Southern Destinations: March 03, 2016

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20 | March 2016
Just Ad Illusions
– the latest treat at Puzzling World!
The team at Wanaka’s Puzzling
World have had a busy time not
only with record visitor numbers
over the course of 2015 but also
with organising an exhibition that’s
proving to wow the summer crowds
this year.
Have you ever wondered how
advertisers use illusions to capture
our attention? In a world where
mass media is the norm, ad agencies
are well aware of the information
overload consumers face each day.
For an advert or promotion to be
effective, clever techniques are being
used more and more to “cut through”
to people who have become numb
Fascinating collection
of Transport and Toys
The Wanaka Transport and Toy
Museum is one of the largest
private collections in the Southern
Hemisphere, with over 50,000 items
on display. Acquired over many years
by Gerald Rhodes via advertisements,
auctions, markets and garage sales,
the varied collection has something
to interest everyone, adult or child.
Described as a “Pandora’s
box of surprises”, the transport
exhibit includes rare and unusual
aircraft, cars, trucks, motorcycles,
fire appliances, military vehicles,
to traditional campaign tactics.
A great way to grab a viewer’s
attention is to utilise optical illusions.
People often love simple brain tricks
and are more likely to linger on those
advertisements that provide illusions
for them to ponder.
Showcasing some recent and
past campaigns used by local and
international brands, the exhibition,
opened in December, celebrates
some unusual, clever and startling
examples from German job agencies,
American freight companies and
NZ brands, among others, that have
embraced the use of illusions in their
various campaigns.
tractors and an extraordinary range
of “automobilia.” The collection is
constantly being added to, and
almost 100 vehicles are in the wings
awaiting restoration!
Among the more unusual exhibits
are some “must-see” items including
the world’s largest single-engine
bi-plane and the world’s last original
1915 Sunbeam Rover ambulance.
You can also see one of the two hero
vehicles form the movie Two Little
Boys and a 1924 Buick Limousine,
only one of four ever built.
Housed within a dedicated “pod”
in the Sculptillusion Gallery, the
exhibition, titled “Just Ad Illusions”,
marks the first to be held in the fifth
and newest illusion room.
“We’re very pleased to launch an
exhibition of this nature as we get
the chance to operate our gallery
space as intended and, on a personal
level, we can celebrate two areas I’m
fascinated with, namely advertising
and illusions,” Puzzling World’s
operations and marketing manager
Duncan Spear reports.
Following on from an extensive
redevelopment project in all areas of
the business, this exhibition is very
much aimed at giving the team at
Puzzling World something genuinely
fun to be involved in while also
presenting a new space for returning
summer holiday-makers.
"We’re conscious of the fact that
our repeat customers genuinely
want to see new things with each
visit so we work hard to achieve this,”
Duncan says.
One thing is for sure: the bumper
crowds coming into Puzzling World
this summer are certainly seeing the
efforts made on new developments
and initiatives, ensuring the business
that prides itself on continually
evolving certainly won’t disappoint!
Nostalgia rules in the Toy Collection
where 50,000 items feature clockwork
toys, pedal cars, money boxes,
battery-operated toys, teddies and
dolls, including 500 Barbie dolls
complete with accessories. Always
popular is the Star Wars collection of
toys, figures and memorabilia.
Most exhibits are in remarkable
working order, and many are used
for authentic film props and
advertising. The museum and shop
are open daily and you can also
follow them on Facebook.
*Southern Destinations wanaka
Wonderfully
Wanaka
Wanaka offers the perfect
surroundings to truly relax
on a lakeside holiday.
The township is a busy
resort and service centre
for the region’s many visitors
who enjoy its amenities all
year round.
The variety of indoor
and outdoor activities is
extensive within the local
area, with plenty of choice to
suit all ages and budgets.
Lake Wanaka is New
Zealand’s fourth largest lake,
with clear pristine waters in
depths that plunge to below
sea level. Take a boat trip to
the conservation island of
Mou Wahu, go fishing or take
a scenic cruise for spectacular
views back to the township.
Wonderful proximity to
the lake and mountains also
offers adventure activities
such as heli biking, white
water rafting and sledging,
parasailing, jet boating,
yachting, water skiing, horse
treks, quad biking and 4WD
safaris. Lake Wanaka is also
the gateway to Mt Aspiring
National Park where there
are unmatched tramping
and climbing opportunities
in one of the country’s most
unspoiled wilderness areas.
Attractions include the
intriguing Puzzling World
and Great Maze and the
Transport and Toy Museum,
while at Wanaka Airport you
could try tandem skydiving,
take a scenic flight, visit
the New Zealand Pilot’s
Museum and discover the
largest collection of World
War 2 fighter planes in the
Southern Hemisphere.
But more leisurely
pursuits might entice you
to the range of cafes and
restaurants in Wanaka, a visit
to the historic 1863 Cardrona
Hotel, a soul-soothing
treatment at Sanctuary Day
Spa, wine tasting at Rippon
Vineyard or an catching an
evening movie at the quirky
Cinema Paradiso.
But whatever fills your days
in Wanaka, be sure to enjoy a
lakeside barbecue and watch
the breathtaking sunset
against a backdrop of lake
and mountains.
600 Vehicles • 50,000 Toys
Welcome to Wanaka’s
wonderful world of weirdness
Bizarre buildings, rooms of illusion and our famous maze will
baffle your brain and challenge your perceptions of reality.
Seeing is disbelieving!
PUZZLING WORLD
188 Wanaka Luggate Hwy 84, Wanaka 9382
P: 03 443 7489 E: info@puzzlingworld.co.nz
www.puzzlingworld.co.nz