Height
2.5 meters
Year Built
2010
Address
Bruce Highway, Bowen, QLD 4805
The Lowdown
The Big Redback Spider in Bowen offers visitors a thrilling face-to-face encounter with one of Australia's most feared creatures - safely scaled up to enormous proportions. This striking sculpture captures every detail of the infamous redback spider, from the distinctive red stripe on its back to its glossy black body and spindly legs. While real redback spiders measure only about 1cm, this supersized version towers over visitors, making for unforgettable photos and plenty of jokes about Australia's dangerous wildlife. Located in North Queensland's mango capital, the Big Redback adds a touch of quirky humor to the region's attractions and plays on Australia's international reputation for deadly creatures.
Did you know?
"Real redback spiders are only about 1cm in body length"
History
The Big Redback Spider was created as part of Bowen's efforts to attract more tourists with unique roadside attractions. Playing on Australia's international reputation for dangerous wildlife, the sculpture gives visitors a safe way to encounter one of the country's most feared spiders. It has become a popular photo stop for tourists traveling along the Bruce Highway between Townsville and Airlie Beach.
More Fun Facts
- •Real redback spiders are only about 1cm in body length
- •Redbacks are found across all of Australia and have been accidentally exported worldwide
- •No deaths have been recorded from redback bites since antivenom was introduced in 1956
- •Only female redbacks are dangerous - males are too small to bite through human skin
- •The redback is related to the American black widow spider
Visiting Tips
- 💡Get creative with perspective photos - pretend the spider is chasing you!
- 💡Bowen is also home to the Big Mango - visit both on the same trip
- 💡The town was a filming location for 'Australia' starring Nicole Kidman
- 💡Try fresh Bowen mangoes if visiting during summer
- 💡Great stopover point between Airlie Beach and Townsville
Opening Hours
The Big Redback Spider can be viewed at any time.
More Big Things Nearby
Big Barramundi
A 6-metre long fibreglass barramundi celebrating Normanton's status as the 'Barramundi Capital of Australia'.
Big Golden Gumboot
A 7.9-metre tall golden fibreglass gumboot celebrating Tully as one of Australia's wettest towns.
Big Mango
A 10-meter tall, 7-tonne fibreglass tribute to Bowen's mango industry, famously 'stolen' by Nando's in 2014 for a viral marketing campaign.