Stuart Landsborough's Puzzling World
A maze and illusion attraction on the edge of Wānaka that has been entertaining families since 1973.
Puzzling World is built around two things: the Great Maze, a large outdoor wooden maze, and a set of illusion rooms full of optical and gravity-defying tricks. You can do either on its own or take the combo, which suits about 90 minutes. There is a cafe on site serving burgers, pizza and wraps, plus a gift shop. It is open every day of the year except Christmas Day.
Highlights
- The Great Maze, described as the world's first mega maze
- Six illusion rooms with optical and gravity-defying displays
- Think Tank Cafe and a puzzle gift shop on site
- Family ticket for two adults and two children
Good to know
- Location
- Puzzling World, Wānaka
- Duration
- About 90 minutes for the combo; visits from 30 minutes to all day
- Season
- Open daily from 9am, last admission 4.30pm. Closed Christmas Day
- Cost
- See venue for current pricing
- Family-friendly
- Yes
Visiting from Sundale
Puzzling World sits on the edge of Wānaka, an easy drive from the park through town. It opens daily from 9am with last admission at 4.30pm, and closes only on Christmas Day. Going early gets you the maze before the middle of the day fills it up with other families.
No booking is needed, which makes it the obvious plan when the weather turns and the walks are off. Allow about 90 minutes for the combo of the Great Maze and the six illusion rooms, though visits run anywhere from half an hour to a whole day.
There is a cafe on site doing burgers, pizza and wraps, plus a gift shop, so lunch is covered. Come back to the park afterwards and let everyone burn off the rest of the afternoon on the playground or in the seasonal swimming pool.
Stay nearby
Questions
How long does Puzzling World take?
About 90 minutes for the combo of the maze and the illusion rooms. Visits run from 30 minutes up to a full day, so let the maze decide how long you stay.
Do we need to book?
No booking is needed. It is open daily from 9am with last admission at 4.30pm, and it closes only on Christmas Day. That makes it a good backup plan on a wet morning.
Is there food there?
The Think Tank Cafe on site serves burgers, pizza and wraps, and there is a puzzle gift shop as well. A family ticket covers two adults and two children.
Sources
- Open daily from 9am, last admission 4.30pm, closed Christmas Day; the Great Maze, six illusion rooms, Think Tank Cafe and gift shop; operating since 1973 — source
- Prices for combo, illusion rooms, great maze, adult, child 5 to 15, senior and family; combo suits about 90 minutes; visits from 30 minutes to all day — source
Nearby
More things to do.
National Transport and Toy Museum
One of the largest private collections in the world, with hundreds of vehicles, aircraft and over 100,000 toys.
Wānaka Lavender Farm
Twenty acres of lavender gardens with alpacas, farm animals, giant lawn games and a tearoom.
Blue Pools Track
An easy forest walk over two swing bridges to river pools that run an extraordinary blue.
30 minutes one wayEasy walking track
Your Wānaka basecamp
Make Sundale your base.
Cabins, studios, motels and soft-grass camping, five minutes from the water and close to everything above.