Hemsby MegaMaze

Hemsby MegaMaze was something I had always seen advertised yet had never been. To be honest I thought walking in a 6 feet tall maze would be boring. However, with Adam’s love of running we decided to give it a go. I have to say it was the best value day out of the summer. We had a fantastic time.

Located in Hemsby near Great Yarmouth the MegaMaze is made from maize in the shape of a combine harvester. At the entrance s you pay a £1 deposit and receive a sealed envelope containing a map of the maze. If you return the envelope unopened then you get your deposit back. You also receive a ‘Great British Food Hunt’ booklet. You have to navigate your way through the maze and find the 10 stamp stations to complete the chart and learn about where the food on your plate comes from.

We had high hopes of completing our Food Hunt chart AND returning the envelope unopened at the end of our trip. We were not going to be using a map. We did hear though that the maze would take up to an hour with the map and up to two hours without one.

It had rained a lot the day before and we were told the maze could be muddy. Dad-dad and Adam wore wellies but I opted for my flip-flops. Many people commented on our completely opposite footwear and I am glad to say I was the one better off. It got out quite warm and there were very few muddy areas.

Adam loved the maze and managed to run and run and run! He had great fun deciding which way to go next and would jump in excitement when he spotted a stamp station. However, we had walked for 45 minutes and only had three stamps. We kept ending back at the same view point. This meant drastic action was needed. We either gave up on attempting the Great British Food Hunt or we had to open up the envelope.

We opted for opening the envelop. We couldn’t believe how close we had been to so many of the stamp stations! It still took us another 30 minutes to get the rest of the stamps. Throughout the 1 hour 15 minutes Adam didn’t stop for a single second!

We had expected to leave as soon as we had completed the maze, not expecting there to be so many other activities on offer. There is a large enclosed field next to the maze which has a variety of activities to suit all ages. There were mini tractors, tyres to jump on, a great slide with a tunnel underneath, a zip-wire, go-karts (perfect for older children), a climbing frame made out of hay bales, several enclosed trampolines, a sand pit, a football target game and Crazy Croquet. The croquet sticks were made from old wellies! Unfortunately we missed the tractor and trailer tour (additional fee).

They also had a few bouncy castles. Adam has never been a fan of bouncy castles. He has refused to even attempt them on numerous occasions. However, he loved the bouncy castles at Hemsby MegaMaze and even went down the slide several times.

Tip: Put your children in slip on shoes to visit the MegaMaze. This will save time having to help your child put wellies back on only for them to decide they want another go!

It seems that Hemsby MegaMaze has thought of everything to keep all ages happy. There is a great snack bar for a cup of tea, several picnic tables and plenty of space to take your own picnic and a mini maze for younger children. This would be a perfect sized maze for toddlers if you do not want to attempt the bigger maze without a pushchair.

This was certainly the best value day out we had throughout the summer. Children under 3 are free. Next year we will seriously consider getting a season ticket where up to 2 adults and 2 children can have unlimited visits for £40. The maze is open 7 days a week from the end of July to the beginning of September.

One event we shall be going to next year is the Baa-nanza. During the Easter holidays the gates are opened again to meet the new born lambs. The maze will still be growing so instead we will get to meet the lambs and ewes during lambing season. All of the activities will be open too. Keep an eye on their website for more information.

Want some corn inspired art? Check out Teach Me Mommy’s DIY bubble wrap stamper: Click on the picture for instructions.