Mangawhero Falls - Gollum's Pool & Ithilien

Mangawhero Falls is a beautiful waterfall located in Tongariro National Park near Ohakune in the Central North Island region of New Zealand.

The falls are a 25-meter plunge waterfall on the slopes of Mt Ruapehu along the Ohakune Mtn Road. The location is easily accessible and can be reached by a short walk along the Mangawhero River Track. The walk is between 3-5 minutes to the lookout point.

The falls are a great example of a plunge waterfall, where water falls vertically with great force into a rocky grotto below. The spray from the crashing action of the water has helped to create the deep recess behind it in a typical process of waterfall formation. The falls are surrounded by a beautiful beech forest, which is stunted due to its proximity to the bushline. Visitors can enjoy excellent views of the waterfall close to the road. The falls are best viewed from the overlook, which provides a panoramic view of both the falls and the expanse downslope. Since the falls are located in Tongariro National Park, visitors can also enjoy other activities such as hiking, skiing, and snowboarding.

Mangawhero Falls is a popular tourist destination and is known for its association with The Lord of the Rings movie franchise. The falls were used as a filming location for the Forbidden Pool scene in The Two Towers, where Gollum hunts for fish. The location is instantly recognizable as the site where Frodo and Faramir see Gollum enter the Forbidden Pool and catch a fish. The falls are commonly known as Gollum's Pool.

In summary, It is a popular tourist destination and is known for its association with The Lord of the Rings movie franchise. Visitors can enjoy excellent views of the waterfall close to the road and can also engage in other activities such as hiking, skiing, and snowboarding.