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The launch of a multi-million dollar tourist attraction this week is set to boost the country’s indoor entertainment infrastructure.
The new facility, which was built by a team of 80 that includes set designers from Hollywood blockbuster science fiction movies, features projection mapping, a technology used by US theme parks to project images onto three-dimensional surfaces such as buildings or ride structures, creating an immersive experience to transport visitors into another world.
The locally designed and built Odyssey Sensory Maze is an immersive, multi-sensory experience that challenges and invigorates the senses.
The 230m2 19-room facility can accommodate more than 180,000 people annually and is expected to generate millions of dollars in tourism revenue for the region.
The creators aim to make the maze accessible to a wide range of people, including those with physical disabilities and neurodivergent individuals – answering calls from disability advocates who want greater access to tourist attractions.
Odysseum co-founder David Parker-Smith says this will be the first of their venues to utilise the new interactive projection mapping technology.
“This technology is used in some of the world’s largest theme parks to provide immersive and engaging visitor experiences and is part of a market forecast to reach $13bn within two years. It allows us to bring to life the movement and sensation of lava within a volcano-themed room or sea creatures under the water,” he says.
David says the entire concept and venue were designed and built locally with thousands of hand-made life-like objects throughout the experience.
He says a hiatus in global film production caused by the Hollywood writer’s strike has given them access to set designers of blockbuster sci-fi and high fantasy movies and TV shows, including Amazon’s Rings of Power.
“We were incredibly fortunate to be able to connect with a local set design team while a major movie currently being shot here was on hold.
“They were given almost complete autonomy to create a series of rooms that have phenomenal attention to detail and realism – the result was beyond what we could have ever hoped for.
“These range from a spaceship where visitors can take control of the ship using a video game interface that was custom-made for the venue, the interior of an Egyptian pyramid with embedded crystals, hieroglyphics and fossils, to an incredible fairy realm featuring hundreds of miniature creatures in a woodland setting,” he says.
David says they have incorporated elements of New Zealand culture and nature into the design, including a Kiwiana-themed candy room, a glow worm cave with stalactites and running water and a forest room with familiar New Zealand sound effects.
The maze also includes a “doom room” designed to scare visitors and a “brain cell” room that tests problem-solving skills.
He says they want to export the concept to cities throughout Australia, expanding their existing venue network beyond Auckland and Queenstown.
“There are very few indoor tourism concepts that have been conceived and constructed in New Zealand.
“We believe there is significant export potential for this concept in other markets, and are looking at other trans-Tasman locations as a next step.
“Odyssey is a true sensory journey. While trying to find your way out you will experience darker challenging spaces and quirky obstacle illusions, crazy lighting effects, scents, weird sounds and strange sensations that will leave you with an experience that you will never forget!” he says.
David says the facility was constructed following damage to the venue caused by floods in Auckland last year.
“The floods caused extensive water damage throughout the building and our existing operation was written off.
“We have taken the opportunity to completely reimagine and rebuild the venue from the ground up,” he says.
The Odyssey Sensory Maze will launch today in Auckland at 297 Queen Street, inside the Sky World Entertainment Centre on the lower basement level with more information on the technology available here.
