Big Banana
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| Slogan | "It's a whole bunch of fun!" |
|---|---|
| Location | Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia |
| Coordinates | 30°16′29.15″S 153°08′01.67″E / 30.2747639°S 153.1337972°ECoordinates: 30°16′29.15″S 153°08′01.67″E / 30.2747639°S 153.1337972°E |
| Opened | 22 December 1964 |
| Operating season | Year-round |
| Area | 45 acres (18 ha) |
| Rides | |
| Total | 12 |
| Water rides | 8 |
| Website | www |
The Big Banana is a tourist attraction and amusement park in the city of Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia. The grounds of the park are set amongst a banana plantation, featuring a large walk-through banana. Built in 1964, it was one of Australia's first Big Things. Other attractions include a downhill toboggan ride, ice skating rink, a water park and the World of Bananas educational experience. Plantation tours are also available.[1] On the evening of Australia Day 2014, a disused scenic lookout attraction was destroyed by fire.[2] In keeping with the plantation theme, banana-related products are shown or sold in the park which also boasts a souvenir shop and restaurant. In January 2014, during the peak tourist season the Big Banana received close to 150,000 visitors.[3]
The original Big Banana has been copied by the Big Bananas at Carnarvon, Western Australia.
In 2011, Huffington Post included the Big Banana in their list of the "Top 10 Pieces of Folly Architecture."[4]
Attractions[edit]
Along with the Big Banana, featuring the Racer 82m water slide[5], the site includes laser tag, mini golf, ice skating, a theatre providing an educational experience, and a toboggan ride and a water park[6]
Postage stamps[edit]
Australia Post issued a set of 50c postage stamps in 2007 commemorating big things, including the Big Banana.[7] The other big thing stamps were:
- (Big) Golden Guitar at Tamworth, New South Wales
- Big Lobster at Kingston SE, South Australia
- Big Merino (sheep) at Goulburn, New South Wales
- Big Pineapple at Nambour, Queensland
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "About the Big Banana", official website.
- ^ "Fire rips through Big Banana's lookout". The Coffs Coast Advocate. 27 January 2014.
- ^ White, Greg (1 February 2014). "Big Banana shrugs off fire and declares business as usual". The Coffs Coast Advocate.
- ^ "PHOTOS: 10 Architectural Puzzlers". Huffington Post. 10 November 2011.
- ^ An 82m long, six-storey high rush
- ^ "Rides and Attractions", The Big Banana. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
- ^ "Australia salute Big Things". Gibbons Stamp Monthly. June 2007. Archived from the original on 26 February 2009.
External links[edit]
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- Australia's big things
- Tourist attractions in New South Wales
- Buildings and structures completed in 1964
- 1964 sculptures
- Buildings and structures in New South Wales
- Mid North Coast
- Amusement parks in New South Wales
- Bananas in popular culture
- Coffs Harbour
- New South Wales building and structure stubs
- Public art stubs
