Big Banana

One of the attractions that was on our must do list on our recent holiday to the Coffs Coast was The Big Banana in Coffs Harbour. I can remember as a child listening with awe to stories of visits to this famous landmark. I tried to convince Mum and Dad on an annual basis for about 5 years that we should travel north to experience its big excitement. In my pre-teen mind The Big Banana was so amazing and of such cultural significance that I was being deprived by their refusal to go there.

As we drew closer to Coffs Harbour that old excitement began to well up again. My husband and I built up The Big Banana to an almost iconic level to our kids. So it was a slight anticlimax when we actually drove past.

It wasn’t as big as I expected. It wasn’t announced with the fanfare I expected – just the usual brown tourist signs. Even worse, the locals and long-time Coffs Coast holiday makers we met seemed to think it was a bit passe. An overpriced tourist trap that they wouldn’t bother with “if it wasn’t for the kids”. My dream! Shattered!

The second last day of our stay, when we were growing bored of lazing around the pool, we decided we’d go there anyway; for the kids.

Right on the Pacific Highway in Coffs Harbour, The Big Banana started life as a way to attract passing traffic to a roadside banana stall. It developed an educational focus where visitors could learn everything there is to know about bananas and tour the local plantations. Its third incarnation has well and truly shifted the emphasis to entertainment with toboggan rides, water slides and ice skating. There are also a puppet maker and a candy kitchen on site. There is still a plantation tour, along with a “World of Bananas” presentation.

We arrived too late to make it worthwhile purchasing tickets to any of the attractions (the cheapest was $14/child for 1 1/2 hours ice skating and two toboggan rides or presentation and tour). Fortunately the kids were more than happy to have their photo taken in front of The Big Banana followed by a (very expensive) banana sundae from the on site cafe.

We also made an obligatory visit to the souvenir shop where the two girls chose short lived toys. The Thinker’s purchase was more useful: The Little Book of Big Aussie Icons.

It generated a whole new bout of excitement as we flicked through the pages and imagined how fantastic the remaining 49 big things would be to visit. I know I’ll be disappointed, but after all, it’s for the kids.