Odyssey Sensory Maze product reviews

While looking for something to do with his son in Auckland, my brother came across Odyssey, it certainly sounded like something I'd be keen to do. Once the day had cooled off we headed into Auckland City to check it out. If the weather isn't in your favour park at the Civic Car park and you don't even need to set foot outside. Being in the central city is somewhat of a downside to it's location, yet at the same time probably works well for it as it's more likely to draw punters from all sides of Auckland. It's located on the bottom level of the Metro Centre (where the IMax cinema is) which makes it a little out of the way and not somewhere you're likely just to stumble across, apparently there's paint ball there as well if you want to make a day of it.

The prices are quite reasonable, even more so that you can run it again for only $5, this time with a few tricks up your sleeve! Upon entering you are asked to remove your shoes and don a pair of white gloves, you then have a verbal briefing from the staff member then move through for the video briefing where you have to read the disclaimer, the wait to go in is long enough for even the slower readers to be able to read it all before heading in.

There were a total of 8 rooms to pass through, the doors are all one way so there is no going back once the door closes, and be careful of the emergency exits, one of which sets you right out into Aotea Square (apparently). Upon talking to the staff we were told the rooms are switched up every couple of months which definitely makes it somewhere to go to on a semi regular basis. The first room we went into had a textured floor with speakers under a section of it, there was very strong bass pumping that you stood on and the vibration experience was awesome. After that was the white room which is a straight through room, mirrored at either end it's definitely an experience in itself.

The next room was the largest, had all sorts of corners that you could get stuck in and involved a lot of hunting in the dark to find the correct passage, all sorts of textures on the floors and walls as well. The remaining rooms contained a "galaxy" behind mirrors so you really felt like you were floating in space, a uv room, mirror maze (where you realise why you're not meant to run and experience the benefit of the gloves), ball room (full of yoga balls of all sizes) and finally the elastic spider web with wonky floor.

They recommend it for ages 8 and over, my nephew is 9 and was quite scared the first time through but was the one begging to go back again, I definitely think the age suggested would be about right, although you needn't take a child along to enjoy the experience. It's somewhere I intend on taking my kids when we're up that way again, or checking out the Queenstown branch if we're in the neighbourhood. If you're in for something to fill in a little time (takes about 30 mins) or just generally after some good clean fun it's definitely the place to go.