We started our day at the one non-nature attraction in Wānaka: Puzzling World. This place was part puzzles, part maze, part optical illusions. It was nothing very groundbreaking but we had a fun few hours there.

We started in the illusions section. They had a “leaning room” where everything was at a 15 degree angle. It was very disorienting and immediately made me feel nauseous. Our brains couldn’t make sense of it. To give you an idea, Nick placed a pool ball on this table and it didn’t move—the table is perfectly level.

We had a good time in one of these silly rooms.

And of course a smattering of other illusions and interactive things.

There was this sculpture of the museum (?) founder in one corner and it gave me a fright, and then a laugh.

After this section we went to the cafe. Each table had a few different puzzles on it that we played with. Nick and I each got sucked into trying to unravel various pieces of metal and wood and strings. He sat in this position for a good 20 minutes until I pulled him away.

The owner, I think, was sitting behind us at a table with his elderly wife. I recognized him from the statue. This was perhaps the freakiest illusion in the whole place.

We went outside to do their maze, which was surprisingly huge and difficult. It took us about 30 minutes of walking around like fools before we got out.

We left here and drove straight through, 3 hours to Te Anau. Once again, it was very scenic and beautiful. The landscapes here have been so diverse, one day it felt like the Pacific Northwest, then Kauai, and today, California.

Check out the tiny full sized passenger airplane in the above photo to get an idea of the scale of these vistas.

As we drove, I found myself lost in thought. One of those thoughts was: how many people would find it crazy that Nick and I do these drives in silence? Of course sometimes we share the thoughts with each other or have a conversation, but for the most part we’re just thinking and enjoying the views. No music, no podcasts, nothing. Just the occasional chomp chomp of Millie eating pretzels while she happily watches her movies in the backseat. I love it.

We arrived at our Airbnb which is in a new subdivision right outside of Te Anau. We weren’t in hotels for too long but it’s always nice to get settled into a house again, and to know we’ll be here a few days. This one clearly had a family here so there are lots of toys and a scooter to play with.

We ran out to the grocery store to stock up and got some lamb sausages, sweet potatoes, and broccoli for dinner. Millie helped me with food prep and then we grilled outside with a glass of New Zealand sauv blanc and enjoyed the sunshine.

We ended the night with a long and loud dance party. It devolved into a game called “butt monster” which is basically tag but you have to slap someone’s butt. You had to be there…

This house has an instant boiling water tap which is my dream as a tea lover. I’m on my fourth cup so I better get to bed. Y’all know I’ll be up all night peeing.