Part 5: Holiday to South Island of New Zealand (28 Nov-13 Dec 2012) - 5, 8-9 December 2012

8 Dec 2012: PUZZLING WORLD WANAKA - FRANZ JOSEF
After photo taking, we left for Puzzling World, Wanaka, an unique attraction with their theme of "puzzling eccentricity".  Stuart Landsborough's Puzzling World has the world's first 3-D maze, a large "puzzling café" where guests could try out several puzzles freely, five large rooms of optical illusions, the Leaning Tower of Wanaka (which has a backwards clock that was started on the eve of the new millennium with which the whole structure lean at an angle of 53 degrees to the ground) and other attractions (such as the Roman Bathrooms and colorful houses with eccentric architecture ) that ascribe to their theme of "puzzling eccentricity".
Puzzling World for many years have a Psychic Challenge, offered a monetary prize of NZ$100,000.00 for anybody who can prove themselves to have psychic powers; to use their powers to locate a specific item located somewhere in Puzzling World's area. To date the $100,000 prize goes unclaimed, although more than 5 "professional" psychics have attempted the challenge. You can try your power and luck but prepare NZD1,000 as an official fee. If you failed, the money will be given to charity.

Leaning 53 degree Tower of Wanaka

Roman's Style Toilet
Some of us were surprised to see some 'man' at ladies,
thought that she entered the wrong toilet

What do u see? Love or Hate?
*From the Ilussion Room*

More information about the attractions that you can find @ Puzzling World, click HERE.
Some attractions are free, some need to pay entrance fee (Illusion room and Maze, @ NZ$14.00, or both NZ$17.50, as per December 12).

About 10.50AM, we left Puzzling World. About 10 min drive, when we passing by Lake Hawea, the driver could not resist the temptation of the beauty in front of us. We stopped at Lake Hawea for photo taking ........ Blue sky, blue water........


Lake Hawea



Lake Hawea



The Gate of Haast

We stopped for toilet break @ Makarora.. As and when we saw beautiful scenery we just stopped for photo taking. When we reached the bridge at Haast, we saw the river with the water rushing up the rocks, we stopped 30 min at Gate of Haast to enjoy the stunning beauty.  

The Gate of Haast

 We had our lunch at 1.40PM about 45min drive from Haast, at Fantail Cafe. Fish and chips were our choice .. The foods are okay and the price was reasonable..  Try their Blue cod fish....

Fish and Chips

Lunch Break

More information about the road from Wanaka to Haast can be read here.
We continued our journey to Franz Josef. When we saw the road sign shows that there is a salmon farm at the nearby area, we all were excited to stop over and buy more fresh salmon for our dinner ............ We found the Southwest Land Salmon Farm, Paringa. Take a sip of their hot choco and toilet break .....

Salmon Farm

Finally we arrived safely at the holiday home that we booked at Franz Josef, about 5PM. Some went to township for some marketing and some just took a rest. This place was a simple yet clean house. There are 3 bedrooms and big living room .. kitchen is quite complete with 1 quite new bathroom with attached toilet and another 1 toilet ....... 12 of us squuezed inside comfortably ..

Franz Josef Holiday Home

One of 3 bedrooms

Our dinner tonight was salmon soup ..........

Our menu for Dinner..

We need to sleep early tonight for glacier walk the next day ..