If you want to have your mind seriously blown and your perception totally altered, then Puzzling World in Wanaka is a great place to put your brain to the test.
The first thing I spotted as I arrived at Puzzling World was the crazy buildings outside – first up there’s the Tumbling Towers, featuring four towers built on a strange angle and the Leaning Tower of Wanaka, which gives the famous tower in Pisa a serious run for its money!
Once inside, there’s heaps to keep you amused. The Illusion Rooms are amazing and a great laugh if you’re with mates as you can be as silly as you like as you try out the many illusions.There’s the Hologram Hall, which has one of the largest displays of holograms in the world, which are pretty amazing as you watch them change.Then make sure you check out the Hall of Following Faces – it’s a huge gallery with 168 giant famous faces which surround you on all sides. Walk around the room and suddenly you’ll notice they all seem to be rotating to follow your every move – very spooky but a great experience!
Then there’s the Ames Room, which demonstrates the illusion of Forced Perspective. Stand in one corner and you’ll be a giant, and switch sides to become a dwarf. It’s really clever and apparently it’s a much-used technique from the Lord of the Rings trilogy, so they tell me!Next up, check out the Tilted House which is choc-full of impossible looking illusions. It makes you wonder if water can really flow uphill, and you can even sit on a monorail chair and ride from floor to ceiling – uphill!
Once you’ve tackled the Illusion Rooms, it’s time to pit your wits against the Great Maze (Labyrinth), which has one and a half kilometres of confusing passages. Just to make it that much more challenging, it’s two storeys high!
It’s not meant to be extra difficult as that would be way too frustrating, and it’s supposed to take between half an hour to an hour to complete – so you won’t go too crazy trying to get out! There are even several emergency doors if you’ve only got limited time or patience!
"check out the Tilted House which is choc-full of impossible looking illusions"
After all that excitement, chill out in the puzzle centre café, where you can sit down and try the many puzzles while enjoying a bite to eat. There’s even a huge mirrored ceiling which acts like a kaleidoscope, which is really worth checking out!
And you can’t leave without visiting the unusual Roman Toilets, with a replica entry room of a 2000-year-old Roman ablutions block. It’s definitely worth a look and you can create some great photos!
Stuart Lansborough’s Puzzling World began in 1973 with the Great Maze (Labyrinth).
It can be found on the main Highway 84, 2km east of Wanaka, just before the West coast turnoff.
Puzzling World is open 365 days a year, even Christmas Day! Opening hours are 8.30am to 5.30pm from April to October and 8.30am to 6pm from November to March.
Admission is $9 for the Illusion Rooms, and $12.50 for the Illusion Rooms and Great Maze. Group rates are also available.
Fore more information call 443 7489 or email info@puzzlingworld.co.nz or visit www.puzzlingworld.co.nz
Rachel stayed at the home-from-home Purple Cow Hostel, 94 Brownston Street, Wanaka, with great views of Lake Wanaka and the Southern Alps.
For more information call Freephone 0800 772 277 or 03 443 1880 or email info@purplecow.co.nz or visit www.purplecow.co.nz
