If you’re looking for a very short walk with a big payoff in Tongariro National Park, the Tawhai Falls Walk is hard to beat.
Taking around 15 minutes return, this easy walk leads through native forest to a beautiful 13-metre waterfall cascading over an ancient lava flow into a deep blue pool.
For many visitors, Tawhai Falls is better known as Gollum’s Pool — the filming location linked to the Forbidden Pool scene in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.
Located just a short drive from Whakapapa Village, it’s also one of the easiest LOTR locations to visit in the North Island.
But does the real Tawhai Falls actually resemble the scene from the movie? I’ll compare the two later and share my verdict.
Getting to Tawhai Falls
The trailhead is located along State Highway 48 (SH48) in Tongariro National Park, about 3 minutes (3.8 km) drive from Whakapapa Village and Tongariro National Park Visitor Centre.
If you’re driving from State Highway 47 onto SH48, keep an eye out for the Tawhai Falls signposted stop before reaching Whakapapa Village. There are two small car parks on either side of the road, and the trail begins just a few steps from the roadside.
Because of its location along the main access road into the park, Tawhai Falls makes an easy stop if you’re heading toward Whakapapa Village.
Trail Overview
Tawhai Falls Walk:
- Distance: 800 m return
- Time: ~15 minutes
- Difficulty: Easy
- Start: State Highway 48 (Tawhai Falls Carpark)
The Walk to Tawhai Falls
The walk to Tawhai Falls is very short, which makes it an easy stop to include in a broader Tongariro itinerary. From the car park, the track descends gently through mountain tōatoa and beech forest before reaching the first viewpoint.
About 15 metres to the right of the main trail, a small side path leads to a lookout where you can see the waterfall from above, along with a long stretch of the Whakapapanui Stream flowing through the forest below.
For the best view of the waterfall, it’s worth continuing further down the track toward the river. From the riverbank you’ll get a much better perspective of the falls as they tumble over the ancient lava flow into the pool below.
If you want to get closer to the base, a short section of light rock scrambling is required, but it’s definitely worth the effort.
Even though Tawhai Falls isn’t particularly tall, the volume and power of the water make it an impressive sight.
Just keep in mind that DOC advises caution around the river, especially after heavy rain when water levels can rise quickly and rocks near the water may be slippery.
Tawhai Falls in The Lord of the Rings
In The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Tawhai Falls appears as the Forbidden Pool, the hidden waterfall where Gollum slips down to catch a fish while Faramir and his rangers watch from above with drawn bows.
The scene unfolds as Frodo tries to warn Gollum about the archers, eventually persuading him to climb out of the water moments before Faramir’s men capture him.
It’s one of the more memorable moments in the film, and it’s easy to see why the filmmakers chose this location — the waterfall plunging into a deep pool surrounded by dark volcanic rock fits the description of a hidden forest pool perfectly.
Was the Scene Actually Filmed Here?
The short answer is yes — but not exactly as it appears in the movie.
Wide exterior shots of the waterfall and surrounding forest were filmed here to establish the setting where Gollum sneaks down to catch a fish while Faramir and his rangers watch from above.
However, like many scenes in the trilogy, what you see on screen is not a single uninterrupted shot filmed entirely on location. The filmmakers often combined real landscapes with studio filming and visual effects to create the final sequence.
Online discussions among LOTR fans frequently point out that while the wide shots match Tawhai Falls, the closer action involving Gollum in the water was likely filmed on a controlled set, allowing the crew to safely film Andy Serkis’s motion-capture performance and manage lighting and camera angles.
This production approach was common throughout the trilogy — real New Zealand landscapes provided the dramatic setting, while studio work and visual effects helped complete the scene.
That’s why when you visit today, the location feels instantly recognisable — even if the exact camera angles from the film don’t perfectly match the view you see in real life.
Final Thoughts
The Tawhai Falls Walk is one of those rare stops that delivers a lot in very little time. In just a short stroll you get a beautiful waterfall, a peaceful forest setting, and the chance to stand at a real Lord of the Rings filming location.
If you’re already exploring Tongariro National Park or heading toward Whakapapa Village, it’s a quick detour that’s absolutely worth making.
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