Live large: 'Big' attractions a must-see for Aussie road trippers

From the east coast to the west, the north to Tasmania, the countryside is filled with larger than life tourist attractions which offer great photo opportunities, a wealth of interesting information, and in some cases, souvenirs and added attractions.

So what are the best big attractions Australia has to offer? From the most famous to some lesser known gems, The Senior gives a run down of some must see attractions to catch on your next road trip, no matter where you may me going.

Located on the Pacific Highway in Coffs Harbour in northern NSW - the Big Banana is Australia's oldest, and probably its most famous 'big' tourist attraction.

Inspired by Hawaii's Big Pineapple, the Big Banana was built by John Landi and engineer Alan Chapman in 1964 as a means of promoting the former's roadside banana stall.

Today the attraction offers an extensive banana plantation tour experience, a café, souvenir shop, and even its own amusement park. Attractions include a large water park, laser tag arena, toboggan ride, bumper cars, a 36-hole mini golf course and much more.

Located further down south, on the corner of Hume and Sowerby streets in the NSW Southern Tablelands city of Goulburn is the 15.2-metre tall Big Merino.

The huge ram - affectionately known as Rambo - was constructed in 1985 as an enduring monument to the surrounding area's wool industry.

In 2007 Rambo was moved 800 metres down the road, with a gift shop built and permanent exhibition installed. In addition to learning about the history of wool in the area and the chance to purchase some of Australia's finest wool garments, visitors can also climb to the top of the structure to see Goulburn through Rambo's eyes.

Located in West Ballina on River Street is another of the country's most famous 'big' attractions - the Big Prawn.

Constructed in 1989, the 9-metre tall attraction is hard for motorists to miss.

It's a must stop location for a selfie, and while it's not edible, it is great for building up an appetite. Fortuitously, there are some great places selling fresh catches right across the road.

Located in Beryl Street in Broken Hill, the Big Ant was built by pop culture artist Pro Hart in 1980.

It originally stood outside the Stephens Creek Hotel, but was donated to the city 10 years later, moving to the front of the Tourist Information Centre - where it stands to this day.

Located on Old Maitland Road in Hexham, NSW, not only is Ozzie the Mozzie big, he's also anatomically correct!

Built in 1993, at a cost of more than $17,000, and subsequently replaced in 2005 and 2010, Ozzie is modelled on the local Hexham grey mosquito species.

But beware - surrounded by swamplands and marshy flood plains, Hexham is the ideal habitat for real mozzies, so if you go to check out this larger than life bloodsucker, be sure to pack some repellant!

Located on the Illawarra Highway in the NSW town of Robertson, The Big Potato was constructed in 1977 to showcase the main crop of the area.

The 10-metre long, 4-metre wide attraction features a hollowed interior that visitors can enter. The inside has been painted to resemble a mashed potato.

Located in Lake Cathie, NSW, this 3-metre tall steel and concrete sculpture pays tribute to one of Australia's favourite pastimes.

Drive down Evans Street, and you can't miss it!

Located on the Western Highway at Dadswells Bridge in Victoria's Grampians is what would have to be Australia's largest surviving megafauna.

This popular attraction has its own restaurant and a large collection of souvenirs and gifts inside.

Those with little ones can take them to admire some animals at the Native and Farm Animal Zoo.

It is the place where Ned Kelly and his gang made their last stand, so there is no more appropriate place for this monument to the country's most infamous bushranger than the town of Glenrowan.

The six-metre statue stands on the corner of Gladstone and Kate Streets, outside Glenrowan Post Office Newsagency.

A highly popular spot with tourists, the plaque at the bottom of the free monument reads: 'Ned Kelly - Hanged a murderer in Melbourne, November 11, 1880 - not 26 years old - described as a rebel, bushranger by necessity, a bush battler, underdog, sometimes gentleman, sometimes larrikin and a man with a strong sense of family.'

Located at Tocumwal Foreshore Park, the 'World's Biggest Codfish' is a nod to what the area is most famous for.

The 'Big Fish' as it is known locally, was originally erected at the old swimming pool in 1968.

Its new foreshore location boasts a playground, picnic and toilet facilities, views of the river, and both the old and new bridges linking NSW to Victoria.

If you prefer your inanimate fish a little less lively, Fish creek, Victoria may well be the town for you.

This 6-metre long mullet was created by Venus Bay artist Colin Suggett as part of an art installation and now sits atop the Fish Creek Hotel.

Located at Nambour Connection Road at Woombye is this Sunshine Coast heritage-listed tourist attraction.

Attractions include a heritage listed train ride through rainforest, orchids and bamboo forest, although the train was closed for maintenance when The Senior went live.

Other key attractions include a wildlife zoo and treetop adventure course.

Located on Broad Street in Sarina, about 35km south of Mackay, is this large cane toad statue.

Affectionately known as Buffy - named after the scientific name Bufo Marinus - the toad was originally crafted out of papier mache as a float for a sugar festival in 1983.

He was later coated in fibreglass, becoming a permanent tribute to the town's cane farming industry.

Situated on the A1 Bruce Highway, alongside the beautiful Whitsunday Coast, this 10-metre tall mango is the perfect big attraction for the tropics.

Located just south of Bowen, out the front of the Bowen Visitor Information Centre, the mango is a popular pullover stop on the East Coast Australian Road Trip.

Road trippers can stop into the visitor centre for some delicious and refreshing mango sorbet, and check out sculptural works by local artists in the Big Mango grounds.

Standing just outside the Queensland town of Tully's main road, this huge fibreglass gumboot stands an impressive 7.9-metres.

Inspired by a competition between Tully, Innisfail and Babinda for the title of wettest town in Australia, the boot was designed, fabricated and installed by Brian Newell and opened by the Lions and Rotary clubs in 2003.

Visitors can climb a staircase to the top for a great view of the town, looking at historical photos of floods as they climb.

You wouldn't want to snap a selfie with a live cassowary, but this 5-metre statue is a safe and popular alternative.

Located in Mission Beach, the capital of the Cassowary Coast, the statue stands just outside the shopping complex near Wongaling Beach.

Located on the Eyre Highway in the rural service town of Kimba is the 8-metre tall Big Galah.

The statue is located out the front of the halfway Across Australia Gem Shop.

The shop is also well worth a visit to pick up some local gemstones, carved emu eggs, souvenirs, opals, or Cowell Jade. It also serves food and beverages.

Located at Gumeracha in the Adelaide Hills, this huge rocking horse was judged the number one big Aussie icon by wotif.com.au.

Guests can climb to the top and earn a certificate, check out the souvenir shop, have a bite to eat in the café, or purchase some food for the animals in the nearby Animal Park.

Located on the Princes Highway in Kingston in South Australia's South East is this massive 17x15-metre lobster statue.

Designed by architect Ian Hannaford, the statue was built and officially opened by Premier David Tonkin in 1979. The project was spearheaded by two local families - the Backlers and the Moyses.

Located along the Barrier Highway between Yunta and Mannahill in South Australia, the Big Dice consists of six larger than life dice, stacked on top of one another in a pyramid shape.

While not as popular or well known as some of its contemporaries, The Big Dice is still a popular photo stop for those travelling along the highway.

Located on Scotdesco Aboriginal Community land in Bookabie, South Australia, the Big Wombat - or Wardu in the Wirangu language - was truly a collaborative effort.

It was built in 2013 in a project led by community artists, with the whole community getting involved.

The community - located near the Eyre Highway, offers accommodation and the sculpture has become a popular tourist attraction.

Located on Sturt Street in Kalamunda, an eastern suburb of Perth - the Big Bobtail was modelled on a massive 30-centimetre blue-tongued lizard that lives on the block.

The sculpture was carved out of rammed earth by Yagan memorial artist Roman Antoniuk.

Located in front of the local cricket pitch in the Tasmanian town of Westbury, The Big Wickets celebrates a special milestone in Tasmanian sporting history.

It honours locally born cricketer Jack Badcock, who became the first Tasmanian to play test cricket for Australia in 1936.