Weathering Wanaka

Saturday, 12 December

After brekky at Urban Grind (yes, despite other excellent eateries in town, we are in a rut...), we took a walk along the shore of Lake Wanaka, our footsteps accompanied by birdsong. Rain was threatening, so we went to Plan B: indoor activities.

"Wanaka Tree"

Yesterday Ned called in his marker (National Transport and Toy Museum), so today I called in mine - Puzzling World http://www.puzzlingworld.co.nz/

Despite the kitsch presentation from the road (see photo above), the write ups were intriguing and... well, it was not good weather for outdoor activities.

Puzzling World was founded in 1973 by Stuart Landsborough, a world renowned maze designer.
There is a two-level maze, which we opted not to try (outdoors + more challenge than we were up to). There are also five Illusion Rooms, well worth the entry fee of NZ$16/per person.

We began in the Hologram Hall, then moved on to the Tilted House which totally challenges one's sense of perception of reality (especially for me who is spatially-challenged anyway!). Apparently, without a reliable horizon, the brain compensates and "straightens" the room. It is literally mind bending - and handicap rails are required to keep from toppling over - even for young people!

Even Ned struggled with spatial orientation...

There were also lots of optical illusions. One was the Dazzle Wall. When you stare at the image, the lines begin to move, then you get a sense of 3-D, then your eyes perceive colors...

The Dazzle Wall

The Hall of Following Faces features 168 famous faces that appear to turn and watch you. The faces also appear to be convex when, in fact, they are concave, creating the illusion that the faces are watching as you move across the room.

The Hall of Following Faces

There is also the Forced Perspective Room - rather like Alice down the rabbit hole. Watch Ned shrink...

Ned Down the Rabbit Hole

We saw lots of ambigrams - two separate words sharing the same physical space.

Optical Illusion 

Teach and Learn 

As our artist friends can attest, 2-D can actually be painted to appear to be 3-D.

Door to the bathroom

3-D Ann with 2-D cubes

3-D Ned with 2-D Nuts

Traditional Amish Quilt

Bathroom Wall - stairs leading to...? 

The Sculptillusion Gallery featured actual 3-D illusions such as the pillars (nodding gentlemen?) below.