If you're in Tassie's North West and are looking for a unique and quirky tourist experience, then Tasmazia and the Village of Lower Crackpot certainly fits the bill.
This whimsical attraction is located in the shadows of the majestic Mount Roland at the wonderfully named Promised Land, and is billed as the "world's smallest village." We decided to check it out for ourselves and were not disappointed!
Tasmazia had its beginnings in 1987 when the self-professed Laird of Lower Crackpot, Brian Inder, planted the hedges for what was then the largest maze in the world. It's grown a bit since then, and now includes 8 mazes, the village of Lower Crackpot, Embassy Gardens, and a lavender farm.
There are also the ever-present views of magnificent Mount Roland which overlooks the magical complex.
The attractions here are geared towards kids (and big kids like me), with plenty of mazes to explore, tunnels to crawl through, and bridges to cross. Obviously, I left the tunnel crawling and bridge crossings to the kids and more able!
From an accessibility viewpoint, Tasmazia does everything it can to be wheelchair-friendly. The main maze is wide with a pine bark base and all obstacles have a way around them. The Village of Lower Crackpot and Embassy Gardens have wide, flat paths and there are wheelchair-friendly toilets available in the complex.
The other mazes don't suit mobility-impaired people, but my experience was not diminished in the slightest for it.
Wandering through the main maze reveling in the experience of being wonderfully lost and entertained by foraging potoroos and seemingly the world's largest collection of signed dad jokes, was a fantastic way to spend an hour or so.
Then you hit the village of Lower Crackpot and it's exactly what it says on the tin - a small village with one road, two pubs and a post office. Magically though it's as if Willy Wonka and Mary Poppins have leaped from the pages and combined to build a village for Oompa Loompas.
Brian Inder's irreverent and irrepressible sense of humour is everywhere, with signs poking fun at the weather, politicians, and just about anything else he thought of and the humour keeps rolling next door in the Embassy Garden.
Sadly Brian passed away in 2019 which strangely brings me a feeling of loss. He was a larger-than-life character who dedicated decades of his life creating this magical place and you get an almost tangible sense of who he was as you progress through the complex. I feel the poorer for not having met him.
If you're looking for an interesting day out that's a little different, then Tazmazia is well worth a visit. With something to delight visitors of all ages, it's perfect for a family day out. The cafe on site serves up light meals, snacks, and drinks, or you can take a picnic and wander back in and out of the various attractions as you feel. A pass lasts all day.
We'll definitely be back!
