We planned our Christmas holiday around the Sunshine Coast with one goal in mind: do a few things the kids would enjoy without turning the whole week into a checklist. On the morning of 23 December, we spent about three hours at Bluey’s World in Brisbane – which was fun, loud, and exhausting in equal measure then drove straight back up to the Sunshine Coast for Amaze World.
We knew going in that this wasn’t a full-day attraction. That was actually the appeal. We wanted something that felt like a win for the kids without wiping everyone out before dinner.
Given the timing, we were bracing for crowds. It was just days before Christmas, peak travel season, school holidays in full swing. Instead, it was oddly calm. When we arrived, there were only two other families inside. For the 23rd of December, it felt almost unreal. You could actually hear yourself think.
Why 2pm turned out to be the sweet spot
We were visiting with another family, which made it four adults and four kids, and we arrived mid-afternoon – around 2pm. Rather than booking ahead, we asked about tickets at the counter.
That conversation changed the tone of the whole visit. On the day we were there, staff were flexible with both pricing and timing, and we were told we could come back the next day if we didn’t get through everything. Hearing that was a genuine relief. No pressure. No rushing kids through activities just to “get value.” After a Brisbane-to-Sunshine-Coast drive, that kind of flexibility matters more than you expect.
The entrance detail the kids couldn’t stop talking about
Before we even got inside, the entrance caught their attention. There’s a continuous waterfall running across the entry, and as you walk toward it, the water stops automatically, letting you pass before starting again behind you.
It’s a small thing, but the kids were fascinated. They stood there watching it reset, trying to work out how it worked. It made the arrival feel a bit special – not flashy, not theme-park loud – just quietly clever.
The mini-golf showdown
Tickets sorted. Kids gone.
They made a literal beeline for the mini golf without us saying a word. What started as “just one hole” turned into a full-blown competition. There are around 18 pads, all with slightly different paths and angles, so it didn’t feel repetitive. Some holes were easy, others needed a bit of thinking, and that mix worked well across ages.
It was relaxed, competitive in a fun way, and one of those rare stretches where the kids were completely absorbed – no screens, no complaints, no clock-watching.
When the heat caught up with us
Not long after that, the heat kicked in and the next request was predictable: ice cream.
Having an on-site café helped, especially on a hot day, but buying snacks and drinks for a group added up fast. The kids all chose different ice-cream flavours, while the adults grabbed juice and cold drinks. It felt noticeably expensive for what it was, and we didn’t linger. This wasn’t a café stop you savour – it was very much a “cool down, prevent a meltdown, move on” moment.
The part where it turned into a race
From there, we headed into the main hedge maze. As soon as the kids saw it, it turned into a challenge – everyone confidently announcing how fast they’d finish.
What we thought would take a while was over quicker than expected. Within about 20 minutes, everyone had found their way through. We all ended up meeting in the centre of the maze, which turned into a natural pause point. We took a few short videos there — partly for the kids to show later, and partly because it’s the one spot where you really get a sense of the maze’s layout.
So… would we go back?
After that, we wandered a bit, picked up a few small things, and quietly wrapped up the visit. The kids had done everything they wanted to do, and you could feel the energy starting to dip.
Because our kids have done much larger maze experiences before including Maze World in Queenstown, New Zealand they naturally compared the two. For them, Amaze World felt smaller and quicker, and their reaction was fairly neutral. Not disappointed, just… done.
For our family, it felt like a one-time visit. It worked well on that particular day, slotted neatly into our Sunshine Coast holiday, and did exactly what we needed it to do but it’s not something we’d go out of our way to repeat.
