Puzzling World
Step into a world of optical illusions, mind-bending mazes, and quirky architecture at Puzzling World, Wanaka.
Highlights
Must-see attractions
Social
From TikTok & Reddit
Best Time
Fewer crowds, more puzzle time
Puzzling World
Best Time
Fewer crowds, more puzzle time
Highlights
Must-see attractions
Step into a world of optical illusions, mind-bending mazes, and quirky architecture at Puzzling World, Wanaka.
"This place will mess with your mind in the best way possible!"
🎯 Combo Ticket is Best Value
Get the combo ticket for full access to both the Illusion Rooms and the Great Maze. It's the most popular choice!
⏰ Allow 2-3 Hours
Don't rush! You'll want time for the maze, illusions, and the cafe puzzles.
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences
The Great Maze
Outdoor area
Navigate the world's first 'Hallenging' maze, designed to test your directional skills and patience. Finding the exit is a true accomplishment!
Illusion Rooms
Indoor exhibition
Experience mind-bending optical illusions, including the famous Ames Room and a room that defies gravity. Prepare to question reality!
Leaning Tower of Wanaka
Entrance
Snap a photo with the iconic 53-degree tilted tower, a quirky landmark that sets the tone for the puzzling adventures ahead.
Cafe Puzzles
Cafe area
Engage your brain with a variety of table puzzles while enjoying a coffee or snack. A great way to keep kids entertained and off their devices!
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Planning Your Visit
Book Combo Tickets for Full Fun
+1Allocate Enough Time for Puzzles
+1Best Times
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
🎯 Combo Ticket is Best Value
Get the combo ticket for full access to both the Illusion Rooms and the Great Maze. It's the most popular choice!
⏰ Allow 2-3 Hours
Don't rush! You'll want time for the maze, illusions, and the cafe puzzles.
🧠 Cafe Puzzles are a Hit
Many visitors love the table puzzles in the cafe – great for all ages!
📸 Photo Ops Galore
Capture fun moments with the tilted tower and within the illusion rooms.
Tips
from all over the internet
🎯 Combo Ticket is Best Value
Get the combo ticket for full access to both the Illusion Rooms and the Great Maze. It's the most popular choice!
⏰ Allow 2-3 Hours
Don't rush! You'll want time for the maze, illusions, and the cafe puzzles.
🧠 Cafe Puzzles are a Hit
Many visitors love the table puzzles in the cafe – great for all ages!
📸 Photo Ops Galore
Capture fun moments with the tilted tower and within the illusion rooms.
🅿️ Free Parking Available
Plenty of free parking on-site, making arrival easy.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Puzzling World is a highly recommended attraction in Wanaka, praised for its unique blend of optical illusions, challenging mazes, and engaging cafe puzzles. Visitors, especially families, find it a fun and mentally stimulating experience that offers great photo opportunities and a welcome break from screens. While some exhibits might lean towards a younger audience, the overall quirky charm and interactive nature make it a memorable stop for all.
"It is a must do activity if you are in Wanaka or Queenstown. I love everything in Puzzling World. The maze is amazing, it took time for me to solve the maze. Other activities and presentations are must to purchase in the combo."
Robi Islam
"A great spot everyone especially kids absolutely love it! They have good parking lot 🅿️ and free parking. The interior is very nice with a gift shop and a spacious seating area where every table is set up with different puzzles to try. Good coffee inside eat play and engage your brain- and get the kids off their devices for a few hours.
There are two options one is maze only or illusion only room or combo .we enjoyed illusion room best is the slanted room I have near seen this before amazing work
There’s also a café on-site offering food and drinks, so you can enjoy a bite while puzzling away. The exhibits lean more towards a younger audience, but still offer a fun and quirky experience. Highlights for us included the illusion room with 3D faces of Einstein, Mother Teresa, and Nelson Mandela, as well as the slanted room- which was a huge hit with the kids!"
adesh pal
"This was a fun thing to do after our previous activity was canceled. The tilted room makes you feel a bit weird but fun experience. The hardest part of the whole thing is exiting the maze"
Brett Ransley
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
🚇 🗺️ Getting There
Puzzling World is located in Wanaka. From Queenstown, it's about a 1-hour drive via State Highway 6. You can rent a car, take a bus tour, or join a shuttle service. Many visitors combine a trip to Puzzling World with other Wanaka attractions.
Yes, Puzzling World offers ample free parking on-site, which is very convenient for visitors arriving by car.
Absolutely! Puzzling World is a popular day trip destination from Queenstown. The drive is scenic, and you can easily spend a few hours there before returning to Queenstown.
Puzzling World is typically open daily from around 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, but it's always best to check their official website for the most up-to-date opening hours, especially during public holidays.
The Illusion Rooms and cafe area are generally accessible. However, the Great Maze is an outdoor, uneven terrain, which might be challenging for strollers or wheelchairs. It's advisable to contact Puzzling World directly for specific accessibility details.
🎫 🎫 Tickets & Entry
Ticket prices vary depending on whether you choose the Illusion Rooms only, the Great Maze only, or the combo ticket. The combo ticket, which includes both, is generally recommended for the full experience and offers better value. Expect prices around NZD $27.50 for the combo.
While you can often purchase tickets on arrival, booking in advance, especially for the combo ticket, is recommended during peak seasons or holidays to guarantee entry and potentially save time.
Yes, Puzzling World offers separate tickets for the Illusion Rooms and the Great Maze, as well as a combo ticket that includes both. Visitors often find the combo ticket to be the best option.
Puzzling World typically offers child ticket prices, and family packages may also be available. Check their official website for the latest pricing and any special offers.
Yes, you can usually access the cafe and gift shop areas without purchasing an attraction ticket. This is a great option if you want to enjoy the puzzles at the tables or browse the unique souvenirs.
🎫 🧭 Onsite Experience
Most visitors spend between 2 to 3 hours at Puzzling World to fully enjoy the Illusion Rooms, complete the Great Maze, and relax in the cafe. Some might spend longer if they are particularly engaged with the puzzles.
The main attractions include the iconic Leaning Tower of Wanaka, the mind-bending Illusion Rooms (like the Ames Room and Tilted Room), and the challenging Great Maze. The cafe also features numerous table puzzles.
The Great Maze is designed to be challenging! While kids might find it easier, many adults find the exit quite tricky to locate. It's a fun test of navigation skills.
You'll find a variety of optical illusions, including rooms that make you feel tilted, spaces that play with perspective, and exhibits that create visual tricks, such as 3D faces of famous personalities.
Yes, Puzzling World is very family-friendly. While the maze can be challenging, the Illusion Rooms and especially the cafe puzzles are great fun for younger children. The staff are also attentive.
🍽️ 🍽️ Food & Dining
Yes, Puzzling World has a cafe on-site that offers food and drinks. It's a great place to refuel and relax after exploring the attractions.
The cafe typically serves a range of options, including coffee, snacks, light meals, and treats. It's a convenient spot to grab a bite while you're there.
While outside food might not be permitted in the main attraction areas, the cafe provides a comfortable space to dine. It's best to check their policy on outside food.
Cafes at tourist attractions often have a selection of vegetarian options. For specific dietary needs like vegan options, it's advisable to inquire directly with the cafe staff upon arrival.
Absolutely! The cafe lobby is set up with numerous table puzzles, making it an excellent spot to keep children engaged and entertained while adults enjoy a drink or snack.
📸 📸 Photography
The Leaning Tower of Wanaka is a must-have photo. Inside the Illusion Rooms, you can get creative shots that play with perspective and gravity. The maze also offers unique photo opportunities.
Yes, photography is generally encouraged inside the Illusion Rooms to capture the fun and disorienting effects. Just be mindful of other visitors and the exhibits.
While most areas are fine for photos, it's always good practice to be respectful of other visitors and avoid flash photography if it might disrupt exhibits or people's experiences.
A smartphone with a good camera is perfectly adequate for capturing the fun and quirky shots. If you have a camera with wide-angle capabilities, it can be useful for some of the illusion rooms.
Don't miss the classic 'leaning' pose with the tower, photos that make it look like you're walking on the ceiling in the Tilted Room, or shots that play with scale in the Ames Room.
For Different Travelers
Tailored advice for your travel style
👨👩👧 Families with Kids
The cafe area with table puzzles is a lifesaver for parents, providing a contained and engaging activity that keeps kids entertained while you relax. It's a great way to encourage screen-free fun. The overall atmosphere is lighthearted and designed for enjoyment, making it a memorable outing for all ages.
🧠 Puzzle Enthusiasts & Brainiacs
The Great Maze itself is a puzzle in navigation, and the Illusion Rooms challenge your perception and understanding of how we see the world. It’s a place where you can actively engage your brain and test your cognitive abilities in a fun, low-pressure environment.
📸 Instagrammers & Photo Lovers
+1Think photos that make you look like you're defying gravity, walking on walls, or shrinking and growing. The unique architecture and the playful nature of the exhibits lend themselves perfectly to capturing memorable and shareable content.
Deep Dives
In-depth insights and expert knowledge
The Magic of Optical Illusions
Another highlight is the Tilted Room, where the entire environment is at an angle, making it feel like gravity is off-kilter. Visitors often describe feeling a sense of dizziness or wonder as they navigate this space. These illusions are not just for show; they offer a fun and accessible way to learn about how our brains interpret visual information.
Beyond the main rooms, Puzzling World often features smaller exhibits and displays that further explore optical phenomena. It's a place where art, science, and fun collide, leaving visitors with a sense of childlike wonder and a new appreciation for the complexities of sight.
Conquering The Great Maze
Many visitors find the exit to be the most difficult part, with some admitting they got stumped for a while! It's a fantastic way to burn off energy, especially for kids, and offers a sense of accomplishment upon completion. The maze's layout is clever, ensuring that even if you think you're on the right track, you might be led astray.
Tips for tackling the maze include staying calm, paying attention to your surroundings, and perhaps even working together with your group. It's a fun outdoor activity that provides a good contrast to the indoor illusion exhibits.
Puzzles for Everyone in the Cafe
This feature is particularly appreciated by families, as it provides a great way to keep children entertained and off their devices for a few hours. It's also a perfect spot for adults to unwind, enjoy a coffee, and challenge their minds. The variety of puzzles ensures there's something for everyone, regardless of age or skill level.
Many reviewers highlight the cafe puzzles as a favorite part of their visit, sometimes even more so than the main attractions. It’s a testament to the simple, yet effective, fun that these puzzles provide, making the cafe a destination in itself.
Social
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit