Roll up, roll up, calling all kidults. Welcome to the most whacky and wonderful place in New Zealand where all your childhood dreams are coming true. The brains behind Holey Moley have stashed a crazy purpose-built wonderland in the heart of Newmarket and they’re throwing open the doors this week. Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq has arrived, and nothing will prepare you for the pure sensory overload as you step right up.
You’ll want to pick up a ‘gram-worthy cocktail on the way past the well stocked circus bar whilst you mull the dizzying array of options on offer. Imagine every game you ever played growing up, then make them 100 times better than you remember and you might come close to what you’ll experience here.
Space Invaders take on a new dimension—with your seat vibrating with each shot as you rack up a new high score. Park up and grab a lane to show off the fruits of your misspent youth at the bowling alley. Fly around and smash your mates up on the—surprisingly speedy and responsive—dodgems on an electrified floor.
Scare yourselves silly on the 4D simulator hidden behind heavy, draped velvet curtains. Choose one of three options of—frankly, horrifying—rides where armed with your trusty gun you’ll smash clowns, zombies or bugs as you fly by the seat of your pants in this fully immersive experience.
As you stagger to the bar for refreshments, why not pick up a green or blue burger—standing proudly in a little car complete with a side of chicken and chips, a pizza or even an excessively saucy hotdog and waffle fries. As you’ll quickly come to realise, nothing is too over-the-top for these guys, this is next-level entertainment.
When it’s finally time to leave, peruse the redemption room where everything you ever wanted when you were little is up for grabs in exchange for the points you earned inside. Take your pick from small consolation prizes to amazing one-off prizes from yesteryear.
Open until midnight err’y day with a DJ spinning tunes Friday and Saturday nights we can see many an evening—hell, whole days—spent giggling and we’re here for it.
So what are you waiting for, round up your squad and get ready for the most epic button-smashin’, cocktail-sippin’, burger eatin’, time you’ll ever have.
The details
What: Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq
When: Opens 12pm Thursday September 19
Where: Level 3, Newmarket Westfield, 277 Broadway.
Click here for more details
Image credit: Jaiden Bhaga