"In the pantheon of Australia’s famous ‘big things’, the biggest thing of all is the Sunshine Coast’s Big Pineapple. This iconic king of Queensland kitsch has been resplendently restored and I happened to be in town for the reopening of this 16-metre-tall fibreglass landmark a few weeks ago. She’s as old as me, first thrust into the world in 1971, principally as an agritourism attraction, swathed in pineapple plantations. Even Charles and Diana paid the icon a visit in 1983. Over the decades, capturing some family snaps at the Big Pineapple has been a cherished, cheesy visitor pastime, in addition to riding the plantation train and indulging in a pineapple parfait. And all these nostalgic novelties are being freshly reinstated for a new generation of travellers. It’s all very grammable!"

"But the gleaming rebirth of the Big Pineapple also underscores the Sunshine Coast’s striking stature as Queensland's Sunshine Pantry, brimming with over 900 food and drink producers. Heartily dabbling from this powerhouse of premium local produce, noshing and sipping your way across the Sunshine Coast, is a sure-fire recipe for blissed-out holiday indulgence."

Read Mike's full article here.

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