Tawhai Falls is certainly not the first thing you think of when the words Tongariro National Park are mentioned. However, this little know gem is one place you are going to want to know about. Bright turquoise water, a short walk and plenty of space to relax make Tawhai Falls one of the best places to visit when travelling to Tongariro National Park.
Often referred to as Gollum’s pool due to it being used in Sir Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings, the view of the waterfall is well known and many people are amazed that Tawhai Falls looks better in real life than in the movie.
Wether you have a full day or just half an hour, a visit to Tawhai Falls is well worth the visit and might well be one of your most memorable places in the Tongariro National Park area.
Where are Tawhai Falls located?
Tawhai Falls are located in Tongariro National Park on the North Island of New Zealand. If you are driving from Auckland or Wellington it will take you the same amount of time to get there by car. A 4 hour drive south from Auckland or a 4 hour drive north from Wellington.
Tongariro National Park is most famous for the Tongariro Crossing, a 19.4 kilometer alpine walk over Mount Tongariro. The stunning landscape features Mount Rupehu, Mount Ngauruhoe and Mount Tongariro as well as many beautiful rivers, lakes and waterfalls including Tawhai Falls.
The carpark and walkway entrance to Tawhai Falls, are located just off State Highway 48 a 5 minute drive from Whakapapa Village or 10 minutes from National Park. Being so easily accessible makes the walk a great option if you are just looking for a quick stop to check out the local scenery.
Exploring around Tawhai Falls
While it is possible to make a quick stop to check out Tawhai Falls, it is also very easy to spend a few hours hanging out at the water falls. Pack a picnic lunch and spend some time looking around and enjoying the surrounding nature.
The Walk
Once you have parked you will see the entrance to the walk at the far end of the carpark. It is recommended to have shoes that are comfortable to walk in, however, there is no need for any hiking boots or shoes.
Walking down to Tawhai falls is a very easy walk. Taking only 10 minutes to reach the falls the track itself is well maintained and easy to follow. There are a few stairs to walk up and down, but not enough to worry about unless someone has mobility issues.
There are lots of little side tracks you will see along the way where others have walked off the track to see if they can get a different view of Tawhai Falls. It is recommended to stay on the main track, but if you choose to go off to the side please makes sure to do so safely and not to damage any of the native plants growing in the area.
One you make it to the falls, you can make your way over the rocks to get a better view. If it is difficult to climb over the rocks, there is a side track at the bottom of the stairs which goes to the same spot.
The Waterfall
Tawhai Falls is not the largest of the waterfalls you will find in the area, standing at only 13 meters high. While height may not be a stand out, the colour of the water rushing over the waterfall certainly is with the bright turquoise blue water being the first thing you see when you arrive at Tawhai Falls.
There is a large pool at the bottom of the waterfall where all the bright coloured water collects. It is safe to swim in here but be warned the water is very cold. Is is because all the water in the river leading up the the falls comes directly from the snow melt off Mount Ruapehu. A quick dip is doable, but it is hard to stay in much longer.
There are many different view points that are accessible to check out the falls. As well as spots up the top you can also go further down the river and look back up towards Tawhai Falls.
Relaxing on the river side
Tawhai Falls has a small beach area which is perfect for those who want to hang out and relax. To get to this spot turn left at the bottom of the stair and you will see the beach area just below. It is north facing and gets plenty of sun on a hot summers day.
There is not a whole lot of space in this area but there is enough to fit a few groups of people without it feeling too crowded. If there is not enough room on the beach, there are plenty of rocks around which are comfortable enough to sit on.
Tawhai Falls turned Gollum’s Pool
Tawhai Falls is most recognisable to fans of the Lord of the Rings. The falls are used as the setting for Gollum’s Pool where Faramir is watching Gollum fish. You will see many reenactments of the scene in photos on Instagram and other social media.
Why was Tawhai falls used in the film
New Zealand’s landscape perfectly matched how Middle Earth was described in the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films, it was the most obvious choice for New Zealand born director Sir Peter Jackson. A large amount of filming for the movies was done in Tongariro National Park, with the main backdrop of Mount Ngauruhoe as Mount Doom.
Tawhai Falls, being located in Tonagriro National Park was the perfect choice for Gollum’s pool due to its picturesque waterfall and large pool at the bottom. The rugged rocks and bush surrounding the falls also helps create a Middle Earth look to the scene.
How has the movie effected the falls
Not only have the films been a big draw card for tourists to come to visit the sets and film locations, but just the exposure of how beautiful the scenery is has been huge for New Zealand tourism. There was a 50% increase in arrivals to New Zealand because of the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films.
Tawhai Fall’s is one of these locations, and has many visitors come to see Gollum’s Pool. Due to other popular locations being nearby, visitors can see a whole lot of spots in one area. This is great for local business in the Tongariro National Park area.
However you will be pleased to know that the films have not lead to Tawhai Fall’s becoming too busy and packed. Visitors generally come at all different times of the day and it is quite unlikely that the fall’s will be too crowded.
Where to Stay near Tawhai Falls
There are many different styles of accomodation you can stay at near Tawhai Falls. The two main small towns to stay in are Whakapapa Village and National Park. Both have different types of accomodation to suit all types of budgets.
Whakapapa Village is the closest to Tawhai falls only being a 5 minute drive away. There are accomodation options on offer here, the Chateau Tongariro Hotel, Skotel Alpine Resort and the Whakapapa Holiday Park. All 3 are suited to different types of travellers depending on budget and located less than a few hundred meters apart.
The other option is to stay a bit further way from Tawhai Falls in National Park. From here is takes only 10 minutes to get to the falls and has a lot more accomodation options including holiday homes, hotels and a campground. Prices here are also a lot cheaper and the added bonus of having a small supermarket makes food easier to cook at the accomodation.
What else is there to do in the Tawhai falls area
Tawhai Falls is just one of the many incredible things to see and do in Tongariro National Park. There is everything from short walks to multi-day hikes and adrenaline filled activities. It’s no surprise that it is the most popular national park in New Zealand.
Taranaki falls – Tawhai falls neighbour
Taranaki Falls is another great short walk located near Tawhai Falls. This walk is slightly longer taking around 2 hours to complete. Taranaki Falls is much bigger than Tawhai Falls at a height of 20 meters and is surrounded by more alpine terrain that the bush landscape at Tawhai falls.
The walk starts right in Whakapapa Village which makes it super easy to get to with the start and end of the track being about 50 meters apart. The walk to Taranaki Falls is a bit harder than the small Tawhai falls walk as there is significant stair walk required to get to the top of the waterfall on your way back. However, as long as you take your time, most people will be able to get up the stairs with no problems.
The waterfall itself is surrounded by beautiful scenery with small bush shrubs and rocks of all sorts of colours. Make sure to walk down off the track and to the base of the waterfall. There are plenty of little side tracks you will see that people have walked down. It is even possible to walk in behind the waterfall which makes for a great photo opportunity.
Overall, Taranaki Falls is far bigger than Tawhai Falls but it is a lot harder to get to and is not possible if you only have a short amount of time. If you have a few days in the area, doing both of the walks is a great idea as they are both so different from each other and not to be missed.
Tongariro Crossing
The Tongariro Crossing is one of the most popular walks in New Zealand and has been voted the top day walk in the whole country. Being at length of 19.4 kilometers, this walk is not the easiest of walks, but it is one of the most rewarding.
The scenery on the Tongariro crossing is unmatched with a huge variety of different views out to Mount Ngauruhoe, the Red Crater and Emerald Lakes. The walk is best enjoyed when you are well prepared. Ensure you have all the correct clothing and shoes to wear for the walk. Packing enough food and water is also very important for the walk.
The starting point of the Tongariro Crossing the located a bit further away from Tawhai falls. There is also no cark parking spaces at the start and you must book a shuttle that will take you to the start and bring you back at the end.
Most people head to Tongariro National Park to do the Tongariro Crossing. It is one of those walks that you never forget and will have to tell everyone about when you get back. If it’s not already on your list of things to do while in Tongariro National park, it definitely should be added.
Mount Ruapehu
Mount Ruapehu is a popular spot in both summer and in winter and is most well known for being the top place for skiing and snowboarding in the North Island. It has two ski fields including Whakapapa and Tūroa. Whakapapa is the closest to Tawhai Falls and easily reached from Whakapapa Village.
Both of these locations are also good spots to visit in the summer with a variety of different walks that allow you to explore different parts of the mountain. Whakapapa is especially popular due to the Sky Waka. The Sky Waka takes you up the mountain the 2020 meters above sea level and offers panoramic views of Tongariro National Park.
A visit to Mount Ruapehu is a great activity do to along with a visit to Tawhai Falls. Both offer totally different landscapes and show off the best that Tongariro National Park has to offer.
Tawhai Falls – an adventure for everyone
Tawhai Falls is a great spot for all to visit with its easy accessibility and beautiful scenery. The local area of Tongariro also offers a range of other activities to turn your visit to Tawhai Falls into a fun get away for everyone to enjoy.
