| Location | Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 30°16′29.15″S 153°08′01.67″E / 30.2747639°S 153.1337972°E |
| Opened | 22 December 1964 |
| Slogan | "It's a whole bunch of fun!" |
| Operating season | Year-round |
| Area | 45 acres (18 ha) |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 12 |
| Water rides | 8 |
| Website | www |
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The Big Banana is a tourist attraction and amusement park ('The Big Banana Fun Park') in the city of Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia. The grounds of the park are set amongst a banana plantation, featuring a large walk-through banana. Built in 1964, it was one of Australia's first Big Things. Other attractions include a downhill toboggan ride, ice skating rink, XD Theatre, Mini Golf, Giant Slide, Laser Tag, a water park, the World of Bananas educational experience, and escape rooms. Plantation tours are also available.[1] On the evening of Australia Day 2014, a disused scenic lookout attraction was destroyed by fire.[2] In keeping with the plantation theme, banana-related products are shown or sold in the park which also has a souvenir shop and restaurant.[3] In January 2014, during the peak tourist season the Big Banana received close to 150,000 visitors.[4] The Big Banana has been a family owned business since it was opened by Betty and John Landi, and Stella and John Enveoldson in 1964.
The original Big Banana has been copied by the Big Bananas at Carnarvon, Western Australia.
In 2011, Huffington Post included the Big Banana in their list of the "Top 10 Pieces of Folly Architecture."[5]
- ^ Ruby, Kevin. "About the Big Banana". Official Website. Archived from the original on 12 February 2010.
- ^ "Fire rips through Big Banana's lookout". Coffs Coast Advocate. 27 January 2014.
- ^ www.dinkumweb.com.au, Dinkum Web Solutions -. "The Big Banana Fun Park :: Gift Shop". bigbanana.com. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
- ^ White, Greg (1 February 2014). "Big Banana shrugs off fire and declares business as usual". Coffs Coast Advocate.
- ^ "PHOTOS: 10 Architectural Puzzlers". HHuffington Post. 10 November 2011.