodies to the Limestone Coast. Known as Larry, it’s ranked No. 1 in ABC Rural’s Big Thing poll and features a takeaway in its tail, drawing road-trippers off the Princes Highway for fish, chips, and selfies.

2. The Big Rocking Horse
   Gumeracha’s 18-metre Big Rocking Horse, set in 80 tonnes of concrete, is the emblem of a wooden toy factory. Though it doesn’t rock, visitors can climb to vantage points in the rocker, saddle, and head. It’s near a wildlife park with peacocks, wallabies, and kangaroos.

3. The Big Galah
   Kimba’s eight-metre Big Galah, a grey-and-pink cockatoo, marks Australia’s halfway point. Perched outside a servo, it’s overshadowed by 30-metre grain silos with murals. The Big Kissing Galahs in Canberra’s Watson are a related attraction.

New South Wales: Home of the Big Banana

New South Wales boasts the iconic Big Banana and other standout Big Things. Here are five of the best:

1. The Big Banana
   Opened in 1964 in Coffs Harbour, the 13-metre Big Banana on the Pacific Highway was one of Australia’s first Big Things. Now part of an award-winning fun park with laser tag, slides, mini golf, ice skating, and a water park, it offers chocolate-coated bananas and splits, cementing its road-trip fame.

2. The Big Merino (Rambo)
   Goulburn’s 100-tonne, 15.2-metre-high Big Merino, built in 1985, celebrates the wool industry. Relocated closer to the Hume Highway in 2007, “Rambo” offers a three-storey interior with wool history exhibits, a gift shop, and an observation deck.

3. The Big Prawn
   Ballina’s 33-tonne Big Prawn, built in 1989, honors the local prawning industry. Restored by Bunnings in 2010 with a 16-metre tail, it stands tall near the highway, perfect for selfies and nearby seafood.

4. The Big Potato
   Robertson’s 10-by-4-metre Big Potato, built in 1977, celebrates the region’s potato production. Nicknamed “the big poo-tato” for its shape, it’s a quirky landmark near the Robertson Supermarket, sold to new owners in 2020.

5. The Big Kookaburra
   Kurri Kurri’s 4.6-metre Big Kookaburra, crafted from recycled steel, aluminium, and copper by Chris Fussel, is a stunning sculpture in Col Brown Park. It’s a lesser-known Big Thing, representing local sporting and community pride.

Northern Territory: Rocks and Big Things

The NT, home to Uluru, also features unique Big Things. Here are the top three:

1. Big Stubbie
   Outside the Larrimah Hotel, between Darwin and Alice Springs, the Big Stubbie lures road-trippers with its beer bottle design, paired with a Pink Panther statue, near a WWII airstrip.

2. The Big Boxing Crocodile
   Humpty Doo’s eight-metre Big Crocodile, with boxing gloves, represents local life on the Arnhem Highway, 40 km from Darwin. The NT also hosts The Giant Jumping Crocodile in Wak Wak and George the Big Crocodile in Darwin.

3. The Big Turtle
   In Darwin’s Lyons suburb, artist Techy Masero’s four-metre-wide mosaic turtle in Garamanak Park, created with Indigenous artists, is a lesser-known gem near a community centre.

Tasmania: The Apple Isle’s Charming Big Things

Tasmania offers two standout Big Things:

1. The Big Penguin
   Penguin’s fibreglass-and-cement Big Penguin, in the town of Penguin, celebrates fairy penguins visiting from September to March. Locals dress it in military or Santa costumes for Anzac Day and Christmas, making it a top road-trip stop.

2. The Big Tassie Devil
   At Trowunna Wildlife Park near Cradle Mountain, this Big Tasmanian Devil highlights conservation efforts for the native animal, offering education and scenic trails.

Victoria: Giants and Icons

Victoria’s long list includes a “Giant” koala and more. Here are five highlights:

1. Giant Murray Cod
   Swan Hill’s 11-metre Giant Murray Cod, a 1992 movie prop from Eight Ball, sits near the Burke & Wills Moreton Bay fig tree, attracting anglers to the Murray River.

2. Giant Koala (Sam)
   Dadswell Bridge’s 12-tonne Giant Koala, built after a 2009 bushfire-rescue koala, stands in Wimmera. It’s near a restaurant, ice creamery, and wildlife park, perfect for road-trip breaks.

3. The Big Strawberry
   Koonoomoo’s six-metre-tall, five-metre-wide Big Strawberry, painted Monza red, survived a 2013 tornado. It’s a family-friendly spot for strawberry picking, scones, and souvenirs.

4. Big Ned Kelly
   Glenrowan’s Big Ned Kelly, outside the Tourist Centre, honors the outlaw’s armored stand, recalling the Kelly Gang’s last shootout and rich bushranger history.

5. Big Wine Bottle
   Rutherglen’s Big Wine Bottle, with a disused water tank as its top, marks the town’s winery region. Built in 1969, it’s part of the Winery Walkabout, drawing oenophiles.

Western Australia: Big and Bold

WA’s largest state boasts impressive Big Things. Here are four highlights:

1. The Big Tractor
   Carnamah’s 11.5-metre-tall, 16-metre-long Big Tractor, a steel replica of the Chamberlain 40k, celebrates the Wheatbelt’s agrarian history. Costing $750,000 and taking 17 months to build, it aims to attract visitors 300 km north of Perth.

2. The Big Lollipop
   Ravensthorpe’s largest free-standing Big Lollipop, built in 2019 by The Yummylicious Candy Shack, draws families for lollies and selfies, boosting tourism.

3. The Big Orange
   Harvey’s 10-metre-high Big Orange at Harvey River Estate celebrates local citrus. For a small fee, visitors can climb inside to learn about Harvey’s citrus history.

4. The Big Western Rock Lobster
   Dongara Port Denison’s Big Western Rock Lobster, unique to WA’s coast, invites climbers for photos. It’s a seafood-lover’s attraction near fresh seafood spots.

Honourable Mentions

Some lesser-known Big Things deserve recognition:

• Nyngan’s Big Bogan (NSW): A five-metre-tall figure with a mullet, stubbies, and Southern Cross tattoo, unveiled in 2015 in the Bogan Shire.

• Tolga’s Big Peanut (Qld): Resembling Mr Potato Head, this quirky peanut is a big attraction in Tropical North Queensland.

• Rockhampton’s Big Dugong (Qld): A 22-by-12-metre dugong at the Dreamtime Cultural Centre, celebrating the strange marine mammal.

• Cowra’s Proposed Big Chris (NSW): A planned four-storey Chris Hemsworth statue, described as “with a beard like spun canola,” aims to put Cowra on the map.