Smaller than Queensland or NSW, but Victoria packs serious cultural weight per Big Thing. The Giant Koala on the Western Highway, the Big Ned Kelly at the actual site of the 1880 last stand, the Big Worm on Phillip Island Road. Heritage, humour, and a couple of genuine pilgrimage sites for Australian history.
Victoria's Big Things lean historical — Glenrowan's Big Ned Kelly stands on the actual site of the 1880 Kelly Gang siege, while Dadswells Bridge's Giant Koala (renamed "Sam" in 2009) is one of the most affecting Big Things in the country after the Black Saturday bushfires.
Three Big Things that genuinely earn their place — bronze koala, armoured outlaw, and a fibreglass cod with a film history.
14m × 8m bronze koala on the Western Highway, opened 1989. Renamed "Sam" in 2009 in tribute to the Black Saturday bushfire koala who became an international symbol of hope.
Read the full guide6m armoured outlaw at the corner of Gladstone and Kate Streets — the actual site of the 1880 Kelly Gang siege. Built 1992 by Sydney special-effects technician Kevin Thomas.
Read the full guide11m fibreglass fish that started life as a prop in the 1992 film Eight Ball, then took up permanent residence promoting Swan Hill's Murray River fishing scene.
Read moreEvery Big Thing in this guide plotted on a single map. The Western Highway cluster, the High Country trail, and the Gippsland eccentrics.
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 Victorian routes that pack in the most stops.
3–4 days, easy. Melbourne to Adelaide via the Giant Koala, the Wool Bales at Hamilton, and the Mallee Bull at Birchip. Combine with the Grampians National Park for a full long weekend.
3–5 days, moderate. Melbourne to Wodonga via Glenrowan, Beechworth, Rutherglen and Milawa. Big Ned Kelly, Wine Bottle, plus the King Valley wineries and Mount Buffalo.
5–7 days, easy. Melbourne to Mallacoota along the Princes Highway — the Big Worm at Bass, Big Pheasant at Tynong, Big Cigar at Churchill, plus the Phillip Island Big Cows.
Flights, accommodation, car hire, and airport transfers — everything you need to plan a self-drive Victorian Big Things road trip.
Melbourne (Tullamarine & Avalon), Albury, Mildura.
Trip Planner ↗Heritage pubs, country inns, vineyards & coastal beach houses.
Trip Planner ↗One-way and round-trip from Melbourne, Albury, Mildura.
Trip Planner ↗Melbourne, Avalon, Geelong & regional Victoria.
Airport Shuttle Services ↗Victoria isn't on our flagship 8-day East Coast Big Things tour — but a custom Melbourne–Grampians–Adelaide road trip is one of our most popular bespoke itineraries. Let us know what you want to see and we'll build the trip around it.
Plan a custom trip →Victoria is just one of eight states and territories. Each has its own character — and its own roadside icons.