Orienteering South Australia (OSA) is bringing a fresh and fun way to experience orienteering with the development of a high-quality MAZE-O product — a compact, exciting format designed to bring orienteering closer to the community.

The new MAZE-O equipment was successfully tested last weekend, ahead of its public debut at the Nature Festival in Adelaide this weekend. The maze-style course offers a quick, engaging challenge suitable for all ages and abilities, providing a perfect first taste of orienteering in an accessible and entertaining setting.

“MAZE-O makes orienteering visible, social, and fun,” said MAZE-O organiser Erica. “It’s a fantastic way to introduce new people to the sport — from families to festival goers — and to spark curiosity about navigation and outdoor adventure.”

The initiative aims to encourage participants to take the next step on their orienteering journey by joining a Learn to Orienteer program or trying a local event. By connecting this exciting first experience with opportunities to continue, OSA hopes to grow participation and engagement across the community.

The establishment of MAZE-O was made possible through a grant from the Moira Whiteside Bequest, which supports projects that “Increase participation and engagement of the Australian orienteering community to grow participation across the wider Australian community and to enhance the participation experience for participants.”

With its debut at the Nature Festival, MAZE-O is set to be a vibrant new gateway into the world of orienteering. It will be a great introduction of MAZE-O in Australia and will help shape a model for similar setups to be developed across the country in the future.

Find more information, get tickets or discover the Nature Festival at https://www.naturefestival.org.au/event/orienteering-navigation-adventures-with-maze

KID-O will also be at the Nature Festival: https://www.naturefestival.org.au/event/kid-o-navigation-fun-in-the-park-for-kids