Marios Gavalas
Author And Researcher
I'm Marios, delivering the best of Aotearoa's nature walks to your device.
I've personally walked hundreds of New Zealand's tracks and spent months in libraries uncovering interesting information on New Zealand/Aotearoa. And you'll find a slice of that research on this page - enjoy!
800 m return | 15 minutes return
A little beaut of a waterfall, tricking over an old lava bluff. The sort of place Gollum would hang out.
The bottom of the waterfall is a deep, clear pool - adrenalin hooligans have been known to hurl themselves off the top into the blue unknown...
A pretty spot to stretch the legs on the way to Whakapapa.
Tawhai Falls Walk is signposted 3.9 km south of Whakapapa Village, where there’s a small parking bay.
It’s an easy stroll through mountain toatoa and stunted beech forest to the waterfall.
The 13-metre high falls tumble over an ancient lava flow.
Some people have nicknamed the plunge pool ‘Gollums Pool’, as it was used in the filming when Faramir and his archers were watching Gollum fish. This is on account of the rock formations at the base of the falls, which resemble stone trolls from the Hobbit.
Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
DOC Central North IslandCentral government organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Ruapehu ▷ Tongariro / National Park Village |
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Categories |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |