Mangawhero Falls Walking Track Tongariro National Park Hike Ohakune New Zealand

Tongariro National Park has many wonders. Some are impossible to miss, like massive volcanoes, and other, like beautiful waterfalls, are waiting to be discovered. Mangawhero Falls plunges 25 meters (80 feet) in a beautiful setting. The waterfall is below Mount Ruapehu, New Zealand’s largest volcano and the highest peak on the North Island. Reach the waterfall on an easy 300-meter round trip walk that will only take about 10 minutes.

Start from a turnout along Ohakune Mountain Road, about 15 kilometers north of the town of Ohakune on the south side of Tongariro National Park. This very short track heads south down the right side of a tumbling stream, Mangawhero River. The water’s superb source, Mount Ruapehu, can be seen upstream.

Mount Ruapehu
Mount Ruapehu above the Mangawhero River

The walking track quickly reaches an overlook at the brink of the falls. The water disappears, dropping off a cliff into the canyon below. To really see the waterfall, continue down the path along the edge of the cliffs above the river. Soon you will arrive at an overlook where the path ends. Stand behind the railing and enjoy a full view of Mangawhero Falls.

The single-drop waterfall leaps from a cliff of volcanic rock and falls into a pool. When the river isn’t at full strength, wind can catch the sinewy waterfall and blow it out from the rock face. Mount Ruapehu rises up above Mangawhero Falls, allowing you to get an impressive photo of the tall waterfall and the glacier-covered mountain behind. If you’re lucky, a rainbow may even appear along the waterfall to further enhance the scenery.

Mangawhero Falls
Mangawhero Falls

No route goes down to the pool at the base of the falls (although The Lord of the Rings did use this section of the river as a filming location), so simply return to the car park once you’ve taken in the waterfall from the viewpoint. A visit to Mangawhero Falls delivers lots of natural beauty in a short walk.

Dogs and bikes are not allowed. No fee or permit is required to visit Mangawhero Falls, so get out and enjoy! To see Tongariro National Park‘s biggest waterfall, check out nearby Waitonga Falls.

Directions: Take State Highway 49 to the center of Ohakune and turn north up Goldfinch Street, which is directly across from the i-SITE. Drive 1.1 kilometers and continue onto Mangawhero Terrace. After 1.2 kilometers, cross Old Station Road, pass under railroad tracks, and continue north up Ohakune Mountain Road. It is 13 kilometers up this road to the track to Mangawhero Falls, beginning from a large gravel turnout on the right. For an even closer look at Mount Ruapehu, drive another 3 kilometers up to the chairlifts at road’s end.

Trailhead address: Ohakune Mountain Road, Tongariro National Park, Manawatu-Wanganui, 4691, New Zealand
Trailhead coordinates: -39.319218, 175.502732 (39° 19′ 09.18″S 175° 30′ 09.83″E)

Track Map
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Elevation Profile
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You may also view a regional map of surrounding New Zealand tracks, campgrounds, and lodging.

Photos

Mount RuapehuMount RuapehuMangawhero FallsMangawhero FallsMangawhero FallsMangawhero FallsMangawhero FallsMangawhero FallsMangawhero FallsMangawhero FallsMangawhero FallsMangawhero FallsMount RuapehuMount Ruapehu

These photos were taken in February of 2014. Click to enlarge.
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Tagged with · Free Trails · New Zealand Department of Conservation · New Zealand National Parks · Ohakune · Waterfalls · Tongairo National Park
Distance: 0.3 kilometers / 0.2 miles · Elevation change: 10 meters / 30 feet

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