Chapter 4: A Puzzleing Excursion to Wanaka

This post is dedicated to Hannah Kate, who loves Wanaka [pronounced like Wannakuh]

Newly equipped with a car (named Sammy, btw) Renee and Moose were able to have an excursion during a day when Renee did not have to work. Being quite excited to get away for the day Moose woke Renee up at 7:30am, though he did not succeed in prodding her out of bed until 7:50 at which point she grabbed a quick breakfast of Zucchini bread (made the day before, after work, out of boredom) and drove South, towards Haast Pass and Wanaka. The sun was not quite shining and the day was not quite clear and bright but Moose was ready to have an adventure! A little past Makaroa (just over the pass, and still not quite in cell reception) the sky started to clear up a bit and the mountains looked very pretty.

Although Renee wanted to stop and take a few scenic pictures along the way Moose was too excited and so no stops were made until arriving in Wanaka after roughly 2 hours of driving. Upon arriving in Wanaka Renee insisted on getting gas [petrol as they say here] since she was not sure just how close she was cutting it with the new car. After filling up (having to ask for help because in this country it is pump first, pay after) Renee [finally] took Moose to the main attraction for the day:

This intriguing place houses three main attractions: a room of puzzles, illusion rooms and the Great Maze. Walking in is a room with several tables of puzzles/brain teasers which are free(!) to play with/try and solve. It was still a little too early for Moose to be interested in using his brain though, so first Renee took him to the Illusion Rooms. They entered through the Hologram Hall which housed many fun holograms (a few of which gave Renee ideas for game mastering) though taking pictures of them proved...lackluster.

Following the illusion rooms was the favorite room for both Moose and Renee:

This room also did not take great pictures because most of the fun came from the contrast of the sloped floor and the true horizontal exhibits. Moose was fascinated by the uphill waterfall and the uphill slide which each he and Renee were able to ride. Renee got a video of Moose, though the effect is not quite the same.

After finding their feet on flat ground (well, true horizontal ground) the pair visited the Hall of Following Faces where 168 famous faces followed their every move. The favorite famous face was this handsome guy

Then Moose wanted to find the bathroom (or toilet as they say here) but it was so far away he gave up his search.

Next Renee and Moose tried to trade sizes in the Ames Illusion Room, but Moose was still too small, the illusion was not quite big enough for him, even with Renee crouching down a little bit :P

They very much enjoyed all of the sculptillusions though! Here are some of the favorites

What's holding up this bench?!

A never ending floor (in a phone-booth! Petunia is sad she missed this faux T.A.R.D.I.S.)

These bolts are actually flat, can you tell?

The alphabet, mirrored

Love and Hate, all in one

Following that it was time to attempt the Great Maze! Moose was so excited that he did not give Renee a chance to try and give them a timing for length but it is standard to take anywhere from 30 minutes to 1.5 hours – depending on which challenge is attempted. Renee was feeling a little overly warm (because the sun FINALLY came out) and she had dressed for cold so they attempted the easier of the two challenges: make it to each of the four corner towers then find the end. It was pretty fun to be walking along and think the way was known and then suddenly run into a dead end. Never having attempted a life sized maze before Renee and Moose were quite intrigued and had quite a fun time wandering and finding all four corners.

Green!

Yellow!

Red!

Blue!

Before leaving Moose finally made it to the toilet

And just like everyone else Moose insisted on a picture with the leaning tower of Wanaka

The rest of the day was spent chatting with a few friends from home (because cell phone reception and internet!) and wandering around Wanaka. Oh and visiting a real grocery store which was quite exciting. The drive back looked to be warm so Renee treated Moose to some gelato, well, until she ate it all :P

The way back was fairly uneventful until reaching the Haast pass at which point they had to stop for a few minutes so work could be done. After that it was an easy hour back to the little house I currently call home.

XP: Kilometers from Haast to Wanaka + Average Kilometers walked in the Great Maze: 145