The icons that matter
Not a hurried drive-by — we stop at twelve of Australia's most photographed Big Things, including the four hall-of-famers: Pineapple, Banana, Merino and Larry the Lobster.
Eight days. Twelve giant icons. One unforgettable east-coast adventure — from the Big Pineapple on the Sunshine Coast to the Big Merino just south of Goulburn, with everything legendary in between.
We've been driving the east coast since 1963 (the same year Australia put up its first Big Thing — Scotty the Big Scotsman in Adelaide). We know the timing, the photo spots, the genuinely good coffee stops, and the gravel detours worth taking. You bring the camera; we'll handle everything else.
Not a hurried drive-by — we stop at twelve of Australia's most photographed Big Things, including the four hall-of-famers: Pineapple, Banana, Merino and Larry the Lobster.
Max 16 guests in a premium Mercedes Sprinter — not a 50-seat coach. You'll learn each other's names by lunch on day one.
Seven nights in carefully chosen 4-star hotels and boutique stays — the kind with proper espresso machines, not the ones next to the highway truck stop.
Why is there a 15-metre sheep in Goulburn? Who's John Landi, the American entomologist who built the Big Banana? Your guide tells you everything as the kilometres roll by.
A relaxed pace with two full rest days built in — long drives are broken up by coffee, photos, and the occasional ice cream from a hand-painted shopfront.
Pick-up from your Brisbane hotel after a relaxed 9am breakfast. We head north up the Bruce Highway to Woombye for our first giant — the heritage-listed Big Pineapple, 16 metres of fibreglass legend that's been welcoming road-trippers since 1971. Train ride through the plantation, lunch on-site, then back to Brisbane for sunset on Story Bridge.
South through the Gold Coast hinterland and across the NSW border. Lunch stop in West Ballina at the unmistakeable Big Prawn — 9 metres long, lovingly restored, and these days standing guard over the local Bunnings car park (we said it was authentic). Afternoon arrival in Byron Bay, free time on Main Beach.
The big one. Mid-morning arrival in Coffs Harbour at the Big Banana Fun Park — yes, the one your parents took you to. We've timed it for the post-school-holiday lull, so the slides are open but the queues aren't. Plantation tour, photo on the banana, and an afternoon free in Coffs.
We turn inland, climbing through the Dorrigo plateau and the New England high country. Lunch in Armidale. Late afternoon arrival in Tamworth — Australia's country music capital — at the gleaming Big Golden Guitar (12 metres of polished steel, unveiled by Slim Dusty himself in 1988). Optional evening at the Tamworth Country Music Hall of Fame.
The big interstate haul, broken up properly. Morning tea in Scone, lunch in Yass, photo stop at the Dog on the Tuckerbox in Gundagai — built in 1932, technically pre-dates the Big Things movement, and the original Aussie roadside icon. Evening arrival in Gundagai for a slow pub dinner.
Morning at the Big Merino in Goulburn — 15 metres tall, 21 metres long, affectionately known as "Rambo." You can walk up inside the head and look out through his eyes (we promise this sentence makes sense in context). Lunch on-site, then a relaxed afternoon drive into Sydney with check-in by 5pm.
Your day, your call. Optional small-group excursion to La Perouse for the Big Marlin, the Big Mushroom in Belmore, and a coastal walk at Botany Bay — or just sleep in, hit the Sydney Opera House, and explore on your own. Farewell dinner at a Cooee-favourite Surry Hills restaurant.
Late breakfast, leisurely checkout. Airport transfer included for any flight departing before 6pm. Heading north? We can drop you at Central Station for the XPT or organise a one-way car hire — just let us know when you book.
We came for the kitsch and stayed for the company. Our guide knew every back-road bakery between Brisbane and Sydney. By day three we'd stopped taking photos of each other and started taking photos of the photos.
I'd seen the Big Banana on a school trip in 1986. Coming back 40 years later, with my own kids, was honestly one of the highlights of my year. Cooee got every detail right — even the playlist.
Travelled solo and didn't feel solo for a minute. Group of 14, all different ages, all there for the same daft reason: to look at enormous fibreglass fruit. Best week I've had in years.
We run this trip eight times a year, March through November. Booking opens 12 months in advance. Holds are honoured for 72 hours; a $500 deposit secures your seat.
| Departure | Return | Twin share (pp) | Single supplement | Availability | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 14 Jun 2026 | Sun 21 Jun 2026 | $3,295 | $695 | 9 seats left | Book → |
| Sun 19 Jul 2026 | Sun 26 Jul 2026 | $3,295 | $695 | 4 seats left | Book → |
| Sun 16 Aug 2026 | Sun 23 Aug 2026 | $3,295 | $695 | Waitlist | Join → |
| Sun 13 Sep 2026 | Sun 20 Sep 2026 | $3,395 | $695 | Open | Book → |
| Sun 11 Oct 2026 | Sun 18 Oct 2026 | $3,395 | $695 | Open | Book → |
Prices in AUD, per person, GST inclusive. We run a "best price guarantee" — if you find this exact itinerary advertised for less by an ATAS-accredited operator, we'll match it. Group discounts available for 6+ booking together.
Your tour starts in Brisbane and ends in Sydney — but you'll need to get there and get home. These are the partners we trust.
Into Brisbane on Day 1, home from Sydney on Day 8.
Trip Planner ↗Add days in Brisbane or Sydney either side of the tour.
Trip Planner ↗Continuing on from Sydney? One-way rentals available.
Trip Planner ↗Brisbane & Sydney transfers to/from your hotel.
Airport Shuttle Services ↗Day 8 includes a complimentary Sydney airport transfer for flights departing before 6pm. For any other transfers (Brisbane on arrival, later flights, regional connections), Airport Shuttle Services has us covered.
Yes — the Big Things are genuinely a hit with kids 6 and up, and we offer a 20% discount on the twin-share rate for children 12 and under sharing with two paying adults. We don't take children under 5 on this trip due to the longer drive days. For family groups of 6+, ask us about chartering a private departure.
Most days are 2–4 hours of driving with multiple breaks. Day 5 (Tamworth to Gundagai) is the longest at around 580 km — we've designed it with three substantial stops to keep it relaxed. You'll never be in the vehicle for more than 2 hours without a stop.
A Mercedes-Benz Sprinter coach configured for 16 guests, with reclining seats, USB ports at every seat, panoramic side windows, and air conditioning. Our drivers are full-time Cooee Tours staff with accreditation for all states we travel through.
Seven nights in 4-star hotels and selected boutique properties. Examples from past departures: Crystalbrook Vincent in Brisbane, The Bower in Byron Bay, Pacific Bay Resort in Coffs Harbour. Full property list provided after booking. Single travellers welcome — single supplement is $695 for the full trip.
No. Rated "easy" on our activity scale — there's some climbing if you want to go up inside the Big Merino or the Golden Gumboot, but everything else is roadside, accessible, and walkable. If you have mobility considerations, let us know at booking and we'll make sure everything works for you.
Absolutely. We can book pre- and post-tour accommodation at preferred rates, organise day trips (Blue Mountains, Hunter Valley, Sunshine Coast hinterland), and arrange one-way car hire if you'd like to continue down to Melbourne. Just mention it when you book.
$500 per person deposit secures your seat; balance due 60 days before departure. Cancel more than 90 days out for a full refund less $150 admin fee. Cancellations 60–90 days out forfeit the deposit. Inside 60 days, the booking is non-refundable — we strongly recommend travel insurance and can recommend providers.
Because for sixty years Cooee Tours has been driving the east coast of Australia, and somewhere along the way we noticed that the people who had the most fun were the ones who insisted on stopping at every giant fruit, fish, or fabricated farm animal. So we built them a trip.
Twelve giants. Eight days. Two thousand kilometres of the most underrated coastline in the world. From $3,295 per person, all the heavy lifting handled.
Prefer to chat? Call us on 1300 COOEE · Mon–Fri 8am–6pm AEST