Ending an Epic Day in Middle-earth

At the end of a long and epic day—driving the Forgotten World Highway and searching for Mount Doom and Mordor—we decided there was only one fitting way to finish our journey: a visit to Gollum’s Pool. Why not?

A Night in Ohakune

We had booked a motel room for the night at the tiny Alpine Motel in the small town of Ohakune. In winter, Ohakune becomes a busy destination for skiers heading up to the slopes of Mount Ruapehu, but on this evening it felt quiet and perfectly placed for our Middle-earth adventure.

An Easy Walk to Mangawhero Falls

The drive up to Mangawhero Falls is straightforward (Google Maps makes it easy), and the walk from the car park to the falls is just a short and easy few hundred metres.

You might be mistaken in thinking the falls themselves were used for the famous scene where Gollum catches a fish and is betrayed by Frodo. While the scene was inspired by Mangawhero Falls, it was actually filmed on a soundstage.

Where Gollum Really Lurked

Just above the falls, in the stream behind the fence, another memorable scene was filmed. This is where Gollum is seen chasing a jumping fish in the stream, only to be called a “stinker” by Sam in The Two Towers.

Into Mordor: The Road to Turoa

From there, we continued driving uphill into vast, Mordor-like lava fields, eventually reaching the Turoa Ski Resort. The views were epic, with sweeping plains stretching out around Mount Ruapehu—an unforgettable way to end the day.