A Maze 'N Things Amusement Park

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During COVID lockdowns there was plenty of time to read, and I came across an article in one of the magazines about an amusement park on Phillip Island and promised myself that one day I would visit. That day came, while on a driving holiday to Victora in May this year; my dream came true.



A Maze 'N Things is open from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm most days depending on the weather. Current mini golf prices are only $19.00 for adults and $15.00 for children. Prices to go through the Giant Maze, Puzzle Island, and Magic Manor are $42.00 for Adults and $28.00 for Children and if you want to combine all for a full day are $52.00 and $39.00, respectively. Prices are available for group bookings as well.



My group decided to play a round of mini golf first as the day was overcast and one never knows how Victoria’s weather will pan out. The field had uneven ground and wound around corners, so navigating your ball into the holes took focus and calculation to succeed hopefully. We had lots of laughs trying to challenge each other while trying to get the ball into the holes in a reasonable number of times. We started early in the morning, but after we had finished the nineteen holes, the field was packed with families and children squealing with excitement.



Entering the venue there were tables in the eating area and a small kiosk. Each table had a puzzle painted on the top, so, during lunch or afternoon tea, you could challenge yourself or others to find the answers.



The first illusion we came across was a room where when we walked forward the gravity threw us back and we had to struggle to walk up the incline of the floor to get to the other side of the room. Once there and standing in each corner, a photograph showed I was looking quite small in comparison to my nephew in the other corner and my niece was trying her hardest to defy gravity by walking backwards in the room. I do not know how this was created but it again had us laughing. It felt like walking against the wind on an extremely windy day.



There were framed puzzles on the walls, which while looking at them brings your centre of attention to a point that you feel the picture is moving; similar to a mandala where you could meditate on the area bringing your mind’s focus to one point.



As a child, I always loved the amusements at the local shows where you had to find your way out of the mirrored walkways without bumping into others or walls. Amaze N Things has gone one step further and created a mirrored room that was dark with red lights and pillars. It was so much fun, and I certainly got confused about where I was going.



Featured in the magazine I read, and one of my favourites at this park, was when you could put your head through a hole in the wall, and on the other side, it looked like you were “Today’s Special” plated for lunch.



Along the way there were interactive illusions like lying on a boogie board while watching a simulator and navigating the waves, a giant pin art, which once standing at the back pushed your outline through to the other side, navigating your way through Pirate McGuffie’s cave and working out how to unlock the treasure chest, large board games where tall handles had to be pushed either forward or back to beat your opponent and a ninety-degree drop where only the brave decided that was their challenge.



Many children go through a stage in life with a love of magic tricks and I can remember my brother being one of those who loved to work out the ‘how to’ of those tricks. So, moving along to the “Karel’s Magic Manor” was an excitement for all of us. We said ‘open sesame’ to a door that opened by the sound of our voice, saw floating hats, mops that danced by themselves, and a cabinet that if you placed your hand through the hole in the side and turned the handle, your hand would disappear. I especially liked a hidden doorway behind what appeared to be a bookshelf; it reminded me of the days of watching Batman and mystery movies where rooms in their houses had a hidden compartment like these.



Adding to Karel Magic Manor was a small town with magic shops just like we saw in the Harry Potter series. Clothing danced in windows and bottles of herbs and magic supplies were found in shops and there were other illusions and tricks to test your mind.



I ventured through the spooky door where ghosts danced in framed photographs, rabbits jumped out of hats and monsters roared and appeared from nowhere. This area was very dark and there was a sign upon entry to caution those with bad hearts not to enter.



At the end of the inside activities, we walked outside to find a huge maze, which looked easy from the verandah, but once down in the maze, dead ends appeared, and retracing of steps was required. My nephew and his wife loved the maze, but I was a little frustrated that I could not find my way out.



There were numerous activities and rooms to see, that one day is not enough and I hope to return, as I am sure there is so much more to appreciate a second time round.

A Maze 'N Things is located at 1805 Phillip Island Road, Cowes.

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