Tawhai Falls (Gollum's Pool)
Tawhai Falls
A small waterfall just a 10-minute walk from the roadside, and the filming location of Gollum fishing in The Lord of the Rings.
Tawhai Falls is beside State Highway 48, the road to Whakapapa Village. From the car park, a walk along a forest path takes about 10 to 15 minutes. The roughly 13-meter waterfall drops from a lava cliff into a deep pool. The scene in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, where Gollum fishes in the 'Forbidden Pool', was filmed here. It is a good place for a short stop along the way. Entry is free. In summer some people swim, but the water is extremely cold.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Whakapapa Village & Visitor Centre
- Silica Rapids
- Taranaki Falls
- Whakapapa Ski Area & Sky Waka
- Tama Lakes
- Tongariro Northern Circuit
- Mount Ngauruhoe
- Mount Ruapehu