Waitangi Treaty Grounds — Uncover the Broken Promise
Uncover the hidden discrepancies in Te Tiriti o Waitangi that sparked betrayal and conflict. Decode clues across sacred sites to reveal the truth behind the broken promise of Māori sovereignty.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
On February 6, 1840, at Waitangi Treaty Grounds, British representative William Hobson and 43 Māori chiefs signed Te Tiriti o Waitangi, New Zealand's founding document
Waitangi Treaty Grounds — Uncover the Broken Promise
You are a colonial emissary, newly arrived in Waitangi in 1833, tasked with understanding the complex negotiations that will shape a nation.
You walk the very grounds where the Treaty
Immerse yourself in the heart of the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, where New Zealand's destiny was sealed one February day in 1840.
The story that haunts this land
Your journey begins at the main entrance of the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, on Te Karuwhā Parade in Waitangi. It is here, on this historic site, that the Treaty of Waitangi was signed on February 6, 1840, an event marking New Zealand's founding document. As you head towards the Treaty House, you traverse landscapes where kiwis live and where the crucial debates of 1839-1840 took place, preparing for the signature that would redefine the nation. The 2-day pass grants you access to a 50-minute guided tour, laying the groundwork for your exploration of Māori heritage.
The Treaty House, built in 1834 for James Busby, the British Resident, is your next crucial stop. It was in this residence that the treaty was meticulously drafted before its historic signing. Exploring its rooms, you feel the weight of the decisions made and the negotiations that shaped New Zealand's future. The route then leads you to the Flagstaff, the flagpole, a central point of the Treaty Grounds. This site hosted the assembly of February 5, 1840, a day before the signing, already offering panoramic views of the Bay of Islands, the setting for these foundational discussions.
The path takes you to Te Whare Rūnanga, the carved meeting house, opened in 1940 for the centenary of the Treaty of Waitangi. This edifice is a living testament to Māori culture, a place where cultural performances are still held today. Nearby, you discover Ngatokimatawhaorua, the largest ceremonial waka taua in the world. Also carved in 1940 from 7 totara logs, this 35-meter canoe, capable of accommodating 140 paddlers, is used for important ceremonies, symbolizing the strength and unity of the Māori people.
Your exploration continues at Te Kōngahu Museum of Waitangi, an open museum featuring interactive exhibits on the site's history and a collection of taonga, Māori cultural treasures. The 2-day pass allows you to discover these rotating temporary exhibitions, offering a deep understanding of the events and cultures that converged in Waitangi. This museum is essential for understanding the nuances of the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi and its impact on Northland and beyond.
Finally, your journey concludes with a visit to Te Rau Aroha, a museum opened in 2020. It commemorates Māori service in the New Zealand armed forces, sharing stories of the World Wars and subsequent conflicts. This museum offers a moving perspective on Māori contributions to New Zealand's modern history. As you leave the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, you take with you an enriched understanding of Waitangi's history, Māori heritage, and the enduring significance of these places on the Bay of Islands.
A game, a guided tour and a heritage guide — all in one
You're not just buying an escape game. You're carrying a living guide — historical anecdotes, forgotten legends, key monuments, hidden architecture — unfolding as you go.
At each stop, places ordinary guides miss — secret façades, sculpted crests, alleys steeped in history.
Every riddle is rooted in a real historical fact or local legend. You leave with dozens of stories to tell.
Learn to read buildings — flamboyant Gothic, Baroque, Art Deco — like a real art historian, while having fun.
Walk through the city like a novel's character — every alley becomes a stage, every square a theatre.
A voice walks with you at every step, tells the story of each place, reads clues, adds a cinematic feel.
Keep access to the guide & game for 1 year. Come back any time, share it with friends.
« You will not leave this city the way you entered it. »
How does it work?
Explore the city on foot solving puzzles based on real historical facts. No locked room — the city is your playground.
No app to download. Play directly from your browser. Guided step by step, at your own pace.
One purchase per phone is enough. Play with family, friends or as a couple — everyone participates.
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears and speaks to you in your language. Golden letters magically write themselves on the wall to reveal the puzzle answer.
Stuck? Progressive personalised hints. The character repeats the puzzle on demand — at your own pace.
French, English, German, Spanish, Italian + 27 other languages auto-translated by AI.
Want to go deeper?
Places tied to your adventure — optional entries, totally up to you · per person
The Route
8 stages through the city
The gameplay: AR, camera, hidden clues
At each stop, open your phone camera: an augmented reality character appears on the façade and speaks your language. Hunt the clue — it materializes as golden letters on the real wall or floats in front of you. When you find it, the phone vibrates, an AR chest opens and reveals your answer fragment. 8 stops, 8 clues to find with the camera, 1 final code.
The stops on your route are a surprise. You'll discover them one by one, guided by your phone, starting from the meeting point.
How does it work with a group?
One phone = one team. Pick the number at checkout (1 to 10).
Solo, or a group sharing the screen. One team, one code.
Family, couple, or 2-3 teams competing. Each phone has its own code and its own score.
Friends, bachelor/bachelorette, small office outing — each their own code, each plays at their own pace. Tiered pricing then €6 flat per phone from the 6th.
- ✓All codes are independent — play at the same time OR separately, each team advances at its own pace.
- ✓Leaderboard between your teams + global game leaderboard — each score appears in the public ranking.
- ✓More than 10 phones or need a personalized quest? Discover custom tours.
Ready to live this adventure?
Get my code · 12€No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒 Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
Practical info
Why this route?
Living History
Immerse yourself in the founding events of New Zealand and the struggle for Māori sovereignty.
Māori Art
Admire ancestral carvings, traditional architecture, and motifs that tell the soul of the Tangata Whenua.
Sacred Nature
Explore the majestic landscapes of the Bay of Islands and the sites that witnessed the signing of the Treaty.
Be strong, be brave, be steadfast.
A call to resilience in the face of adversity and to the preservation of heritage.
9 features nobody else has
OddballTrip combines gamified play, augmented reality and AI. All our competitors deliver 1 or 2 of these angles. We deliver all 5.
AR treasure chest
A golden chest floats in front of the monument. Tap → opening animation → reveals a secret message.
AR narrator character
Point your phone at the façade: a knight, witch, monk, sailor, detective or ghost appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language with their dedicated ElevenLabs voice (each character has their own unique voice) — your living guide.
Magic golden letters
At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's the puzzle answer. An unforgettable visual effect.
Written + audio narration
Every puzzle available as text AND voice-over: read at your own pace or listen eyes-free while walking. Great in groups and for accessibility.
360° radar + vibration
A mini-radar shows the target even behind you, and the phone vibrates when you aim in the right direction.
Heritage storytelling
Every puzzle weaves in real historical facts (architecture, era, anecdotes). You learn by playing — like a gamified audioguide.
Progressive AI hints
3 levels of AI-generated help: vibe → where to look → answer format. You're never stuck.
AR selfie memento
At the end of the game, capture a selfie with OddballTrip banner + mascot, shareable on Instagram, TikTok.
Zero app to install
PWA technology: open the link, it plays in your browser. Same quality as an app, no App Store hassle.
Frequently asked questions
Q01Do I need to download an app?
No, never. You get a link, you click, it plays in your browser. That's the point of a PWA: same as an app, without the hassle.
Q02Does it work offline?
GPS yes (handled by your phone). Maps yes (tiles cached). AI and hints need an intermittent 4G connection.
Q03How long does a game take?
1 h 30 to 2 h 30 depending on your pace. The timer runs but only for the leaderboard — you play at your own tempo.
Q04What happens if I'm stuck?
You get 3 levels of hints per puzzle (increasing penalty). If truly stuck, you can skip the step (45-min penalty but you keep going).
Q05What's the age range?
From 12 without an adult, from 6 with an adult reading puzzles. Works for families, couples, friend groups, companies.
Q06What if my city isn't in the catalogue?
Pre-register or contact us — we'll email you as soon as your city is live.
Q07What is augmented reality exactly?
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language. At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's your answer. After each puzzle solved, a treasure chest floats in front of you. Seeing is believing.
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Your turn to play
Immerse yourself in the heart of the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, where New Zealand's destiny was sealed one February day in 1840.
1 purchase = 1 phone. Play several on the same device.
No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
🪙+24 TripCoins granted with your booking
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