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The popular summer fruit has just been honoured with its own attraction in the Queensland town of Chinchilla – and we can’t wait to visit!

In a competition to find Australia’s next Big Thing, the Big Melon has won out, beating a campaign to build a Big Peanut theguardian.com.au reports. The Queensland town of Chinchilla, known as the melon capital of Australia, is now the proud owner of a four tonne, nine metre long watermelon that we just can’t wait to visit – what an Instagram hotspot!

Staple of Regional Tourism

Australia’s Big Things are a staple of regional tourism, attracting thousands of visitors each and every year. The competition, run by booking company Wotif, saw four regional towns battle it out to get the next Big Thing. Nearby Kingaroy congratulated Chinchilla, with Kristy Board from the Big Peanut campaign telling The Guardian, “If we were going to come second to anyone, we were hoping it would be the Big Watermelon,” she said. “They are our neighbours, they are in Queensland. They are our rural sisters basically.” We have to admit the Big Peanut would have been amazing, but nothing says Australia and summer quite like the vibrant pink of a Big Watermelon.

The Next Big Thing

So once you’ve visited The Big Watermelon, we think it’s time you consider visiting the other Big Things that Australia has to offer. Check out some of our favourites below:

The Big Apple – Stanthorpe, QLD
No, you’re not in New York, but we think the Big Apple is close enough. And you know what they say about an apple a day! Paying tribute to all the apples grown in the area, the Big Apple can be found two and half hours south west of Brisbane on the Cunningham highway.

The Big Banana – Coffs Harbour, NSW
Perhaps the most infamous of all the Big Things is the Big Banana, located out the front of the local banana plantations gift shop. Standing 5m high by 11m long, this 40 year old icon was one of the first Big Things in Australia and is a must see!

The Big Cheese – Bega, NSW
As you enter Bodalla on the NSW south coast, you can see the tourist service housed inside what is perhaps our favourite Big Thing – The Big Cheese. Featuring an ice-cream parlour and gift shop, all you need now is a very big glass of wine to go with it!

The Big Galah – Kimba, SA
If you’re not into birds, the idea of an 8m high gala may not be for you, but for visitors to The Halfway Across Australia Gem Shop on the Eyre Highway, this Australian icon makes for a pretty amazing photo op and is a tribute to the abundance of Australian wildlife in the area.

You can check out the full list of Big Things here.

Which Big Thing would you most like to visit and why? Tell us in the comments below.

 

 

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  • I was surprised to hear of the big watermelon and was wanting to know where it was. I have never been to Chinchilla but might just visit one day.

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  • How cool is this! I love that we have so many big things

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  • Unless entry has been stopped because of high insurance premiums and OH&S reasons you are allowed to climb the rocking horse in Gumeracha. It used to be free to do it, but I recently heard that you now have to pay to do so.

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  • Ha, very cute. I live in a town with a ‘big’ thing….can’t go inside anymore since it had it’s upgrade. My Japanese students were suitably impressed (or amused lol).

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  • I find the big things hilarious.

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  • All the ones listed are ones you cannot enter – I like the Big Pineapple where you go inside and buy pineapples.

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  • I’ve seen heaps of big things around Australia. It makes road tripping lots of fun.

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  • That watermelon looks great! I love watermelon so would love to have a piece that big hehe. I’ve visited a few of the big things over my life and this they are great tourist attractions!

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  • When we were kids and used to go on family driving holidays we used to visit all the “BIG” places, bip pineapple, big banana, big bottle, big worm etc. LOVE it

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  • Love how we have so many of these wonderful places, think the Government should help more to happen as well.

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  • The watermelon looks amazing, but a little sad that we missed out on the peanut here in Kingaroy.

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  • These make for a great school holidays road trip. Been to see the big banana as a kid, was a fun but of sightseeing on the drive up to QLD.

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  • Watermelon festival was already on my list of things to do now I’ll get to see the big Watermelon while I’m there.

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  • I think they are great fun for children, especially on holidays!

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  • We do have quite a few ‘BIG’ things here in Australia. We also have big open spaces, big hearts and big kindness. You can’t build them, but you can appreciate them

    Reply

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