Victoria offers a range of fantastic free camping sites that are loved by those seeking budget-friendly holidays and outdoor adventures. Here is a list of 10 free camping sites that are in great locations, along with five that are free for a limited period.
Australia
The Big Banana, Coffs Harbour, NSW
Best Australian ‘Big Things’ for ultimate East Coast road trip
If you're looking for some fun, quirky stops on a road trip across Victoria, NSW and Queensland, here is a guide to the best Big Things to see along the East Coast of Australia.
Australia's East Coast is home to some of the most unique and quirky roadside attractions. These oversized sculptures and structures, from giant bananas to towering merinos, not only capture the imagination but also celebrate Australia's rich and varied local history. But how did they start?
One of the first 'Big Things' was the Big Banana, which was built in 1964. But it wasn't until the 1980s that the idea of building oversized sculptures to help attract tourists really took hold. The Mokany brothers, who were Hungarian businessmen, decided to build the Big Merino in 1985 in Goulburn, followed by the Big Prawn in Ballina.
Now, there are more than 150 eye-catching structures all around Australia, including many along the country's eastern coast. Whether you're heading to Sydney, Brisbane, or all the way up to Far North Queensland, these are some of the top 'Big Things' to discover along the way.
Is your car road trip ready?
- Road trip car safety checklist
- What to pack in an emergency car safety kit
- How to drive safely with babies and children
- How to drive safely around wildlife
- Driving safely in low visibility
- How to find an EV charging station
Before heading out, plan your route using the arevo Journey Planner, check that your emergency roadside assistance is up to date, and download the VicEmergency app to check for bushfire or extreme weather warnings.
15 Australian Big Things to visit along the East Coast
The Giant Koala, Dadswell Bridge, Victoria
5829 Western Hwy, Dadswells Bridge, Victoria
‘Big Things’ really took off in the 1980s, and Victoria wasn’t about to miss out on the action. The Giant Koala in the Horsham region, standing over 14m tall, is made of bronze and was sculpted by artist Ben Van Zetton.
In late 2009, the Giant Koala become a memorial for Sam the koala, and the statue has since been used to raise awareness of Australia’s endangered koalas.
Visitors can walk through the koala to grab some touristy goods or eat at the café before enjoying the nearby Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park.
The Giant Koala at Dadswell Bridge is more than 14m tall. Image: Matt Harvey.
The Big Banana, Coffs Harbour, NSW
351 Pacific Hwy, Coffs Harbour, NSW
What’s fun about this monument is that you can walk right through it. One of Australia’s first ‘Big Things,’ The Big Banana was conceptualised by banana stall owner John Landi, who was looking for the 'wow' factor that would make visitors stop and take notice.
Inspired by Hawaii's Big Pineapple, what has now become The Big Banana Fun Park has been welcoming road-trippers since 1964, and is located at the front of an amusement park on banana plantation grounds in Coffs Harbour.
The Big Banana is one of Australia's first 'Big Things', having attracted tourists since 1964. Image: Getty.
The Big Prawn, Ballina, NSW
507 River St, West Ballina, NSW
Standing over nine metres high and designed to be 30 thousand times bigger than a real prawn, this giant crustacean has become one of Australia's favourite big things.
Built as a commemoration of the town’s prawn industry, The Big Prawn was renovated in 2013 - just after the local council approved its demolition.
Luckily, the townsfolk banded together, and with a new coat of paint and ripping new tail atop a Bunnings in Ballina, just 25 minutes south of Byron Bay, it seems this is one shrimp you won’t be putting on the barbie any time soon.
The Big Prawn is a must-see attraction if you're visiting the Byron Bay region. Image: Getty.
The Big Merino, Goulburn, NSW
Corner of Hume and Sowerby St, Goulburn, NSW
The Big Merino, or ‘Rambo’ as it is known by locals, stands at more than 15m tall with a weight of 97 tonnes. Located just off the Hume Highway near a service station and cafés, it marks an excellent pit stop if you're on a Melbourne to Sydney road trip (or even as a day trip from Canberra).
Rambo commemorates Goulburn's wool industry, with the sculpture modelled after a stud ram (also named Rambo) from the Bullamallita property. The Big Merino was unveiled in 1985 and has lived in two locations during its lifetime. It was moved 800m in 2007 to make way for developments to the town and highway.
The Big Merino gift shop has a selection of products including wool garments, and visitors can even have a climb inside and have a peek through Rambo’s eyes.
Town developments in 2007 saw the Big Merino move to its current location in Goulburn. Image: Getty.
The Big Bench, Broken Hill, NSW
Federation Way, Broken Hill, NSW
A later addition to Australia's Big Things, Broken Hill’s Big Bench came along in 2022 as part of a 'Landscapes and Backgrounds' exhibit.
An easy stop en route to Sydney from Adelaide, the oversized park bench provides a fun photo stop, creating the illusion that anyone seated looks miniature in stature. And yes – this is one place where you can touch the art.
Broken Hill's Big Bench makes for a fun photo opportunity on a road trip. Image: Getty.
The Big Golden Guitar, Tamworth, NSW
2 The Ringers Road, Corner New England Highway and The Ringers Road, South Tamworth
Tamworth, which is located about four hours inland from Port Macquarie, is arguably the heart of Australia's country music scene. To honour its celebration of the genre (and of course the annual Tamworth Country Music Festival), The Big Golden Guitar was opened by Australian country music legend Slim Dusty in 1988.
The Big Golden Guitar is modelled after the awards given out at the Australian Country Music Awards, aka the Oscars of Australia country music. Take a photo at the monument before heading to the nearby tourist centre to learn more about the area or to get a bite to eat.
In 1988, country music legend Slim Dusty unveiled the Big Golden Guitar in Tamworth. Image: Getty.
The Big Pie, Yatala, QLD
48 Old Pacific Hwy, Yatala, Queensland
The Big Pie sits on a pole in front of a drive-through pie shop in Yatala, which is about 40 minutes' drive inland from the Gold Coast. You can cruise down for lunch and park yourself at the RACV Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast for a bit of R and R.
Built in the late 1970s, The Big Pie is visible from the freeway and brings in thousands of visitors to Yatala Pies every day. It's now listed as one of Queensland’s Cultural Icons and sells more than 3,500 pies every day.
Read more: the best daytrips from the Gold Coast.
The Big Pie draws visitors to Yatala Pies, helping boast pie sales.
The Big Pineapple, Nambour, QLD
76 Nambour Connection Rd, Woombye, Queensland
The Big Pineapple is more than just a 'Big Thing'; it’s a full day out. The 16m high walk-through fruit is located 40 minutes south of Noosa and was built in 1971, bringing even more tourists to the popular Sunshine Coast region. It was so successful that the giant pineapple earned the owners of Sunshine Plantation the first-ever annual award for Queensland tourism development.
These days, The Big Pineapple is a fully-fledged heritage-listed attraction, boasting a Pineapple Train, the Big Pineapple Music Festival, zoo, zipline course, fresh produce and visitor centre.
The Big Pineapple is over 50 years old with a viewing platform at the top. Image: Getty.
The Big Pelican, Noosa, QLD
180 Gympie Terrace, Noosaville, Queensland
‘Percy the Pelican’ as he is known by locals, first came to prominence in 1977 on a Noosa Council Float. At the time the pelican was the Noosa Council's emblem, but that has since changed to a boronia wildflower.
Percy has been on quite a few travels since then – in other parades, hotels, and even a dip in the river near the RACV Noosa Resort– but The Big Pelican now rests comfortably at the aptly named Pelican Boat Hire on Noosa River’s foreshore after being restored.
Read more: the top places to eat in Noosa.
The Big Melon, Chinchilla, QLD
Warrego Highway, Chinchilla, Western Country Area, Queensland
The Big Melon, a giant watermelon located in Queensland’s Chinchilla, was almost located in another town. In 2018 an online travel company launched a competition to build the ‘Next Big Thing’. With a National Melon Festival already the pride of the town, building the nine-metre wide and three-metre tall watermelon made sense.
Chinchilla's Melonfest is held annually in February, if you wish to visit the Big Melon during that time. The festival runs over several days and usually includes trivia and bingo nights, farm tours, races, classic car displays, family activities, melon weight competitions and, of course, lots of melon to eat.
The Big Bullock, Rockhampton, QLD
Gladstone Road, Rockhampton, Queensland
Travellers to Queensland’s Rockhampton, the self-styled beef capital of Australia, won’t take long to find the bull statues and paraphernalia around the town. Erected to attract tourists to the beef farms, the Big Bull statues in Rockhampton have been built between 1978 and 1997, and provide fun for visitors to spot the bulls around the city.
There are six ‘official’ bull statues, which are on average seven times the size of a regular cow, and made of concrete. Each is designed after the main breeds of cattle that can be found throughout the region, including the Braford, Santa Gertrudis, and Brahman breeds.
The Big Mango made headlines in 2014 when it went "missing". Image: Getty.
The Big Cane Toad, Sarina, QLD
48/46 Bruce Hwy, Sarina, Queensland
About 35 km south of Mackay lies the small town of Sarina, which is home to Buffy the Big Cane Toad. Initially made for a sugar festival float, Buffy made its way to the main street of Sarina, in a nod to the region’s cane farming history.
The name comes from a Name-The-Frog competition in 1998, with Buffy slang for the cane toad’s official scientific name, ‘bufo marinus'.
The Big Golden Gumboot, QLD
Cnr Hort and Butler Streets, Tully, Queensland
Just 25 minutes inland from Mission Beach near Cairns you'll find the Tully Golden Gumboot. Known as Australia's wettest town, the boot is an homage to the town of Tully's record rainfall, which hit 7900mm in 1950.
Standing at 7.5m tall, the boot has an internal staircase inscribed with information and images about Tully, where visitors can climb to a viewing platform and great photo from the top.
The Big Cassowary, Mission Beach, QLD
32 Wongaling Beach Rd, Wongaling Beach, Queensland
Towering the skies at 5m high, the Big Cassowary is an ode to the coastal town’s famous bird species that roam throughout the town and the UNESCO-listed Daintree Rainforest.
Located in front of the mall at Wongaling Beach, this cassowary statue is approachable, unlike the large, flightless birds you could encounter in the rainforest, which are potentially dangerous.
The Big Mango, Bowen, QLD
Bruce Highway, Bowen, Queensland
Atop the Whitsundays' pristine beaches and magnificent reef, you’ll find The Big Mango of Bowen. Ten metres high and weighing in at seven tonnes, the ‘Bowen Mango’ in North Queensland was built in 2002 as an homage to the region’s booming mango district. It then went "missing" in 2014, in what was later revealed to be a publicity stunt for a fast-food chain.
Get a photo with it at the top of the Whitsundays, visit the local information centre, and enjoy some mango sorbet at the end of your Big Things adventure.
