Beyond the Big Banana: six bizarre Aussie roadside attractions worth a detour

Four hours into a leg-cramping road trip, Australia's kitschy roadside attractions have long kept families sane.

But if you've already ticked the Big Banana off your list and have the selfie to prove it, there is a weirder, more wonderful world of regional icons waiting just off the main highways.

From wooden giants hiding in the coastal scrub to a growing army of garden gnomes, here are a little more authentic (and a lot more unusual), detours to take.

If you're taking the three-hour drive from Perth, you'll get a glimpse into the farming town of Kulin.

Locals have placed some 70 masterpieces in the paddocks lining the 15-kilometre stretch of road which is known as The Tin Horse Highway.

Made from recycled material, the tin horses form an interesting feature in the Kulin Bush Races and there are as many equally impressive and imaginative horses around the Kulin Shire and in the centre of town. If you're there in summer, be sure to check out the Kulin Aquatic Centre, which features a 182-metre waterslide - the largest in regional Australia.

"There are six old hidden giants, in the bush and on the bay.

And each of their voices is crucial for the harmony to play.

They used to sing the song together - the six old hidden giants

But one got lost, then six turned five, and now the song is silent." - Thomas Dambo

A curious and stunning display of craftsmanship and imagination, Thomas Dambo's 2022 art installation of the Mandurah Giants has five epic, wooden sculptures dotted around Western Australia's coastal town of Mandurah.

The exhibition will remain until at least the end of 2026, so make sure to see it while you can.

The Mandurah Giants are within 40km of each other. Public transport is limited, requiring extra walking. While you can book e-bike tours, cruises, or coach tours with local operators, it is recommended to bring your own vehicle and set aside a good day to explore the giants at a relaxed pace.

Rising 14 metres above the Western Highway and looking down with glowing red eyes, the Giant Koala is arguably one of the creepier Big Things.

Read more: Doo Town to Dismal Swamp: Australia's most bizarrely named towns (and why you should visit)

Located at Dadswell Bridge between Stawell and Horsham in Victoria, the massive marsupial is a go-to stop off, featuring a gift shop in its bottom half, with a restaurant and petting zoo nearby.

If you're up for it, the surrounding Grampians National Park offers world-class hiking just 20 minutes away.

On the side of the scenic, winding road linking Canberra and the South Coast sits a tale of community tradition.

Halfway down the winding Clyde Mountain on the Kings Highway sits a tiny cave filled with stuffed bears. What started as a local family's way to entertain the kids in the 1970s has become a regional rite of passage.

The legend started to catch on that this simple mountain nook was - for what ever reason - home to AA Milne's Winne-the-Pooh.

Locals soon began leaving stuffed bears and handwritten signs at the cave, with the tradition quickly catching on for passersby who would also make polyester donations to what soon became known as Pooh Bear's Corner.

Eventually, the local council couldn't ignore the masses of stuffed animals and erected a permanent sign at the attraction.

The "cave" was actually a tunnel packed with explosives during World War II, intended to blow the road to protect Canberra from an inland invasion.

Coming into Wellington Mill Road in Western Australia, you will begin to see the gnomes.

They are everywhere and become quite intimidating. It is estimated that there are now over 5000 different gnomes living in Gnomesville, and this number is continuously growing.

While the folklore is debated, it's speculated that one mysterious garden gnome popped up overnight in the 1990s. Other people began to place gnomes of their own to keep it company, and soon the forces grew to the thousands.

This area has now become a massive tourist attraction, with visitors from all over the world coming to add to the community.

The collection near the side of the road is free to enjoy, though tour companies do sell excursions to visit this area, encouraging others to place their personalised gnome at their leisure. Whether you want your gnome to be enjoying the sunshine, fishing, playing cricket or joining the rock band, there is a place for every single gnome.

The Ferguson Valley Marketing Board is located at Gnomesville with a Visitor Centre pop up stall across selected weekends and school holiday

Standing nearly six metres tall in the town of Nyngan, the Big Bogan is an unapologetic tribute to the Aussie battler.

Complete with a Southern Cross tattoo, a singlet, thongs and a fishing rod, it is truly the centerpiece of the Bogan Shire.

The statue has become a cult favourite for travellers heading through the Central West, with the Bogan Coffee Shop serving essential road trip snacks just down the road.