The Big Banana
A childhood dream come true, with a does of reality to boot.
The Big Banana belongs to the following groups:
Australian Travel Photography and Writing - 1 per 24hrsOne of the attractions that was on my family’s must do list on our recent holiday to the Coffs Coast was The Big Banana. I can remember as a child listening with awe to stories of visits to this famous landmark. I tried to convince Mum and Dad on an annual basis for about 5 years that we should travel north to experience its big excitement. In my pre-teen mind The Big Banana was so amazing and of such cultural significance that I was being deprived by their refusal to go there.
As we drew closer to Coffs Harbour that old excitement began to well up again. My husband and I built up The Big Banana to an almost iconic level to our kids. So it was a slight anticlimax when we actually drove past.
It wasn’t as big as I expected. It wasn’t announced with the fanfare I expected – just the usual brown tourist signs. Even worse, the locals and long-time Coffs Coast holiday makers we met seemed to think it was a bit passe. An overpriced tourist trap that they wouldn’t bother with “if it wasn’t for the kids”. My dream! Shattered!
The second last day of our stay, when we were growing bored of lazing around the pool, we decided we’d go there anyway; for the kids.
The Big Banana started life as a way to attract passing traffic to a roadside banana stall. It developed an educational focus where visitors could learn everything there is to know about bananas and tour the local plantations. It’s third incarnation has well and truly shifted the emphasis to entertainment with toboggan rides, water slides and ice skating. There are also a puppet maker and a candy kitchen on site. There is still a plantation tour, along with a “World of Bananas” presentation.
We arrived too late to make it worthwhile purchasing tickets to any of the attractions (the cheapest was $14/child for 1 1/2 hours ice skating and two toboggan rides or presentation and tour). Fortunately the kids were more than happy to have their photo taken in front of The Big Banana followed by a (very expensive) banana sundae from the on site cafe.
We also made an obligatory visit to the souvenir shop where the two girls chose short lived toys. My son’s purchase was more useful: The Little Book of Big Aussie Icons.
It generated a whole new bout of excitement as we flicked through the pages and imagined how fantastic the remaining 49 big things would be to visit. I know I’ll be disappointed, but after all, it’s for the kids.
The Big Banana
351 Pacific Highway
COFFS HARBOUR
Ph: 02 6652 4355
Web: www.bigbanana.com
Open 9am – 4:30pm every day (except Christmas Day)
© Leanne Nelson 2009
Darren Stones
Every time I visit Coffs, I go to The Big Banana. I’m a big kid at heart. ;)
Good work, Leanne.
LeanneNelson replied
Thanks Darren. I can just imagine you hurtling down the hill in a toboggan :-)
Bev Woodman
I loved this one Leanne. I remember the Big Banana back from about 1968 and to me then it was huge. It was also out of town and on its own on a huge hillside with acres of banana trees all around so I think this made it look more grand back then. Back then they didn’t sell imported souveniers or have any tourist rides other than the tours of the plantation. Now when we drive through, even though I still get a thrill to see it, the area is built up around it and so it doesn’t have the same impact … but then I’m an adult now and as you stated … “but after all, its for the kids”! Good luck with all your other trips to other ‘big things’, at least you are showing your children Australia and these towns are successfully managing to use these icons as a draw card … and that’s important in itself!
LeanneNelson replied
Thanks Bev. Your experience is very similar to others we heard about. Perhaps we grownups need to embrace the child within a bit more often :-)
We managed to fit a few other big things into our trip once we realised where they were. Stay tuned …
EarthGipsy
Very much enjoyed reading this Leanne. Know what you mean by first impressions…but, hey, it is an icon as you say. I read somewhere recently that there’s a move afoot to heritage list our Big Things. Must go chase that story up. Thanks for your story, it’s fab.
LeanneNelson replied
Thanks Earth Gyspy. It would be great to see some of these icons preserved for future generations. I believe there’s a bit of a stoush going on at the moment over the Big Prawn.
LeanneNelson
I received this tweet from @CoffsCoast “and it just gets bigger! It also has waterslides & all sorts of crazy slippery stuff. See what a banana a day can do”. Ohhhh, slippery; banana skins … I missed that :-P
EarthGipsy
I must go visit next time I’m up there for work…haven’t actually dropped in for many years. Used to call these things big embarrasement, but if we’re going to list them, I guess I better start taking them seriously.