Everything to do at The Big Banana in honour of its 60th anniversary

It’s a rite of passage for all Australians and tourists to get a happy snap at The Big Banana, and this December marks 60 years of crowds clambering to see the yellow attraction in action.

What was initially an entrepreneur’s attempt to attract more business to his roadside banana stand has transformed into an iconic reflection of our fondness for road trip stops and oversized landmarks. Sprouting back in 1964, The Big Banana has undergone several renovations since John Landi first conceived of the quirky – and endearingly Australian – Coffs Harbour staple. In recent years, The Big Banana has expanded with waterslides and escape rooms encouraging tourists to make The Big Banana Fun Park a destination. And with free park entry to the park, it’s easy to make a day here your own.

To mark The Big Banana’s momentous 60th anniversary, and as an ode to Mr Landi and his stroke of genius, take a road trip to NSW’s north coast and work through this extensive list of wholesome activities.

See The Big Banana

Despite the charming additions to the fun park, the pièce de résistance is the one and only icon: The Big Banana. Sitting 13 metres long, there’s no age restriction for feeling a sense of whimsy when you finally see the structure in person. For those who witnessed it as a kid, an inevitable flood of nostalgia will rush back; it’s a pleasant reminder of the formative years when this yellow wonder of the Australia would be the subject of many post-holiday show-and-tells.

Lean into the holiday cheese and snap a classic family photo of everyone eating the freshly picked yellow fruit in front of The Big Banana (a mandatory inclusion in the Australian travel handbook!).

The landmark and its surroundings are pet-friendly too, so there’s no excuse to exclude the beloved family dog from the fruity fun – but pets should beware the mythical Bunyip that still lurks around the park.

Food at The Big Banana Fun Park

It should come as no surprise that the chefs behind The Big Banana’s cafe have gone to great lengths to hero the diverse fruit throughout the comprehensive menu.

Tuck into a Big Banana Burger and experience the sweetness of grilled banana mingling with salty rashers of bacon and juicy beef patties. Opt for banana-laden pancakes with honeycomb dust, or throw caution to the wind and tuck into a mountainous banana split with vanilla ice cream and whatever toppings entice the taste buds. Wash it down with local King Tide Brewing craft beer and a range of wines.

Once the banana-inspired dishes have vanished from the table, head to Coffs Candy Kitchen to witness masters of their craft piece together a rainbow of confectionery. Or visit the hot dog stand for a carnival favourite – nothing comes close to a steaming hot dog perched between a fluffy bun and slathered in tart condiments.

Activities out the wazoo

An abundance of new rides and experiences now dot the park. Get lost and frustrated in the best possible way at a collection of escape rooms resembling hostels, high-security prisons and wizarding schools, where teams are required to use their logic and problem-solving skills to solve riddles and hunt for clues before time runs out.

While the adrenaline’s pumping, dash to the toboggans and careen down the slopes. Top it off with a journey down Australia’s biggest giant slide.

For those less adept at high-octane situations, try an elegant skate across ice or a leisurely game of mini golf. The Big Banana’s Fun Zone caters to the inner child with arcade games, or enjoy the 4D Ride Simulator, bumper cars, laser tag and criminally underrated DuckPin Bowling.

On milder days, the water park makes a perfect reprieve from the Coffs Harbour sun, and will always evoke gleeful screams as limbs twist through the maze of waterslide tubes.

Shopping at The Big Banana

Consider what’s usually stocked at a run-of-the-mill souvenir shop: earrings, keychains, pens, magnets, stuffed toys and novelty clothing The Big Banana takes this concept and incorporates bananas into almost every single item. Banana earrings, banana keychains and banana pens line the shelves. Once the banana-induced excitement subsides, venture to The Opal Centre and peruse semi-precious stones that captivate the eye and add a little sparkle to ears, fingers and necks. Or head to Aloha Shack for locally designed linen resort wear and other beachy delights.

Natural delights at The Big Banana

It all began with the massive banana plantation that still surrounds the park today, filling the area with a vibrant green year-round. Keep an eye out for banana farmers in action while you walk around the park.

The onsite Steve McEwan’s Reptile World offers a closer look at Australia’s native creatures, from snakes to crocodiles. And the Plantation Tour entails an in-depth retelling of Coff Harbour’s past; learning about the history of bananas is far more insightful than it sounds.

The Big Banana Fun Park 60th Anniversary

In honour of The Big Banana’s 60th anniversary, book out the entire Water Park for a birthday party far superior to drinks at the local pub.

While it’s certainly an option for kids’ birthdays, there’s no reason why adults can’t embrace childlike wonder and celebrate with friends and family at the park. After all, life’s too short to resign to a life of sophisticated birthday dinners when this kind of fun awaits.

Get a full breakdown of The Big Banana and its 60th birthday events on their website.

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