Your Passport to Australia's Weirdest and Most Wonderful Roadside Landmarks

Something big is coming. Actually, lots of big things.

If you've ever pulled over to take a selfie with a 13-metre banana, argued about whether the Big Merino looks more like a sheep or a cloud, or made a detour specifically to see a giant lobster called Larry — this app is for you.

Aussie Big Things Passport is a new web app that turns visiting Australia's iconic oversized roadside landmarks into a collectible journey. Think of it as a digital passport for the Big Banana, the Big Pineapple, the Big Prawn, and the hundred-plus other gloriously oversized things scattered across the country.

How It Works

The idea is simple. Visit a Big Thing, check in on the app, and receive a stamp in your digital passport. Over time, you build a personal travel record of everywhere you've been — a visual, shareable scrapbook of your road trips across regional Australia.

There's no pressure, no timers, no leaderboards screaming at you. Just a satisfying stamp that lands in your passport each time you find one. It's designed for families on school holiday road trips, grey nomads working their way around the country, and anyone who appreciates that Australia decided the best way to put a small town on the map was to build an enormous piece of fruit next to the highway.

What's in the First Release

When the app launches, you'll be able to browse every Big Thing in Australia with descriptions, fun facts, and locations. Check in when you visit one (the app uses your phone's GPS to confirm you're actually there — or you can check in manually if you're in one of those spots where the signal's a bit ordinary). Each check-in earns a stamp in your passport, organised by state.

The whole thing is designed to work beautifully on your phone. No app store download needed — just open it in your browser and you're away. You can even add it to your home screen so it feels like a proper app.

What's Coming Next

This is just the beginning. Here's what's on the roadmap:

Badges and achievements — Earn badges for milestones like your first stamp, visiting Big Things in five different states, or completing all the fruit-themed ones. There's even a "True Blue" badge for anyone who manages to find a Big Thing in every state and territory.

Interactive map — A full map of Australia showing every Big Thing, colour-coded by whether you've visited or not. Filter by state, category, or just zoom in on wherever your next road trip is heading.

Social sharing — Generate a branded share card showing off your collection and send it to friends, family, or that group chat that's been planning a road trip for three years.

Trip planning — Get route suggestions between Big Things so you can plan the ultimate Big Things road trip without missing any along the way.

Community features — See photos from other travellers, leave tips for fellow road-trippers, and see how your collection compares.

Physical passport companion — A printed passport booklet with QR codes that link to the app. The best of both worlds for families who want something their kids can hold in their hands.

Why We're Building This

Australia has over 150 Big Things, and most of them are in regional towns that don't always get the love they deserve. Every Big Thing has a story — the Big Banana was one of the first, built in 1964. The Big Mango was famously "stolen" in 2014 as a publicity stunt. The Big Potato in Robertson is often called Australia's ugliest landmark, and honestly, that's part of its charm.

We wanted to build something that celebrates these places. Something that gives families a reason to take the scenic route, gives kids something to get excited about on a long drive, and gives regional towns a little more foot traffic from curious travellers.

It's not about gamifying your holiday. It's about making the collecting feel meaningful — a visual record of all the strange, wonderful, proudly Australian places you've been.

Stay in the Loop

Aussie Big Things Passport is launching soon. If you want to be the first to know when it's live, keep an eye on our socials or bookmark this page. We'll also be looking for a crew of early testers who want to help us find (and stamp) every Big Thing in the country.

In the meantime, start planning your next road trip. There's a Big Thing out there with your name on it.

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Aussie Big Things Passport — collect them all, one oversized landmark at a time.