Tawhai Falls walk

88

Analysis

8 Rankers Reviews

7 Face-to-Face

11 Tongariro / National Park Village

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Marios Gavalas

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Tongariro / National Park Village, Ruapehu

Camping near Tongariro / National Park Village

Photos

Nick Bramhall

Birds eye view - Tawhai Falls

Nick Bramhall

zoom

Nick Bramhall

Tawhai Falls, full frontal

Gollum?

Information

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.

Walking Track

Access

Tawhai Falls Walk is signposted 3.9 km south of Whakapapa Village, where there’s a small parking bay.

Track

It’s an easy stroll through mountain toatoa and stunted beech forest to the waterfall.

Geology

The 13-metre high falls tumble over an ancient lava flow.

European History

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.

Details

Feature

Value

Info

Organisation

DOC Central North Island

Central government organisation

Location

North Island ▷ Ruapehu ▷ Tongariro / National Park Village

Categories

Walking
Free

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-39.1822397629457

175.527362823486

Latitude
-39.1822397629457
Longitude
175.527362823486

Feature	Value	Info
Track Length	From 500m to 1km Track Length What is the physical length of this track? From 500m to 1km	Track Length What is the physical length of this track? From 500m to 1km
Track Duration	10 to 30mins Track Duration How long does it take to walk this track on average? 10 to 30mins	Track Duration How long does it take to walk this track on average? 10 to 30mins
Track Difficulty	Easiest walk Track Difficulty Considering the track's terrain, safety, facilities - how hard is this walk to complete? Easiest walk	Track Difficulty Considering the track's terrain, safety, facilities - how hard is this walk to complete? Easiest walk
Payment Requirement	Free access/participation Payment Requirement Is there a cost for this experience or is it free? Free access/participation The experience costs no money to access or take part in.	Payment Requirement Is there a cost for this experience or is it free? Free access/participation The experience costs no money to access or take part in.
Large Vehicle Access	Large vehicle accessible Large Vehicle Access Can large vehicles such as motorhomes, housebuses and caravans gain access? Large vehicle accessible The site is accessible with large vehicles such as motorhomes and 5th wheelers.	Large Vehicle Access Can large vehicles such as motorhomes, housebuses and caravans gain access? Large vehicle accessible The site is accessible with large vehicles such as motorhomes and 5th wheelers.
DOC Track Category	Easy access short walk DOC Track Category What type of category does this walking track fall into (as defined by the NZ Department of Conservation)? Easy access short walk Easy walking for up to an hour. Track is well formed, with an even surface. Few or no steps or slopes. Suitable for people of all abilities and fitness. Stream and river crossings are bridged. Walking shoes required.	DOC Track Category What type of category does this walking track fall into (as defined by the NZ Department of Conservation)? Easy access short walk Easy walking for up to an hour. Track is well formed, with an even surface. Few or no steps or slopes. Suitable for people of all abilities and fitness. Stream and river crossings are bridged. Walking shoes required.
Disabled Access	No disabled access Disabled Access Does this location provide disabled access? No disabled access This location does not provide access for wheelchairs.	Disabled Access Does this location provide disabled access? No disabled access This location does not provide access for wheelchairs.
Crowd Factor	Some people Crowd Factor How crowded is this place usually? Some people This place usually draws a average amount of people. You won’t have difficulties to move along, but you won’t have this place to yourself, either.	Crowd Factor How crowded is this place usually? Some people This place usually draws a average amount of people. You won’t have difficulties to move along, but you won’t have this place to yourself, either.
Track Managing Organisation	DOC Managed Track Managing Organisation What type of organisation operates this walking track? DOC Managed This track is managed by the Department of Conservation. DOC is a New Zealand government organisation.	Track Managing Organisation What type of organisation operates this walking track? DOC Managed This track is managed by the Department of Conservation. DOC is a New Zealand government organisation.

Nearby

Reviews

Easy to get to and a great spot to have a look.
Short walks to a great waterfall.
Beautiful falls, about 25/30drop.
A short and easy walk to a nice waterfall.

Rating	Count
10/10	2	25%
9/10	3	38%
8/10	3	38%
7/10	0	0%
6/10	0	0%
5/10	0	0%
4/10	0	0%
3/10	0	0%
2/10	0	0%
1/10	0	0%

4.5/5

Stumbled across this little walk (15 minutes) during a lunch break and enjoyed pictures in the sun by the falls.
Easy to get to.

Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in February 2017

Steve Jackson
4.0/5

Easy to get to and a great spot to have a look.
Spectacular waterfall!

Reviewed almost 8 years ago and experienced in November 2016

Stuart
4.5/5

Really nice, short walk to a beautiful waterfall.
Very easy walk. Pretty scenery at the end.

Reviewed almost 8 years ago and experienced in November 2016

Megan Telford
4.0/5

A short and easy walk to a nice waterfall.

Reviewed almost 8 years ago

Lucie Revay
4.0/5

Short walks to a great waterfall.

Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in February 2014

Herman Schulz
4.5/5

Only a short hike, but a beautiful waterfall at the end.

Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in February 2014

Janina Zwerver
5.0/5

Beautiful falls, about 25/30drop.
Cold water, rainbows in spray. If mad, you can jump from the top and land in the deep pool underneath.

Reviewed over 14 years ago and experienced in November 2009

Emily and Alex