Whatever you do, don't drive past Nungwai!
Published on 03 November 2026
There's a stretch of the Cunningham Highway, just outside Goondiwindi, where things get a little unexpected.
One minute you're driving through the wide-open countryside, the next you're looking at an enormous kangaroo and emu, a collection of giant concrete heads and what might just be the biggest smoko setup you've ever seen.
And no, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you.
Just five kilometres from Goondiwindi, local artist Angus Wilson has created something rather extraordinary. A collection of larger-than-life sculptures that look completely at home in the countryside, despite being unlike anything you'd normally expect to find in a paddock.
It all began in 2014 with the Coat of Arms (pictured above), an enormous kangaroo and emu that first caught the attention of passing motorists. Since then, the collection has grown, with each new addition bringing a little more personality, curiosity and imagination to the roadside.
There's Once Upon a Time, featuring old vehicles, white ibises and colourful lettering painted with the help of local school students. Five enormous concrete heads named Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Lot's Wife, weighing a combined twenty tonnes. And Smoko in the Meadow, a wonderfully oversized tribute to a country tradition, complete with a giant table, chairs, flowers and coffee mug.
It's quirky, clever and the kind of place that has you spotting something different every time you look.
The beauty of Nungwai is that you don't have to plan an entire day around it. It's simply one of those wonderful little discoveries that makes a country road trip memorable. The sort of place you tell your friends about, show them the photos and insist they stop at next time they're passing through.
And once you've pulled over, you're only a few minutes from Goondiwindi itself.
Which is where we'd suggest you resist the temptation to jump straight back on the highway.
Because if you think the sculptures are an unexpected find, wait until you discover what's waiting in town. Beautiful boutiques, great coffee, local art, riverside walks and some seriously good country hospitality. There's plenty to fill an afternoon, and even more if you decide to stay the night.
You could spend the following morning exploring a little further, perhaps heading out to Yelarbon to see the spectacular silo art or discovering another of the small towns that make this corner of Queensland worth taking your time over.
So next time you're travelling the Cunningham Highway, keep an eye out for Nungwai. We can’t wait to have you visit!
Planning your visit? Nungwai is located along the Cunningham Highway, approximately five kilometres from Goondiwindi, opposite the airport. The sculptures are on private property, so please view them from the public roadside area and don't enter the paddocks or driveway.