Construction of Puzzling World's new illusionary sculpture garden - believed to be a world first - has reached its halfway point.
The 530sq m development is the biggest for Puzzling World in more than a decade and will nearly double the size of the existing illusion room complex next to State Highway 84 at the entrance to Wanaka.
"From living walls, stone carpet, impossible garden seats and hanging waterfalls, the visitor will be surrounded by a surreal environment while enjoying three-dimensional sculptures and exhibits that until now have only existed on paper," operations manager Duncan Spear said.
He and his wife Heidi Landsborough - general manager of Puzzling World and daughter of its creator Stuart Landsborough - took ideas for the new room from trips overseas, from two-dimensional artworks already displayed at the attraction, and from Mr Landsborough himself.
"Over the last 40 years, I've collected ideas but we just haven't had the space to do it in the buildings that we've got," Mr Landsborough said.
Derek Ball, who made the faces for the attraction's popular Hall of Following Faces, has been commissioned to create several large pieces, along with local sculptors including Ernie Maluschnig, Chris Riley, Deane Weastall and Southlander Russell Beck.
Architects for the project had been asked to "go beyond their comfort range" in creating the new building, Mr Spear said.
"It's a challenging build.
"We've really gone for a unique style of building and things within the building are certainly going to be unique."
The development will cost between $2.5 million and $3 million, including meeting regulations such as increased parking and stormwater and sewerage upgrades.
"We're lucky in that we can afford to do this.
"We've never grown beyond what we can afford."
A December 1 opening date is planned for the new illusion room, just before Puzzling World's 40th anniversary celebrations next year, a milestone Mr Spear hopes to help mark with a history book on the attraction.
The new illusion room would probably be the final major development at the 6.5-acre site before the business expanded overseas, he said.
"We get offers every week from other parts of the world, and while we'd love to say we are the only one of our kind in the world, we are getting copied at the moment, and I think to do it properly we should own that brand."
Sentosa, in Singapore, had already been identified as a possible site to establish the Puzzling World brand internationally, Mr Spear said.
