Australia is big. It is the world’s sixth largest country and has a massive coastline. Its land mass is about 50 per cent greater that Europe and 32 times greater than the United Kingdom. Although nearly 20 per cent is desert, did you know that more snow falls in Australia than Switzerland? Or that Australia has the world’s largest cattle station which, at 30,028 km2, is almost the same size as Belgium? Maybe that’s why people in this country like to create big things. It appears that size does matter to many Aussies, and wherever you travel in Australia you will come across many big things.
It is not uncommon to see rather odd-looking shapes in the distance when driving on the open road. Before you know it, you’re upon a giant fruit or legume of some kind, whether it be a Big Pineapple, Avocado, Mango, Banana, Orange, or Peanut. Some of the big fruit have been constructed to allow you to climb into and up them, like the 16-metre heritage listed Big Pineapple in Nambour on the south-east coast of Queensland or the 14-metre Big Orange in Harvey in the south-west of Western Australia. Not to be outdone, you will find a 15-metre Big Orange that you can walk into in Berri, South Australia … or you may just want to hug the giant mango in Bowen, Queensland!
Giant animals are often a favourite with businesses or enterprising Local Councils, keen to attract customers or visitors by magnifying their product to stand out from the crowd. You may (or may not) be impressed with the sights of a Big Lobster, Sheep, Koala, Crab, Whale, Crocodile, Kangaroo, Ant, Barramundi, Pelican or Galah. Some of these giants are heritage listed and considered works of folk art. Often, however, these oversized structures can look rather creepy-looking or just plain disturbing (I reckon the Giant Koala at Dadswell Bridge in Victoria would give kids nightmares).
And then there’s an assortment of other types of giants. Contemporary art often showcases big things, such as the giant bird’s nest and egg we stumbled across in Sydney, New South Wales, or the giant couple appearing to stroll on top of a Pilbara hill in Western Australia. You can also find, to name just a few, a big Rum bottle (Bundaberg, Queensland), a big golden guitar (Tamworth, New South Wales), big camera (Meckering, Western Australia), and a big farmer (Wudinna, South Australia) which took 17 years to develop!
Nature puts on a fine show with giant things in Australia. You will find the Valley of the Giants near the south-west coast of Western Australia at Denmark (the town not the country). In northern Australia you will be dwarfed by the giant termite mounds and Boab trees. In fact, just south of Derby you can still see a hollowed out Boab tree that was used as a holding cell for indigenous prisoners in the 1890’s on their way to Derby. In the south of Western Australia, Albany has Dog Rock (shaped like the head of a dog) near the centre of town, and an impressive Balancing Rock about 50 kilometres north of the town. Head east and you will find the huge Wave Rock in Hyden, with its stunning shape and colour. Across the Nullabor into South Australia are the amazing giant limestone Bunda Cliffs that traverse much of the Great Australian Bight. But the biggest most impressive rock you will find in Australia and perhaps anywhere in the world can be found right in the centre of the country: Uluru (previously known as Ayers Rock, a photo will be posted after an adventure not too far away!).
Recommendation: Enjoy the many the additional unique experiences that many of the ‘natural’ giants of Australia offer. For example, in the heart of the Valley of the Giants between Denmark and Walpole, there is a 600 metre tree top walk 40 metres high through the canopy of the tingle forest where you enjoy majestic views into the wilderness. Or if you visit the Head of Bight between May and October, you will not only be enthralled by the Bunda Cliffs, but also be captivated by the sight of Southern Right Whales mating, giving birth and socialising in the waters.
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