Tawhai Falls walk

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Whakapapa Village

8 Rankers Reviews

7 Face-to-Face

14 Tongariro / National Park Village

Analysis

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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.

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

Feature

Value

Info

Organisation

DOC Central North Island

Central government organisation

Location

North Island ▷ Ruapehu ▷ Tongariro / National Park Village

Feature	Value	Info
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
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
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.

Reviews

8 Rankers Reviews

Analysis

Quick Quotes

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

Rating Distribution

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%

Reviewed about 5 years ago and experienced in February 2017

9/10

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

Steve Jackson

United Kingdom
Reviewed over 5 years ago and experienced in November 2016

8/10

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

Stuart

Australia
Reviewed over 5 years ago and experienced in November 2016

9/10

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

Megan Telford

Australia
Reviewed over 5 years ago

8/10

A short and easy walk to a nice waterfall.

Lucie Revay
Reviewed about 8 years ago and experienced in February 2014

8/10

Short walks to a great waterfall.

Herman Schulz

Netherlands
Reviewed about 8 years ago and experienced in February 2014

9/10

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

Janina Zwerver

Netherlands
Reviewed over 12 years ago and experienced in November 2009

10/10

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.

Emily and Alex

United Kingdom

DOC Managed

Thanks to all the good people working for the NZ Department of Conservation - for all your hard work - making NZ more beautiful, accessable and healthy! Cheers 😍

Cymen Crick

Rankers Owner

Ruapehu ▷ Tongariro / National Park Village

Land Activities

4WD Adventures

Bungy Jumping / Swing

Canyoning

Caving

Cycling & Mountain Biking

Horse Trekking

Outside the Square

Railbiking / Railcarting

Snow and Ice

Sphereing

Walking and Trekking

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Boat Cruises

Diving

Fresh Water Canoeing / Kayaking

Jet Boating

Marine Animal Encounters

Air Activities

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i-SITE Visitor Information Centres

Visitor Information Centres

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Natural Attractions

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North Island

Northland

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Tairāwhiti Gisborne

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Ruapehu

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Taranaki

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Wellington Region

South Island

Marlborough

Nelson Region

West Coast

Kaikoura Region

Canterbury

Central Otago

Mount Cook - MacKenzie

Wanaka Region

Queenstown Region

Coastal Otago

Fiordland

Southland