“Why on earth would someone want to be locked in a room and try and get out,” I told my friend, who disagreed with my sentiments and thought it was a fabulous idea.

Seven Illawarra Mercury staff also thought it was great so jumped at the chance to try it out with me ahead of it’s opening on Thursday.

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You need at least four people – and a maximum of eight – as each room has different clues to find to be able to work your way out.

As soon as you step into the venue on Crown Lane the decor transports you back in time – which is the idea.

Like a computer game, the theme surrounds Professor B and his fiance Tessadora. Something happens to the Professor’s beloved and so begins a series of time-travel events (this is where we come in).

Our team put on special time travel goggles before being led into one of the small chambers.

The door closed and for a split second it felt dark and creepy. Our first challenge was to turn on the lights, once we worked that out the fun kicked in.

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For the next 60 minutes we fumbled our way through different clues finding ways to unlock more and more clues until finally we unlocked the door and could return to the outside world.

One of the Professor’s helpers did need to step in towards the end to assist, mainly due to a Mercury photographer waiting to take pictures. It turns out this was one of the easier rooms so I’m quite scared to think how tricky the puzzles will be in the others.

All rooms are themed differently – from an asylum, to a mummy’s tomb, to a medieval dream – with different difficulty levels.

If getting your MacGuyver on and worming your way out of a small cold room isn’t your thing, you can always hire out a karaoke lounge or enjoy a cocktail at the bar.

For more information visit www.breakoutbar.com.au. 

“[It] had the ability to make you feel simultaneously like a  genius and an idiot,” Grace Reilly.

“I was a bit freaked out to begin with … however the mystery and adventure the Escape Room team have created in finding the clues to assist your escape are lots of fun solving especially when you are working as a group,” Jenny Dus.

“You're completely immersed in trying to solve the puzzles and experience a range of emotions,” Jessica McKeirnan.

“I won't be satisfied until I complete every single room,” Katie Cornock.