Big Mango – Bowen

Even though the Big Mango is iconic to Bowen it’s actually found 4kms outside the town in Mount Gordon at the Bowen Tourist Info Centre. I applaud the genius behind this as Bowen is one of those towns you need to exit off the Bruce Hwy to visit, whilst the Big Mango is smack bang on the Hwy. I mistakenly thought I’d need to go into the township to see the big Mango and soon realized why having an iconic big thing could only help this rather unmemorable town. So the mango finds itself in a spot that tourists are actually going to drive past, hopefully stop at and hopefully check out the Visitor Centre and from there be allured back to Bowen - clever!

DETAILS
Size: 10m x 8m 
Year: 2002 
Address: ‘Bowen’s Visitor Centre’ Bruce Hwy, Mount Gordon, 4kms south of Bowen’s Township, QLD.
Photo Taken: 2012 

SCORE
Size **** 
Accessibility* 
Aesthetics **** 
Unusual * 
Location **** 
15/25 stars

UPDATE as of the 24/02/2014 the Big Mango is officially missing after being stolen – more info here *gasp*

UPDATE 25/02/2014 Mango has been found turns out it was simply a publicity stunt by fast food chain Nandos – read more here

Big Watermelon – Gumlu

The only research I found on this Watermelon was that it was in Townsville. After already asking many locals about the Brolga and feeling rather Big Things defeated I gave up on the idea of ever finding a Big Watermelon.  Obviously this story has a happy ending and as luck would have it, seemingly out of nowhere, I spied a watermelon sitting in what I can only assume was someone’s property. A quick car pull-over and some (very!) happy snaps later, I was big things feated! I tried to work out where exactly we were, my scribbled notes on the day recorded Gumlu and my car’s odo metre told us we were 65kms north of Bowen, I hope that info can helps other Melon hunters! 

DETAILS
Size: 4m x 2m
Address: Bruce Hwy. Gumlu, QLD (closest town) 65kms to Bowen.  Spotted heading south of Townsville.
Photo Taken: 2012 

SCORE
Size **
Accessibility *****
Aesthetics ***
Unusual *
Location ***
14/25 stars