WIN: one of 5 family passes to Wētā Workshop Unleashed in Auckland

Gourmet spotted sausage skins, steel cap stilettos, glass nails, full-body bald caps… these are just some of the supplies found in the storeroom at Wētā Workshop Unleashed. 

One of the incredibly lifelike models at Wētā Workshop Unleashed. © Jo Percival

Wētā Unleashed is a location-based experience designed by Richard Taylor and the creative magicians at Wellington’s Wētā Workshop. Occupying a cavernous space at Auckland’s SkyCity Precinct, the experience takes visitors on a ‘behind the scenes’ tour of movie-making magic. 

Unlike a traditional museum, Wētā Unleashed is almost completely hands-on and photography is encouraged. This is a vault of creative dreams, laced with movie nerd humour. 

You’ll make your way through three separate zones, set up as SFX workshops and movie sets, exploring horror, fantasy and sci-fi genres. While the horror section is initially confronting, you’ll quickly get caught up in the fascinating elements of creation – from fake blood recipes to interactive scream-generating machines and mirrors that apply augmented reality make up.

In the fantasy section scale becomes distorted with a human-sized model in one room replicated as a looming giant in the next, as if you’ve stepped onto his workbench. An enormous, painstakingly-detailed castle is created in miniature, complete with tiny stained glass windows and hundreds of handmade trees. 

You can also try your hand at creating your own props – from tin foil and plasticine sculpting to leather-punching, shaping plastacote foam to look like armour or making plastic chainmail, just like the team did for the Lord of the Rings franchise. 

Filled with many thrills and surprises, the Wētā Workshop Unleashed experience weaves together tactile DIY with video installations, animatronics and clever sound and lighting displays for a true multi-sensory movie experience. 

To be in to win one of five family passes to Wētā Workshop Unleashed, for two adults and two children, enter your details in the form below. Competition closes at 11.59pm on 31 May 2023.

Discover more from AA Directions magazine while you're here: 

• Read an exclusive interview with Sir Richard Taylor from Wēta Workshop
• Find out how to take a teenager on a road trip and still have fun
• Learn how to travel safely with a dog in the car
• Discover the incredible transport technology that will be in New Zealand sooner than you think!