The state where the whole Big Things tradition began. Adelaide's Big Scotsman (1963) is universally recognised as the first purpose-built roadside Big Thing in Australia — a year before the Big Banana opened in Coffs Harbour. SA also gave us Larry the Lobster, the Big Rocking Horse (the tallest of them all), and the Big Galah marking the literal halfway point across the continent.
The Big Scotsman at Scotty's Motel in Medindie went up in 1963 — a year before the Big Banana, decades before most others. Designer Paul Kelly went on to build Larry the Lobster too. Adelaide's quietly responsible for the entire genre.
The three Big Things that put SA on the map — the genre's first, the genre's tallest, and the genre's most famous crustacean.
17m × 15.2m of bright red fibreglass on the Princes Highway, built 1979 by Paul Kelly. Saved from financial ruin by Hamish & Andy's 2015 #PinchAMate radio campaign.
Read the full guideAt 18.3m, the tallest Big Thing in Australia and Guinness World Record-holder for the world's largest rocking horse. Built 1981 at a working toy factory in the Adelaide Hills.
Read moreThe 5m "Scotty" at Scotty's Motel, built 1963 by designer Paul Kelly — recognised as the very first purpose-built roadside Big Thing in Australia, predating the Big Banana by a year.
Read moreEvery Big Thing in this guide plotted on a single map. The Adelaide Hills cluster, the Limestone Coast Princes Highway, the Riverland, and the long Eyre Highway crossing.
For an interactive version with all pins, see our full Big Things map.
Filter by region or browse the lot. Each card links to a full guide (where available) with visiting info, opening hours, photos, and what's nearby.
If you'd rather link the icons into a multi-day drive, here are three classic SA routes that pack in the most stops.
3–4 days, easy. Adelaide to Mount Gambier via the Princes Highway — Larry the Lobster at Kingston SE, with stops at Robe, Naracoorte Caves, and the Coonawarra wineries.
3–5 days, easy. Adelaide upriver to Renmark via the Big Rocking Horse at Gumeracha, the Big Orange at Berri, the Big Wagon Wheel at Morgan, and the Big Cockchafer at Loxton.
5–7 days, ambitious. Adelaide west along the Eyre Highway to the Big Galah at Kimba (halfway across Australia) and on to the Nullarbor — for travellers continuing to WA.
Flights, accommodation, car hire, and airport transfers — everything you need to plan a self-drive SA Big Things road trip.
Adelaide, Mount Gambier, Port Lincoln.
Trip Planner ↗Barossa wineries, Limestone Coast B&Bs, Adelaide Hills cottages.
Trip Planner ↗One-way and round-trip from Adelaide, Mt Gambier, Port Lincoln.
Trip Planner ↗Adelaide, regional SA airports & cross-state to Mildura.
Airport Shuttle Services ↗South Australia isn't on our flagship 8-day East Coast Big Things tour — but a custom Adelaide–Limestone Coast or Adelaide–Eyre Peninsula road trip is one of our most popular bespoke itineraries. Let us know what you want to see.
Plan a custom trip →South Australia is just one of eight states and territories. Each has its own character — and its own roadside icons.