Mangawhero Falls

A waterfall over a lava cliff beside the Ohakune Mountain Road. A few minutes' walk takes you to the viewpoint, and it is also a filming location for The Lord of the Rings.

Mangawhero Falls is halfway up the Ohakune Mountain Road. After parking, it is about a 5-minute walk to the viewing platform. The waterfall pours from layered lava cliffs into a round pool, surrounded by alpine scrub and beech forest, often with Mount Ruapehu in the background. Some scenes of Gollum in Ithilien from The Lord of the Rings were filmed nearby. Entry is free, and it is often visited together with Waitonga Falls and the Tūroa ski area.

Opening hours

All day

Waterfall · Short trips · Lord of the Rings

Nearby sights

Places to eat nearby

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