PREPARE TO BE ABSOLUTELY CONFUSED ABOUT EVERYTHING
06 MAY 2023
Bella holding up the Leaning Tower of Wanaka
A Puzzling Place To Be
Puzzling World in Wanaka is chock-full of bizarre and mind-bending attractions that will leave you scratching your head and laughing at the same time.
The Arms Room plays with the laws of perception to create a mind boggling illusion where you can shrink or grow in size (it's like magic!), depending on where in the room you stand. Then there's the Tilted House, which looks like a perfectly normal house from the outside...but once you step inside, the floor is all wonky and tilted. It's like being on a boat during a storm, except you're on solid ground. It's super disorientating but also incredibly fun. And of course, there's the Great Maze which is one of the largest 3D mazes in the world. It's a massive labyrinth that will challenge your wits, test your patience and probably make you sweat a little.
Right outside the building is the Leaning Tower of Wanaka, which is tilted at 53 degrees and it balances on one corner and it's a fun place to see if you're as strong as Bella ;)
The Arms Room plays with the laws of perception to create a mind boggling illusion where you can shrink or grow in size (it's like magic!), depending on where in the room you stand. Then there's the Tilted House, which looks like a perfectly normal house from the outside...but once you step inside, the floor is all wonky and tilted. It's like being on a boat during a storm, except you're on solid ground. It's super disorientating but also incredibly fun. And of course, there's the Great Maze which is one of the largest 3D mazes in the world. It's a massive labyrinth that will challenge your wits, test your patience and probably make you sweat a little.
Right outside the building is the Leaning Tower of Wanaka, which is tilted at 53 degrees and it balances on one corner and it's a fun place to see if you're as strong as Bella ;)
The Tumbling Towers
The Tilted House - Time To Be Brain Pretzeled
You'll have to excuse the photography in this place... ESPECIALLY the Tilted House room. It was crazy enough to try and stand up straight, let alone take videos and photos of Lath and the girls trying to stand up straight and keep their balance! And the kids were running around so fast that most of the photos are blurry as they wouldn't keep still fast enough!
The Tilted House room is our favourite room at Puzzling World and when you visit, prepare to have your mind scrambled like an egg and twisted around like a pretzel, my friend. As soon as you take your first step into the Tilted House, your brain has NO IDEA what is going on! It's pretty hilarious to watch everyone stumbling around like they've had a few too many. It's such a weird feeling and I still can't seem to figure out how it all works and you think you'd get used to it after spending some time in there, but we never did!
The photo of Lath, Arabella & Sienna standing on the wooden stairs in front of the half colourful circle, is actually them standing completely straight up - crazy, right?!
The room is full of quirky items like water flowing uphill and a pool table with the pool balls going uphill! The highlight of the room for the kids is the monorail that they get to sit on, press a button and gravity takes them, er, uphill?
If you've got balance issues or just feel a little wobbly there are bypass gates available, so you can skip the really dizzying parts and just stick to the mildly disorienting ones.
The Tilted House room is our favourite room at Puzzling World and when you visit, prepare to have your mind scrambled like an egg and twisted around like a pretzel, my friend. As soon as you take your first step into the Tilted House, your brain has NO IDEA what is going on! It's pretty hilarious to watch everyone stumbling around like they've had a few too many. It's such a weird feeling and I still can't seem to figure out how it all works and you think you'd get used to it after spending some time in there, but we never did!
The photo of Lath, Arabella & Sienna standing on the wooden stairs in front of the half colourful circle, is actually them standing completely straight up - crazy, right?!
The room is full of quirky items like water flowing uphill and a pool table with the pool balls going uphill! The highlight of the room for the kids is the monorail that they get to sit on, press a button and gravity takes them, er, uphill?
If you've got balance issues or just feel a little wobbly there are bypass gates available, so you can skip the really dizzying parts and just stick to the mildly disorienting ones.
The Following Faces Room
This octagonal room was particularly hard to capture as the faces are actually sunken in, but every time I tried to take a photo... it showed them sticking out! What kind of tomfoolery is this? Well, I guess they achieved what they set out to do... confuse me!!
There are 168 famous faces staring at you from all angles, watching your every move, never taking their eyes off you,.. it's like being in a horror movie, except you're not actually in danger (we hope)
Completely random and irrelevant note, have you heard of 'Anatidaephobia'? It's the fear that somewhere, somehow, a duck is watching you!
There are 168 famous faces staring at you from all angles, watching your every move, never taking their eyes off you,.. it's like being in a horror movie, except you're not actually in danger (we hope)
Completely random and irrelevant note, have you heard of 'Anatidaephobia'? It's the fear that somewhere, somehow, a duck is watching you!
Ames Room & Other Head Scratchers
In an Ames Room, things are not quite what they seem. This cleverly designed room uses optical illusions to make people and objects appear either giant sized or teeeeeny tiny, depending on where you stand. It's like being in a funhouse mirror, except you can escape easily.
The trick is all in the shape of the room, which is built in such a way that it looks like a normal rectangular space from one angle, but from another angle, it's all wonky and distorted.
The girls were running around so quickly here that they went from one side of the room to another and didn't actually understand what was going on until I showed them a photo! You could definitely have a lot of fun in this room with different photography angles.
After the Ames Room there are lots of fun illusions on the walls to try out figure out. We gave up on figuring out most of them!
The trick is all in the shape of the room, which is built in such a way that it looks like a normal rectangular space from one angle, but from another angle, it's all wonky and distorted.
The girls were running around so quickly here that they went from one side of the room to another and didn't actually understand what was going on until I showed them a photo! You could definitely have a lot of fun in this room with different photography angles.
After the Ames Room there are lots of fun illusions on the walls to try out figure out. We gave up on figuring out most of them!
Sculptillusion Gallery
When you walk into the Sculptillusion Gallery at Puzzling World, you'll find a huge, bright room that's filled to the brim with mind-bending illusions and jaw-dropping sculptures. The kind of room that makes you want to jump up and down with excitement, except you can't because you might accidentally step on one of the amazing artworks that are scattered all around you. Seriously, have you met me? It's something I'd do!
It's like walking into an optical illusion, where everything from the floor to the ceiling seems to be twisting and turning in impossible ways. You can't tell what's real and what's not, but you don't even care because it all looks so damn cool.
And get this, some of the sculptures in this place were created by some of New Zealand's most talented artists. You know, the kind of people who can take a block of stone or a feather it into something that looks like it was plucked straight out of your wildest dreams.
The girls didn't seem to enjoy this room as much as the ones where they could interact with, but Lath and I enjoyed it! We absolutely love going to places that are unique and that have interactive things for the girls to play with - it all fits in with the unschooling/world schooling that we do with them as they are learning new things and their little minds get ticking but most importantly, they have SO MUCH FUN!
It's like walking into an optical illusion, where everything from the floor to the ceiling seems to be twisting and turning in impossible ways. You can't tell what's real and what's not, but you don't even care because it all looks so damn cool.
And get this, some of the sculptures in this place were created by some of New Zealand's most talented artists. You know, the kind of people who can take a block of stone or a feather it into something that looks like it was plucked straight out of your wildest dreams.
The girls didn't seem to enjoy this room as much as the ones where they could interact with, but Lath and I enjoyed it! We absolutely love going to places that are unique and that have interactive things for the girls to play with - it all fits in with the unschooling/world schooling that we do with them as they are learning new things and their little minds get ticking but most importantly, they have SO MUCH FUN!
Inside the telephone booth
Errr excuse me sir, you seem to have a jandal as your sandwich
Sienna is clearly very impressed
Hey You, Get Lost!
If you're looking for the Great Maze, just follow the sound of giggles and sheer frustration! The aim of the maze isn't to find one exit.... it's to make your way around the multi-level to get to all four towers which are in the corners of the maze (a different colour each) and then you can fiiiinally be free from the maze.
The maze should take around 30-minutes to do and we actually managed to get to 3 corners within about 10-minutes, we were on a high and we were laughing SO much. It was a lot of fun and when we kept ending up in dead ends or the same spots, we really didn't mind, we were having sooo much fun!
Then we just had one more tower to go... and the frustration set in (be gone with you, giggles!). We got a bit too cocky thinking "pfffft, we got this" and that we'd have it smashed out within 15-minutes. Oh boy were we wrong!
At one point we noticed a couple was on the same route as us... then they stayed up in the tower and I said to Lath that I reckon those two are watching us to see how we get to the last tower (cause we're that awesome). When we were running around like headless chickens, I looked up at them and said "how on earth do we get to that last tower?" and they replied back "we were hoping you would get there and we could follow you!". Aha, I KNEW my spidey senses were tingling.
We're not sure if this particular tower was more difficult to get to than the others but you had to go under some stairs then over some stairs... but then if you were on the wrong side of the stairs, it become SO confusing.
There are emergency exits and you could probably duck under the mazes to get on the right path but could live with that? Would you look at the situation 10 years from now and think whyyyyy, whyyyyy did I cheat? Yeah, I could totally live with myself if I was stuck in there waaaaay too long and just wanted to go home. Ya gotta do what ya gotta do! One little person suggested we do it, but this was around 20-mins in and there was no way we were giving up that easy!
Anyway, we fiiiiinally made it out of there but we did have to ask our "friends" for help as they managed to get to the tower before us! It turns out we had been to the right maze part multiple times but we must have thought we'd been there already.
The Great Maze was really fun and it was Bella's favourite activity at Puzzling World! Once we had finished, we found an emergency exit and made our way to the toilets... which has a really fun optical illusion room beside them.... Roman toilet style!
When we arrived inside, there was a whole group of men from Japan who were taking turns taking photos of the group, so we offered it take it for them. So they all sat on the "toilets" and were straining - it was hilarious!! Also, just a side note... these are NOT the real toilets! The real toilets all have clear lids with all sorts of weird and wonderful things inside!
There is a great view of Mt Iron which is the highest point in the Wanaka Township. It's a pretty cool track to hike up too with amazing views - check out our experience here.
The maze should take around 30-minutes to do and we actually managed to get to 3 corners within about 10-minutes, we were on a high and we were laughing SO much. It was a lot of fun and when we kept ending up in dead ends or the same spots, we really didn't mind, we were having sooo much fun!
Then we just had one more tower to go... and the frustration set in (be gone with you, giggles!). We got a bit too cocky thinking "pfffft, we got this" and that we'd have it smashed out within 15-minutes. Oh boy were we wrong!
At one point we noticed a couple was on the same route as us... then they stayed up in the tower and I said to Lath that I reckon those two are watching us to see how we get to the last tower (cause we're that awesome). When we were running around like headless chickens, I looked up at them and said "how on earth do we get to that last tower?" and they replied back "we were hoping you would get there and we could follow you!". Aha, I KNEW my spidey senses were tingling.
We're not sure if this particular tower was more difficult to get to than the others but you had to go under some stairs then over some stairs... but then if you were on the wrong side of the stairs, it become SO confusing.
There are emergency exits and you could probably duck under the mazes to get on the right path but could live with that? Would you look at the situation 10 years from now and think whyyyyy, whyyyyy did I cheat? Yeah, I could totally live with myself if I was stuck in there waaaaay too long and just wanted to go home. Ya gotta do what ya gotta do! One little person suggested we do it, but this was around 20-mins in and there was no way we were giving up that easy!
Anyway, we fiiiiinally made it out of there but we did have to ask our "friends" for help as they managed to get to the tower before us! It turns out we had been to the right maze part multiple times but we must have thought we'd been there already.
The Great Maze was really fun and it was Bella's favourite activity at Puzzling World! Once we had finished, we found an emergency exit and made our way to the toilets... which has a really fun optical illusion room beside them.... Roman toilet style!
When we arrived inside, there was a whole group of men from Japan who were taking turns taking photos of the group, so we offered it take it for them. So they all sat on the "toilets" and were straining - it was hilarious!! Also, just a side note... these are NOT the real toilets! The real toilets all have clear lids with all sorts of weird and wonderful things inside!
There is a great view of Mt Iron which is the highest point in the Wanaka Township. It's a pretty cool track to hike up too with amazing views - check out our experience here.
Mt Iron looms over the Great Maze
We visited a few years ago on a sunny day - it makes the place look a lot more vibrant when it's sunny!
There is a big seating area beside the maze
The REAL toilets - I took the courtesy of not showing you the floater
The forbidden jelly beans
Think Tank Cafe & Gift Shop
A gift shop is every parent's worst nightmare... the kids know that everything is for sale and they KNOW that there's cheap stuff too so out come the "PLEASE PLEASE PLEEEEEEEEEEASE, it's only $2!" comments. We're not big fans of buying stuff at gift shops, especially when we've just paid an entry fee but it really is tempting sometimes, especially at Puzzling World when they have some of the cool puzzles that are out on the tables which are free to enjoy.
We travel full time and we're all about mementos, so when we saw that there was a Puzzling World copper penny machine, we gave the girls a coin each to choose which pattern they'd like. Not sure what we will do with all these mementos one day, but we're collecting them and storing them away for now.
The Think Tank Cafe at Puzzling World is the perfect place to unwind after a crazy time doing the maze and being brain teased in the illusion rooms. The food is pretty good - we have tried the chicken and cranberry pizza, the coffee and also the kids' packs which had a juice box, crisps and a sandwich (probably more but getting old ya know). We enjoyed them all and would buy again. They have a range of pies, sandwiches, wraps, slices as well as cold and hot drinks.
All of the tables have a range of puzzles that are free to use and if there aren't any on your table then just grab some from an empty table! We actually went to the cafe on a separate day to going into the actual Puzzling World as it was a rainy day and we wanted some food and coffee and something for the kids to do inside. We all equally enjoyed the puzzles and there was a big range so lots to choose from. Some were sooo hard and some were fun and moderately easy.
The staff were super dee super friendly and really helpful when we just could NOT figure out some of the puzzles! You see, it's their job to know how to do the puzzles as they have to put each one back together EVERY.SINGLE.NIGHT. So no wonder they can do the puzzles in record time. Some of the staff would do the moves super-fast then undo them and leave us to it and we still couldn't figure it out!
We travel full time and we're all about mementos, so when we saw that there was a Puzzling World copper penny machine, we gave the girls a coin each to choose which pattern they'd like. Not sure what we will do with all these mementos one day, but we're collecting them and storing them away for now.
The Think Tank Cafe at Puzzling World is the perfect place to unwind after a crazy time doing the maze and being brain teased in the illusion rooms. The food is pretty good - we have tried the chicken and cranberry pizza, the coffee and also the kids' packs which had a juice box, crisps and a sandwich (probably more but getting old ya know). We enjoyed them all and would buy again. They have a range of pies, sandwiches, wraps, slices as well as cold and hot drinks.
All of the tables have a range of puzzles that are free to use and if there aren't any on your table then just grab some from an empty table! We actually went to the cafe on a separate day to going into the actual Puzzling World as it was a rainy day and we wanted some food and coffee and something for the kids to do inside. We all equally enjoyed the puzzles and there was a big range so lots to choose from. Some were sooo hard and some were fun and moderately easy.
The staff were super dee super friendly and really helpful when we just could NOT figure out some of the puzzles! You see, it's their job to know how to do the puzzles as they have to put each one back together EVERY.SINGLE.NIGHT. So no wonder they can do the puzzles in record time. Some of the staff would do the moves super-fast then undo them and leave us to it and we still couldn't figure it out!
A chicken, cranberry and brie pizza from the cafe
Know Before You Go
- The Great Maze entry costs extra
- Summer Hours: December to March 9am - last admission 4.30pm (the illusion rooms close at 5pm)
- Winter Hours: April to November 9am - last admission 4.30pm (the illusion rooms close at 5pm)
- Open every day except Christmas Day
- More info and updated prices & hours can be found here
- There is no need to book, just turn up
- There's no time limit for the Illusion Rooms or the Great Maze
- You can head to the cafe and do the free puzzles without paying to enter (perfect on a rainy day!)
Mappy McMap Face
How To Get To Puzzling World In Wanaka
Puzzling World is located at 188 Wanaka-Luggate Hwy (Hwy 84), Wanaka 9382. It's jst 5-minutes from the Wanaka township - head north and follow the Wanaka-Luggate Highway and Puzzling World will be on your right.
There is lots of parking available.
There is lots of parking available.
Conclusion
Puzzling World is the perfect place to spend time with the family, oohing and aahing and scratching your head over the amazing pieces inside. There is a lot to interact with and see so the kids will never get bored! It's a fascinating place with some completely random optical illusions which we love as we really enjoy unique experiences.
Even if you're not needing to wee - we recommend you take the kids into the toilets anyway to see the cool toilet seats and hopefully you won't find any surprises in them like I did. (Eeek people, seriously, USE THE FLUSH BUTTON!)
After you've had an amazing time at Puzzling World, you can head across the road and do the Mt Iron Track.
Even if you're not needing to wee - we recommend you take the kids into the toilets anyway to see the cool toilet seats and hopefully you won't find any surprises in them like I did. (Eeek people, seriously, USE THE FLUSH BUTTON!)
After you've had an amazing time at Puzzling World, you can head across the road and do the Mt Iron Track.
Gallery of Puzzling World
Check out the rest of the awesomeness that didn't make it to the main blog but deserves to be shown.
More to do in New Zealand
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OTAGO From an iconic hike with breathtaking views, to eating amazing sorbet, we give you our top things to do in Wanaka with kids.
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ROYS PEAK
OTAGO An iconic 16km hike with non-stop, breathtaking views. It's the best hike you can do in Wanaka (and one of the best in NZ!). |
CIRCLE TRACK
MARLBOROUGH An easy and beautiful walk through native New Zealand forest alongside the Pelorus River in the Marlborough region. |
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DISCOVER |
FOLLOW USBORING (BUT IMPORTANT LEGAL) STUFF |