Tuesday, January 31, 2012

The Big Lobster, Big Olive and Big Wine Bottle

Setting off on a roadtrip these days has begun to require the inclusion of an Aussie Big Thing, and crossing a border, to count as a proper trip. Our roadtrip to Radelaide crossed from Victoria to South Australia, and managed not one, but three Big Things!

The first was the Big Lobster in Kingston SE, which we aimed to see in our rough thinking about this trip to the cricket.

He's pretty ugly, and getting aged, weather-beaten and tired, Larry the Lobster is just sitting out on the highway outside of town, soaking in the sun, rain and wind. The tired little cafe and store behind him look like there have been there in the elements just as much as he has, and foiled our plans of getting a lifesize lobster as a keepsake/pisstake.

We found the Big Olive almost by chance, when discussing the other Big Things in the area as we travelled towards Tailem Bend.

The Big Olive is actually two, and amazingly made by the same artist who is responsible for Larry the Lobster! The stop here is more than worth the small detour we made, for tastings of olive oil, awesome olive tapenade and dukkah, and wine.

As we left the store to return to the car our saleswoman pointed out that the green olive is positioned perfectly so that at the right distance you can get a photo with you holding up that smaller olive. Perfect for those cheesy touristy photos!

The Big Wine Bottle, or Church Block for the more wine educated, is at Wirra Wirra Winery in McLaren Vale.

We stopped in here after lunch as our last break before reaching Adelaide, and the end of our roadtrip. Wine tasting was on offer, by a very cute barman, for the non-driving Sheilas.

The Wine Bottle is made of corks! All meshed together with wire, and stands in the carpark of the this picturesque winery in the hills of this South Australian wine region.

9 comments:

  1. and where is the cheesy tourist photo?

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    1. Ha! Here - https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150505685881167&set=a.10150505684226167.364449.677951166&type=3&theater

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  2. Ha! Here - https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150505685881167&set=a.10150505684226167.364449.677951166&type=3&theater

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  3. well, well I live in the state and didn't know about the olives or wine bottle

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    1. Oh Newk! You've got to explore McLaren Vale more then! Great brewery down there too!

      There is also a Big Yabby, but is reportedly tucked away is someone's backyard now...

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  4. I need to see these! I love the oversized attractions here in the U.S. but a wine bottle made completely of corks?! That is amazing.

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    1. They are pretty funny!

      What are you favourite ones in the US, and where are they?

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  5. How embarrassing! Only 1 out of 3 ... I saw the lobster many years ago when it was less tired looking. I'll put the others on my list!! But I HAVE seen the Big Rocking Horse at Gumeracha in the Adelaide Hills ...

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    Replies
    1. Ha ha, good one! I think track these all down is becoming a sport!
      We did have the Rocking Horse on our radar for this trip, but just didn't get up north of Radelaide, cos they cricket went for 5 days! Maybe next time! Ha!

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