These attractions are a cut above
aMAZEme, North Island, New Zealand
Family fun is the name of the game at this gorgeous spiral maze in Rotorua on New Zealand’s North Island. You’re sure to get lost as you twist and turn through the 0.8 miles (1.4km) of winding hedge in search of the center. There are optional gaps in the hedge where you can try to find shortcuts but, then, you’ll also hit permanent blocks and one-way doors. It’s sure to leave you scratching your head.
Andrássy Castle maze, Hungary
One of the world’s finest mazes, the hedges form an intricate squid-like design that will baffle and intrigue. You’ll find the castle in Tiszadob, in the northeast of Hungary near the Slovakian border, where it was built for Count Gyula Andrássy, the first Hungarian prime minister. The boxwood labyrinth was designed in the late 19th century in the Romantic style and has been providing dreamy ways to get lost ever since.
Ashcombe Maze and Lavender Garden, Victoria, Australia
Delight in being engulfed in this lush hedge maze on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, just over an hour’s drive from Melbourne. It’s more than 9.8 feet high (3m) and 9.8 feet thick making some sections delightfully narrow paths to squeeze through. There are also no straight edges, so orienteering is that little bit tougher. The maze tasks you to find each of the four mosaic flags in the north and south halves of the maze, both of which are completely different.
Bago Maze, New South Wales, Australia
Wine-lovers rejoice. This cute vino-themed maze on the Bago Vineyard in New South Wales has more than 1.2 miles (2km) of pathway and is the biggest in the region. It’s been growing from vines for more than a decade and is now over 7.5 feet high (2.3m) and it features lookout towers and concealed items to find, and bridges and boardwalks over a sunken path. The design is intented to celebrate the cyclical nature of the vineyard.
Marlborough Maze, Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, UK
This verdant two-mile maze can be found in grounds of Blenheim Palace, the ancestral seat of the Duke of Marlborough in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, which is also the birthplace of former prime minister Sir Winston Churchill. Made of hundreds of yew trees, its design is inspired by the palace’s 300-year history making for a regal adventure.
Pineapple maze, Dole Plantation, Hawaii, USA
You don’t need many excuses to go to Hawaii but this super-fun and huge pineapple maze – officially the world’s largest – is one of the many attractions on the Dole Plantation. Covering more than three acres, you’ll need to navigate nearly 2.5 miles (4km) of maze carefully sculpted from 14,000 colorful Hawaiian plants to find eight secret stations that will lead to the heart of this labyrinth. Fantastic fruity fun.
Masone Labyrinth, Parma, Italy
Covering more than eight hectares in Parma, this star-shaped maze claims to be the largest labyrinth in existence and is made of about 2,000 bamboo plants reaching up to 49.2 feet (15m) high and forming more than 1.8 miles (3km) of path. There are traps and blind alleys along the route as you make your way to the mysterious building at the center.
Hever Castle mazes, Kent, UK
It’s hard to imagine a place prettier than Hever, the double-moated 13th-century castle that was once the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII’s doomed second wife. The same is true of its equally historic mazes: the yew maze and the water maze. Set within the castle’s magnificent 125-acre gardens in Hever, Kent you can pit yourself against the hidden jets and tilting stepping stones of the water garden or wander amid the romantic atmosphere of the yew tree maze that’s pictured here.
Great Vermont corn maze, Danville, Vermont, USA
Voted one of the 10 best corn mazes in the USA and now stretching over more than 24 acres with around 3.5 miles (5.6km) of winding trails, what makes this maze unique is its location on a hillside in Danville, Vermont. There are fantastic views to be admired as you pass by the bridges and other fun features as you navigate its inspired design. It’s only open at certain times of the year, so check before you go.
Peace Maze, Northern Ireland
It’s no wonder that Castlewellan Forest Park’s Peace Maze is rapidly becoming one of Northern Ireland’s most popular attractions. Its design is based on ideas from thousands of children and its 6,000 yew trees were planted by more than 4,000 school children and 1,000 adults on community planting days during 2000 to 2001. Explore the massive 2.18 miles (3.5km) of maze covering almost three acres to ring the bell at its center.
Borges Labyrinth, Venice, Italy
Built on the Venetian island of San Giorgio Maggiore – to celebrate the Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges on the 25th anniversary of his death in 2011 – this maze is as mind-bending as the author’s extraordinary stories. Made of 3,200 box trees, the labyrinth weaves in two opposite directions as the word “Borges” and symbols the poet held dearest – a stick, an hourglass, a tiger and a question mark – are formed.
Green Man Maze, Wales, UK
Probably the most serene puzzle in the world, the Green Man maze in mid-Wales was planted in the shape of the pagan symbol of renewal to mark the turn of the millennium. Set in the extensive grounds of Penpont, one of the finest houses in the heart of the Brecon Beacons, follow the beech- and yew-lined paths as you wander past pools, secret gardens, banks of lavender, benches, tunnels, and an inner labyrinth to find the wishing stone in a wildflower garden. A slice of heaven.
Minotaur Maze, Northumberland, UK
This stone labyrinth maze takes its inspiration from Greek myths and is all the more fun for it. One of several arts and architecture attractions at Kielder Castle in Northumberland, it includes a set of stairs that climb above the walls so you can look for routes to the goal: a small glittering room made of shards of recycled glass.
Noah’s Ark Farm Zoo, North Somerset, UK
You’ll find one of Europe’s longest mazes at this farm zoo near Bristol. It’s made from a staggering 14,000 beech trees delightfully created in the shape of Noah’s Ark with seven animals hidden inside. There’s also a mini-maze for smaller children to learn the ropes.
Laberint d’Horta Park, Spain
Mazes don’t come much more majestic than this historical garden in the Horta-Guinardó district of Barcelona. The labyrinth is Barcelona’s version of Granada’s Alhambra and is made from 6.5 feet (2m) high hedges in a design that honors Greek mythology. You’ll find a classical frieze depicting Minos and, at its center, a statue of Cupid to explore as you wander leisurely through the verdant hedges under the warming sun.
Cool Patch Pumpkins Maze, California, USA
Open from September to October, this award-winning maze in Dixon, California was named the Guinness Book of World Records “world’s largest temporary corn maze” in 2007. Since then, it has grown to cover more than 53 acres. Each year, a new design is hand-cut from a detailed plan to provide visitors with hours of puzzling fun.
Schönbrunn Palace Maze, Vienna, Austria
The maze of tall, narrow hedges at the grand Schönbrunn Palace was laid out around 1720. Designed without the dead-ends and false turns of a classic maze, it was intended to give the palace’s elevated residents – the 1,441-room Baroque building was the summer residence of the Hapsburgs – an inviting setting for a gentle stroll. We all deserve the same luxury.
Van Gogh Maze, the Netherlands
To celebrate the opening of its new glass entrance in 2015, the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam planted 125,000 sunflowers – famously painted by the artist – in what’s surely one of the prettiest puzzle attractions ever. Sadly, it was only open for a weekend but we’d have been in no hurry to solve this one.
York Maze, UK
The biggest maize maze in Europe, the award-winning York Maze is quickly becoming one of the region’s most popular attractions. And it’s massive. Made from more than one million plants, it covers an area bigger than eight football pitches and is fashioned into a spectacular new shape each year. One of its biggest hits was this humongous Harry Potter tribute. We can’t wait to see what this year brings when it opens in July.
Swarovski, Kristallwelten, Tirol, Austria
The crystal-mad headquarters of Swarovski, Kristallwelten (Crystal World) in Wattens is not a place you’d expected to find a fabulous maze but this visitor attraction is home to one of the cutest children’s puzzles we’ve seen. Nestled in the beautiful park landscape, the green labyrinth, designed by André Heller, forms a hand. Don’t leave all the hide-and-seek fun to the kids.
Richardson Corn Maze, Illinois, USA
Dubbed the world’s longest and most intricate, this corn maze in Spring Grove, Illinois has about nine to 10 miles of trail winding through 28 acres of live corn. Usually formed from four smaller mazes, you can choose to tackle one maze, a few, or the whole lot. There are multiple checkpoints and three bridges to help you get your bearings while navigating this beast of a puzzle. Each year has a theme, with The Beatles maze, pictured here, from the 2013 season.
Traquair maze, Scotland, UK
Originally a formal garden laid out in the 18th century, the hedge maze at Traquair House, Peeblesshire was planted in 1981 and is the largest in Scotland. The intriguing layout has no dead ends and challengers must reach four sub-centers before they can find their way to the center. There are also pretty terraces allowing vantage points to guide friends around the maze.
Lacombe corn maze, Kraay Family Farm, Alberta, Canada
Located in Lacombe, in the heart of Alberta, last year the corn maze celebrated the 45th anniversary of the Canadian Finals Rodeo with an intricate 15-acre design. The maze also offers a choice of trivia games to add an extra layer of excitement to navigating your way around.
Skylark Maize Maze, Cambridgeshire, UK
Ambition is critical at this maize maze at Skylark Garden Centre in Wimblington. The huge puzzle takes an exciting new form every year. 2018 saw visitors challenged to complete the maze in the shape a giant T-Rex, while previous years have served up a BFG in honor of children’s author Roald Dahl and a Star Wars-shaped adventure. Find out what head-scratching fun 2019 will bring when the maze opens in July.
Hampton Court Maze, UK
The oldest surviving hedge maze in the UK, the many twists and turns of this multicursal maze dates back to the 1700s, when it was commissioned by William III. A trapezoid shape, it was originally grown in hornbeam and planted as part of formal garden layout known as the “wilderness”. But it was later replanted using yew trees to provide an elegant adventure.
Harbin Ice And Snow World Maze, China
Harbin, in China’s Heilongjiang province, holds an annual ice festival over its freezing winter, during which temperatures linger around 8.6°F (-13°C). Harbin Ice and Snow World forms one of the festival’s most dazzling parts and an amazing ice maze is one of its many attractions. We can’t think of anything more magical than wrapping up and wandering through this frozen dreamworld.
Glendurgan Garden Maze, Cornwall, UK
This living puzzle was planted at the stunning National Trust garden in Mawnan Smith, near Falmouth, Cornwall. Planted in cherry laurel, palm trees mark the four corners of the puzzle, while a thatched summerhouse at the center provides a charming place to relax and enjoy your achievement.
Villa Pisani maze, near Venice, Italy
You’ll find this complex and beautiful nine-layer maze at the Villa Pisani National Museum in Stra. Designed in 1720, this classic medieval circular path has concentric repeating patterns and dead ends surrounding a small tower at its heart. With hedges so high you’ll be unable to see over them to find a route, so you have to guess your way towards the statue of Minerva, at the top of the central tower.
Deer Meadow Farms Maze, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Now covering around 10 acres in size, this maze in Winnipeg creates intricate designs celebrating the area. The 2018 maze honored the Winnipeg Whiteout (ice hockey success) and features a map of Winnipeg, the image of Winnipeg Jets’s Connor Hellebuyk, team slogans, fan chants and the team logo. A lot of love and attention goes into creating the mazes, so it would be a shame not to try to solve it this year.
Longleat hedge maze, Wiltshire, UK
With nearly 2 miles (3.2km) of path, Longleat’s maze is the longest in Britain. Made from more than 16,000 yew trees, you will need to track the winding paths in search of the central observation tower. The Marquess of Bath commissioned the huge hedge maze in 1975, which is so large gardeners use stilts while trimming it back.
Around The World Travel 