Get lost (literally): Tasmania’s quirkiest maze attraction hits the market
If you’ve ever been lucky enough to explore the picturesque north-west coast of Tasmania, chances are you’ve found yourself wandering through the playful hedge mazes and miniature village of Tasmazia & The Village of Lower Crackpot – one of the state’s quirkiest and most treasured family attractions.
For the first time in four decades, the long-running tourist drawcard at 500 Staverton Road in Promised Land, along the scenic tourist trail to Cradle Mountain, is being offered to the market for $1.8 million plus stock, with agents Elders describing it as “very profitable and well worth consideration”.
The sale presents a rare opportunity to acquire a turnkey freehold and business near stunning Lake Barrington, about 40 minutes’ drive from Devonport, with broad appeal, a strong and enduring visitor base, and scope for expansion.
Set across 2.916 hectares where “fun and laughter rule”, Tasmazia has long been recognised by tourism bodies as a standout all-ages experience, combining whimsical novelty, playful storytelling and beautifully maintained natural surroundings.
Its eight mazes, the 1/5-scale Village of Lower Crackpot, the internationally themed Embassy Gardens (featuring more than 60 miniature buildings representing 40 countries) and its long-established lavender farm create a unique visitor experience.
These features are supported by a cafe and pancake parlour seating around 150 patrons, a gift shop, children’s play areas, extensive landscaping, a large amenities block, solar infrastructure and 30 on-site carparks.
The attraction’s origins date back to the early 1980s, when founders and tourism pioneers Brian and Laura Inder planted 20,000 lavender shrubs and began what would become one of the world’s largest maze complexes.
The Great Maze – home to Cubby Town, a tree house, the Three Bears Cottage, Little Pigsville and the Crackpot Correction Centre – was created in 1985 and has since expanded to include seven additional mazes: Hampton Court, Confusion, Balance, Hexagonal, Yellow Brick Road, Irish and Cage.
After more than 40 years of operation, the property is now ready for new custodians, following Brian’s passing in 2019 and Laura’s recent move toward retirement.
Elders agent John Blacklow says the “hugely popular” site has substantial scope for future growth.
“Tasmazia is a one-of-a-kind award-winning tourist attraction located right under the scenic backdrop of Mount Roland near Sheffield,” he says.
“There is considerable opportunity for the next owners to add various additional attractions and services – subject to council approval – which utilise the expansive site, including a cabin park or tourist park, vineyard, laser tag, mini golf, frisbee golf, themed events or further mazes.”
Tasmazia attracts consistent visitor numbers, and typically welcomes around 24,000 to 26,000 visitors a year. Reviews are consistently positive, praising its humour, creativity and natural setting, and a 4.5-star rating from nearly 1,00 Google reviews underscores its strong ongoing appeal.
The attraction also benefits from its position within a well-established visitor corridor, sitting at the entrance to the Lake Barrington International Rowing Course and just 14 kilometres from Sheffield – known as the “town of murals” and a significant draw in its own right.
Recent years have seen significant maintenance and garden restoration, including hedge trimming, repainting throughout the village and ongoing grounds upgrades.
Two neighbouring properties are also available for buyers seeking to broaden their operational footprint. Adjoining Pickle Hill at 516 Staverton Road offers 28.71 hectares with a three-bedroom home and multiple sheds, while Gnome Home at 499 Staverton Road includes a historic five-bedroom homestead on 1.6 hectares, currently used for storage and overflow parking.
Over the years, Tasmazia has been widely recognised as an award-winning attraction. It has twice won the Cradle Coast Regional Tourism Award for best tourist attraction, has earned multiple Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice accolades, and was ranked among the world’s top 10 family attractions by South African travel site GoTravel24.
Brian Inder was also honoured in 2005 with the Tourism Council of Tasmania award for outstanding contribution by an individual.
“When I started out in tourism, it wasn’t highly regarded as an industry because it wasn’t an industry you could see in the way you see a factory with smoke blowing out at all hours … now it is the biggest industry in the state and is providing jobs for our kids,” the former dairy farmer said after winning the award.
“I’d like people to realise it is an export industry – we export experiences which people take home with them without us having to worry about shipping, and that makes it a bloody good industry for everyone.”
