WANAKA

About one hour drive north of Queenstown is a picturesque resort town called Wanaka. It is stunning here and has become a popular tourist resort, loved by many for being less commercialised that Queenstown.



BASE Backpackers



This backpackers offers a wide range of modern and comfortable accommodation, from dorm-rooms to private guestrooms with an ensuite. Centrally located, BASE Wanaka is only a minute stroll to the lake, local shops, cafés, restaurants, and the supermarket.

Our bedroom was quite spacious with plenty of room for our luggage even with the 2 single beds in there. My bed was extremely comfortable and I had a very good nights sleep.



The fully-equipped kitchen is really modern and offers amazing views over the lake and township from the adjoining balcony.



Superior, luxury facilities, fun communal areas and friendly local staff make this the perfect place to stay during your time at Wanaka.

Puzzling World

Stuart Landsborough’s Puzzling World is a unique attraction specialising in puzzling eccentricity. Offering the world's first "modern-styled" Great Maze, incredible Illusion Rooms, a Puzzle Centre/Café, large Gift Shop and eccentric architecture this will be sure to puzzle your brain.

As we pulled into the car park, we immediately noticed the crazy architecture. There is one building that has four eccentric Tumbling Towers and another building that is called the Leaning Tower of Wanaka.




The first part of our journey was the Illusion Rooms. On entering the Illusion Rooms we passed through the 3-D Hologram Hall, which was fascinating. We then moved on into the Hall of Following Faces room where 168 giant faces seem to turn and follow us around the room.

(Notice how every face in the room is on the camera)

www.exploretainment.com

We left the scary faces behind and carried on into the Ames Forced Perspective room. The shape of this room is totally distorted although when viewed from the outside, the room looks perfectly normal. Once someone walks through the door you watch them either shrink into a midget or grow rapidly depending on which door they enter through first. Apparently this illusion was used in The Lord of the Rings film to create tall and little people.




The last room was the Tilted House. The room is tilted at an angle of fifteen degrees. Crafty illusions try to convince you that the room is not tilted, while your legs try to stop you from falling over as you walk on a slope.


www.exploretainment.com

After the Illusion Rooms we entered the world’s first modern-style mazes, which is designed to be a fascinating and enjoyable real life puzzle, however it can be quite frustrating! As we went through 1.5km of passages trying to find each of the four towers our mind was on over time trying to remember if we’d been down this path or not. The maze is a lot of fun and there are emergency doors for those with limited time, patience or energy ☺


www.exploretainment.com


www.exploretainment.com

The best part of all is that it is only $12.50 for admission! For more information visit their website at: www.puzzlingworld.co.nz

Paradiso Cinema Café Bar

This small classic movie theatre located in Wanaka is awesome! Comfy old sofas and an old yellow Morris Minor car make up the seating arrangement. You can actually sit in the car, like being at a drive in movie- very cool.





The café and bar serves delicious meals before, during or after the movie as well as homemade ice-cream and world famous hot cookies.



Halfway through, the film stopped (so they can change the film reel) and we had a short interval. Luckily we were tipped before the movie that the world famous cookies are freshly baked for every intermission. This was awesome and should be how all cinemas are. It felt more like a massive lounge room then a cinema.

According to NZ Lonely Planet this is Wanaka’s biggest attractions and an NZ National Treasure- I can see why. Truly a unique film experience.

Twilight in the Tussock

Once again the weather gods were against us and we didn't get to go on this tour, which was a massive shame- anything to do with cheese patters, wine and the sunset sounds pretty damn good to me.



This is the perfect way to not only watch the sun set but also experience Wanaka at its best. Sitting high on a ridge overlooking Lake Wanaka while enjoying local Whitestone cheeses and a glass or two of your favourite Central Otago wine.




Mark Orbell will create the perfect atmosphere from the get go. Travel in style in a comfortable 4WD to an amazing viewpoint, where you can take in the changing light as the setting sun casts a myriad of shadows over Lake Wanaka far below.