Amazing adventure
"Go" magazine , November 2003
(Go is published by Quest Community Newspapers)
The Tanawha Tourist Drive at Tanawha makes for a great day behind the steering wheel in the family sedan. Two good places along the way are Bellingham Maze and Superbee.
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Love to solve puzzles? Stop by Bellingham Maze on the Tanawha Tourist Drive for a larger than life adventure. |
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Wayne and Sophy Wrangell's hedge maze is unique in the category of South-East Queensland tourist attractions.
Originally a sheep farm owned by the Bellingham family, the property now features 1.8km of conifer hedge planted in an eight-pointed, star-shaped maze formation over 80sq metres of ground. More than 1000 trees form the maze.
After negotiating the waterfall at the entrance, tourists are welcomed into the teahouse area.
If the mind-bending puzzles on every table don't grab guests' attention for too long, it's through to the start of Bellingham Maze.
Mr Wrangell said the record for finding the hidden fountain at the centre of the maze and returning to the starting point was just under 3 minutes.
There is only one correct path."We tell people it takes between five minutes and five days," he said. "The average time is about 15 to 20 minutes.
"No one has to worry - we have the SES guys on speed dial ... and we check the car park at night before we lock up," he laughed.
There is a "give-up" gate for those who get totally confused.
Mrs Wrangell said the maze suited guests of all ages. She said young children loved it, honeymooners and couples found the maze romantic, and just last month a 92-year-old woman stopped by to try her hand at solving the maze.
Whether it takes five minutes or five hours to solve, Devonshire tea, cold drinks and light snacks await guests in the teahouse and the property is also home to a tropical bird aviary containing about 70 birds.
A shady picnic area complete with barbecues is available. The maze is also equipped with lighting so after-hours visits and group bookings can be arranged.