Hijinx Hotel

The Verdict

Late in 2019, the luxurious Hotel Chadstone opened its doors which granted guests convenient access to unwind in the rooftop pool or indulge in a relaxing spa treatment following a long day of shopping. Fast forward to 2023, and Australia's largest shopping centre has now opened its second hotel on the opposite side of the precinct. But this time, it comes with a slight twist. 

The Hijinx Hotel, which is situated in Chadstone's brand-new district known as The Social Quarter, the faux-accommodation is designed for guests to play, not stay. Led by the FunLab team (Holey Moley, Strike Bowling, Archie Brothers)  the new destination set in a quirky New York-style hotel, the immersive-interactive game is made up of 10 highly game-ified challenge rooms designed for groups of two to six players. 

On your experience, enter the marble-clad lobby and expect to be assigned a set of 5 random challenge rooms. Score as many points on a leaderboard as possible in a set time before moving to the next room. You’ll need to bring your A-Game, as the simple task assigned will gradually become more difficult as time ticks down.  

Once your challenges have been completed, be sure to head to the terraced outdoor bar. Snack on a cheese sando with triple-layered mozzarella and cheddar cheese and grab a side of corn-cob ribs with fresh lime, herbs and smoked salt. Quench your thirst with a signature Hijinx Hotel cocktail, such as the White Choc Drop (tequila, white chocolate and passionfruit number), or the Bell Hop (a fireball and red bull mix to recharge those energy levels). 

Image credit: Hijinx Hotel (supplied)