Buzz
Australians are renowned for their sharp wit and playful nature. They take delight in teasing everyone, including themselves, and find humor in poking fun at bureaucracy. It’s no wonder that some of their most eccentric tourist spots originally began as playful pranks.
From whimsical teddy bear displays and garden gnome collections that have grown into lively communities, to a submarine placed in an inland park, Australia’s unique humor is vividly reflected in its most amusing tourist attractions.
10. Submarine in the Middle of a Park
A submarine is the last thing you’d expect to find in a rural Australian park. However, the HMAS Otway has become a standout attraction in Holbrook, New South Wales. The town was renamed in 1915 to honor Lieutenant Norman Holbrook, a local war hero and the first submariner awarded the Victoria Cross (VC) during World War I.
Similar to many small towns bypassed by highways in the 1990s, Holbrook sought a unique way to draw visitors. When the mayor proposed acquiring a submarine, many locals thought it was a joke. However, the idea of creating a memorial for submariners, inspired by their VC recipient, quickly gained traction.
Through extensive community fundraising and a significant contribution from the Holbrook family, the town acquired the upper sections and fins of the decommissioned HMAS Otway.
The submarine was installed in Germanton Park, Holbrook, where it has become a beloved tourist spot. The site features a submarine museum with a simulated interior, offering visitors a glimpse into life aboard a submarine.
9. Mad Max 2 Museum
Everyone has a favorite movie they adore. Some fans take their enthusiasm to the next level, collecting memorabilia and rewatching their beloved films. One man’s dedication led him to relocate across the globe and establish a museum in an unexpected location.
Parts of the early Mad Max films were filmed in the isolated outback of New South Wales, near the tiny town of Silverton. (According to the 2016 Australian census, the town had only 50 residents.) Despite its size, Silverton became the home of Adrian Bennett, an Englishman who moved there in 2009 to pursue his passion for Mad Max 2.
He dedicated years to gathering authentic props, artifacts, and memorabilia from the film. His collection has since evolved into a comprehensive museum, where fans can explore his treasures and discover behind-the-scenes details about the movie’s filming in its original setting.
8. Utes In The Paddock
The Holden Ute is an enduring symbol of Australian culture, commonly seen across rural Australia. In the outback town of Condobolin, an extraordinary outdoor art gallery showcases iconic Australian themes, all creatively expressed through the medium of the Holden Ute.
Several years ago, a local resident transformed a rusted Ute into an artwork. This inspired other artists to repurpose old car bodies into artistic creations, drawing numerous tourists to the area annually. Twenty vehicles are displayed in dramatic positions, capturing the essence and characters of the Australian bush.
The exhibit features legendary Australian figures like Clancy of the Overflow and Dame Edna Everage perched on a classic Australian “dunny.” Other iconic representations include an oversized bottle of Bundaberg Rum and a giant jar of Vegemite.
Originally located on a remote property 30 kilometers (19 miles) from Condobolin, the display has been relocated to the town’s outskirts, making it more accessible to visitors.
7. The Principality of Hutt River
Every community has its share of unique characters, but one West Australian farmer took eccentricity to a new level by seceding from Australia. In 1970, a dispute over agricultural taxes led Leonard Casley (pictured above) to declare his 75-square-kilometer (29 mi) property near Geraldton an independent nation, the Principality of Hutt River.
While the Australian government never officially recognized the principality, “Prince Leonard” issued his own stamps and currency until his passing in 2019. Queen Elizabeth II seemed to appreciate the humor, sending a congratulatory letter on the principality’s 46th anniversary. Prince Leonard stepped down in 2017, passing the title to his son, Graeme, who now oversees the micronation.
The town of Nain serves as the principality’s administrative hub. Visitors can obtain a unique passport stamp and explore historical exhibits showcasing the micronation’s fascinating story.
6. Gnomesville
A playful protest against planned council roadworks has transformed into a whimsical tourist destination in the West Australian town of Wellington Mill.
In 1995, when the council proposed building a roundabout, a few mischievous locals decided to stake their claim by placing garden gnomes on the site as a lighthearted joke. The idea caught on, and the number of gnomes grew rapidly. Today, “Gnomesville” is home to around 5,000 gnomes and has become a popular and quirky attraction.
The gnomes in Gnomesville are depicted engaging in various activities, from fishing and playing music to participating in sports. Visitors are encouraged to contribute their own gnome to the collection, provided it includes details of its origin.
5. Tantanoola Tiger
A preserved tiger displayed in a glass case, once thought to be behind a series of livestock attacks, has become an unusual tourist draw in the small South Australian town of Tantanoola.
In the 1890s, an unidentified predator terrorized the local livestock in this rural community. Stories of sheep being devoured whole and footprints measuring 10 centimeters (4 inches) across spread through national media. Fears grew that the mysterious beast might start targeting humans. Reports of a striped cat lurking in the bushes led to the creature being named the “Tantanoola Tiger.”
A substantial reward was offered for its capture, and hunting parties attempted to track it down, though without success. Analysis of pawprints indicated the predator was likely a wild dog, not a tiger.
In 1895, the mysterious creature was finally shot and killed. Its identity sparked widespread debate, as it resembled a dog but didn’t match any known breed. It wasn’t a dingo and bore a striking resemblance to a wolf. Experts later identified it as an Arabian wolf, though its origins in Tantanoola remain a mystery.
A taxidermist preserved the infamous animal, which was then displayed in a glass case and toured for public viewing at a small fee. The so-called “tiger” even became the mascot for the local football team in the early 1900s. Today, it remains a somewhat eerie attraction at the Tantanoola Tiger Hotel near Mount Gambier.
4. There’s A Bear In There!
A sharp turn along the winding highway connecting inland New South Wales to the South Coast is an unlikely spot for a children’s tourist attraction.
Similar to many of Australia’s eccentric attractions, Pooh Bear’s Corner began as a product of one family’s creativity and grew into something much larger. In the early 1970s, a Crookwell family noticed an abandoned cave on Clyde Mountain during their regular trips to the coast. To entertain their children, they invented a story that the cave was the home of A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh.
They started leaving stuffed bears and handwritten notes at the site during their travels down the mountain. The idea quickly gained popularity, and others began contributing their own bears, leading to the spot being named Pooh Bear’s Corner. Eventually, the local council embraced the concept and installed a permanent sign at the location.
To this day, children and the young at heart eagerly search for the collection of teddy bears gathered in Pooh’s cave as they descend Clyde Mountain.
3. The Dunny At Humpty-Doo
The name of the Northern Territory outback town, Humpty-Doo, often elicits a chuckle from visitors. One local character has elevated this humor to an art form.
Waldo Bayley, who runs a local gift shop, is also known for his humorous Australian bush poetry, which playfully mocks everyone and everything. Not satisfied with simply reciting his verses to shop visitors, he came up with a hilarious way to present his work.
Inside the shop, he has recreated a classic “bush dunny,” the small wooden outhouse that once served as the toilet in the backyard of every Australian home. Waldo delivers his poetry while seated on the dunny, speaking from the depths of the “thunderbox.” What began as a joke has now become a unique tourist attraction, drawing visitors to experience a dose of Aussie humor.
2. Coila Prawn Girl
Traveling along the Princes Highway between the coastal towns of Moruya and Tuross in Southern NSW, drivers rarely paid much attention to the small fuel stop at Coila. That changed in 2013 when the new owner introduced a creative idea to attract passing motorists and encourage them to purchase local prawns.
The “Coila Prawn Girl” has since become a local landmark. The mannequin, dressed in a bikini, is secured to a roadside advertising sign and has proven effective in drawing drivers to stop. The mannequin has also gained notoriety for being the target of a few abductions in recent years.
Tourists often pause to take photos with this quirky attraction. The eccentric owner has further enhanced the site by adding a pink Cessna plane appearing to nose-dive into the ground, offering another unique photo opportunity.
1. Bungendore Teddy Bear Colony
Along the highway connecting the rural town of Bungendore to Queanbeyan, near Canberra, teddy bears create a distinctive tourist attraction. For several kilometers, visitors can stop to observe countless teddy bears dangling from trees. Some appear fresh, while others show signs of wear from exposure to the elements.
The first teddy bears appeared in the late 1980s, and their numbers have since grown far more rapidly than the local koala population. Tourists often contribute their own teddy bears to the expanding Bungendore colony.
The origins of the teddy bear colony remain a mystery. Some believe the bears were initially placed to protest tree removal, which threatened koala habitats. Others speculate they were a memorial for a young motorcyclist who tragically lost their life.
The true story behind the teddy bear colony may never be known. Nevertheless, like many of Australia’s quirky attractions, it has captured the imagination of passersby and continues to grow, delighting travelers along the way.
