TOURISM INDIA MARCH 2019 TOURISM INDIA MARCH 2019 | Page 54

D E S T I NAT I O N / F E AT U R E S
FOUR MAGICAL EXPERIENCES
FOR CHILDREN IN NEW ZEALAND
NEW ZEALAND IS FULL OF WONDER FOR YOUNGER VISITORS.
W
hether it’s a stroll through
a unique world of bubbling
mud and towering geysers
or hunting evil trolls lurking in dark
underground caves, there’s no shortage
for adventures for the little ones.
How about letting the mind be
tricked by some astonishing optical
illusions or dive behind the scenes of
Wellywood’s movie magic.
Go on a troll hunt in a cave in
Waitomo!
With its extensive underground
caves filled with myriads of
glowworms, Waitomo is a magical
place. Adults and children alike are
fascinated by the dark canopy covered
with living lights. But for youngsters
seeking thrills, there’s the Troll Cave.
Located close to the famous
glowworm grottos and the multitude
of adventure options for grownups and
older children (including blackwater
rafting and caving), there’s one cavern
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Tourism India March 2019
which is the home of something big,
ugly and mean - Tom the troll.
“Children help us to look after
and manage Tom by going on Troll
Patrol,”says Waitomo Adventures
director Nick Andreef.
The young adventurers take an
elevator down into the purpose built
artificial cave to find Tom. “There’s
lots of weird stuff down there for the
kids - rooms flood, walls collapse
and basically anything terrible that a
child could imagine happening in a
cave,”Andreef explains.
He says that the experience can
be a bit scary.“Kids feel the fear but
take on the mission anyway and push
their own personal boundaries.” Many
children find themselves outside their
comfort zone, but once they draw on
support from their family and friends
they accomplish their quest.
The Troll Cave experience is
interactive, and the guides help to dial
the fear factor up or down depending
on how the children react.
Be baffled at Wanaka Puzzling World
The Puzzling World in Wanaka has
been messing with people’s heads
since 1973. Children love to get lost
in the great maze, solve problems in
the puzzle centre and enjoy optical
illusions that appear to defy gravity,
physics and common sense.
The smallest members of the family
suddenly seem to be taller than ‘dad’
when they go into a room which uses
a technique featured in The Lord of
The Rings to create both tall and tiny
people. This Alice in Wonderland
type experience is a magical family
favourite. Puzzling World’s countless
holograms, puzzles and illusions
provide an unforgettable combination
of education and entertainment.
“It’s an attraction that promotes
teamwork within family and
friends,” says Operations manager
Duncan Spear. “It’s a movement
away from devices and back towards
communication in problem solving,
strategies and seeking a common goal.”
Even the cafe and the toilets are
filled with games and discoveries. In
the Illusion Roman Toilets, visitors
are told “Don’t be shy, take a seat
alongside our ‘Romans’ and snap
yourself within the scene - pants on
please!”
Bubbling mud and fearsome warriors
at Rotorua’s TePuia
A stroll around Rotorua’s
TeWhakarewarewa Valley in TePuia is
almost as bewildering as a trip to the