We did the easier half of this circular walk, but probably better than the return which is steeper and passes through the forest so less interesting. It took us about an hour and three quarters to reach the falls and back. Apart from that obvious attraction there’s a semi-camouflaged toilet which is a sight worth seeing! The pathways are well-maintained and there’s continuing investment which is impressive. The landscape is open and varied with lots of geological points of interest.

I recommend this hike to everyone who wants to experience the national park, but doesn't want anything too long or too difficult. I and my boyfriend used the falls as an end point on our short walk in the national park. Depending which road do you take as the first one, you walk through the fields with ricks at the beginning, and then through the forest with a river and then the dry hot field at the end, or vice versa.

Great walk through various landscapes. Average fitness required, some uneven terrain and a few steps at the end but we'll worth it. Takes about 2hrs and easy access from chateau area

An excellent short walk through the bushes as well as the open space. It's a really easy walk for about 2 hours return to see the falls. There is a toilet just before the falls, in case if you need to know. There wasn't much water when we went though, hopefully during winter it will be bigger.

Nice easy walking trail. Easy to reach. It takes around 2 hours to reach the falls.

One of the cooler hikes in Tongariro (besides of course the Alpine Crossing track)! Right about 2 hours, easy going with lots of boardwalks. Scenery is pretty varied, from rain forest to volcanic plains. Tip: bring a small picnic to enjoy at the waterfall!

Very very stunning track to walk. The views are just thrilling and beautiful. The waterfall was crazy amazing. Had a dip in the waterfall. Very cold I must say. Lmao 1hr walk their and 1hr back.

A really nice easy walk. One half through mostly bush and scrub. The other over a volcanic plain covered with high altitude grasses. The falls at the halfway point are a great stopping place and the views are fantastic at every corner and rise.

Definitely worth a visit if you are in area! We did the track on a rainy day so we didn’t get to see the volcano, but it was totally worth it! The track is easy, but still it has about 180m going up as difference in altitude so bringing some water would be good. A big part of the trail is in the forest and it can get quite muddy if it rained in the past days. So I would suggest wearing hiking boots when doing the trail.

Great 2 hour walk! The stream at the bottom is very cold though, even in summer! We started from the bottom end (going clockwise. The toilets are at the TOP of the waterfall a bit further on than you might expect (in case you need to get changed).

Relatively easy walk across varying outlooks. Signs say 2 - 3 hours but we did it 1 hour 45min, stopping to enjoy views, take photos, etc. The start/end points are approximately 100m from one another. If you remember, walk the loop circuit in a clockwise direction. It's a slightly easier walk. Start from the path closest to the Chateau.

What a stunning walk! Such a pleasant walk that took us +- 2 hours to complete. We also had stunning views of Mount Ngauruhoe and Mount Ruapehu on our walk. The visitor centre also has cute gifts!

Hike is great. Some low level scenery parts, but all in all, once you get away from the car park and getting closer to the interior, the scenery opens up. The falls themselves can be crowded, especially if a tour rolls through, but we still found a stretch of time where it was quite empty. Lots of people just did the out and back to the falls.....don't. Atleast do the whole loop. If you are of the fitness level, take the side trail to the Tama lakes. So worth it..Beautiful area. Take sunscreen and water.

Easy track, well maintained. 1 hour 20 loop walking. Tonnes of building material in white plastic covers sort of ruin the vibe however.

Amazing walk, easy to do! The views are so good and the waterfall is nice. Not crowded.

What a spectacular falls. Took us 1hr to reach to the falls. Relatively easy walk with few ups and downs.

This is a great easy walk to do (we did this plus Silica Rapids for a warm up for Tongariro Crossing on a school trip), and I would recommend it if you're in the Ruapehu area. Extend yourself by going to the Upper Tama Lake track.

The falls are gorgeous and the views around are beautiful. Takes about 45min to get there and 45min back (for adults in good health) There is a toilet near the top of the cascade. If you have the time and the strength, I would only advise you to continue to the Tama Lakes at the intersection instead of directly finishing the Taranaki track. It's a 4hours walk in a well maintained path and the views are incredible. It's not too hard but it's quite long.

This was an easy to moderate walk to do with older kids. It took us just over 2 hours and that was with lots of stops to take photos. We loved walking through the gorgeous alpine native forest. The two waterfalls were a delight to see. We walked in 1degree temperature's so wool, waterproof and windproof layers of clothing were a must as well as proper hiking boots or shoes.

I enjoy Turoa, wider ski trails, less queues ' both travelling up to ski area from Ohakune and while waiting for lifts '. Also having only chair lifts instead of t-bars is a plus for novice/beginner ski/boarders and allows more of a rest between runs for those ' less fit ' folk. Also main car park virtually level and close to ski area, ( no trudging uphill in ski boots and gear. ) Turoa also tends to stay firm packed for longer in spring, ( not as slushy ) due to position of ski field in relation to when the sun begins to thaw etc.

So disorganized. How is it possible on a bluebird day to have only one of many lifts open. Huge queues made worse by not managing the queue into groups of 3 for a 3 seater chair. Half the chairs have only two people on them. Three lift operators standing round chatting instead of queue managing. This one chair only opened at 10:30 am (2 hours cut out of the ski day we pay for and get up at the crack of dawn for), lift opening delay was due to de-icing. Every other mountain has this done by 8am on most lifts! Where is management? RAL = Runs after Lunch.

Visited on 5th Feb 2023, loved the barren views. Volcanic rocks around with small streams of water coming down from above. This one is quite contrast to its winter looks. Not the best but surely worth a visit

We were lucky to have two days of perfect blue sky weather. Sat was manic with visitors and some of the runs were a demolition derby but Sun was quiet. The condition of the slopes was great due to the good snow base and it was just beautiful. Convenient cafes at each level helped, the only downside is that non-skiers in the family couldn't get higher up the mountain. Much better than Whakapapa, especially with Ohakune nearby.

In my back yard...needed alot more snow....was surprised how much snow was there....not enough...was people 🎿 further up the mountain....good snow dump would make it more fun.....it will come

What a ski field! Blessed with best snow is a while during a tumultuous time re the mountain's economic future. Staff up there (reduced numbers) have done an amazing job. Great work

Title: Amazing Skiing Experience at Turoa Ski Fields Review: My recent visit to Turoa Ski Fields in New Zealand was nothing short of incredible. As a skiing enthusiast, I have explored many ski resorts around the world, and Turoa definitely stands out as one of the top destinations for skiing. First and foremost, the skiing conditions at Turoa are exceptional. The snow quality was superb, with fresh powder and great coverage on the slopes. The ski fields offer a wide variety of terrain, suitable for all skill levels. From gentle beginner slopes to challenging black runs, there is something for everyone. I particularly enjoyed the long, exhilarating runs that provided an incredible sense of freedom and adrenaline. The resort facilities at Turoa Ski Fields are top-notch. The lifts were efficient and well-maintained, ensuring minimal waiting time and maximum enjoyment on the slopes. The park crew did an amazing job shaping the terrain park, providing an incredible playground for freestyle enthusiasts. The rental shop had a great selection of equipment, and the staff was friendly and helpful. The breathtaking scenery surrounding Turoa Ski Fields is another highlight. The panoramic views of the snow-capped peaks and the rugged terrain are simply awe-inspiring. The ski fields are located on the slopes of Mount Ruapehu, an active volcano, adding a unique touch to the overall experience. The staff and instructors at Turoa Ski Fields deserve special mention for their professionalism and friendliness. Whether it was getting assistance at the rental shop, taking a lesson, or simply asking for directions, everyone was always ready to help with a smile. Their passion for skiing and dedication to ensuring a great experience for visitors is truly commendable. In addition to the superb skiing, Turoa Ski Fields offer a range of other activities and amenities. The on-mountain café and restaurant served delicious food and provided a cozy place to relax after a day on the slopes. The mountain village has a variety of accommodation options, making it convenient for longer stays. Overall, I highly recommend Turoa Ski Fields to anyone seeking an amazing skiing getaway. The combination of exceptional skiing conditions, outstanding facilities, breathtaking scenery, and friendly staff make it a ski destination not to be missed. I cannot wait to return and create more unforgettable memories on the slopes of Turoa.

September might be too late for visit! There are many chair lifts, that’s nice, but at this time of the year most of the mountain has melted down and there are only one main track (Snowbird advanced riders) open, in better days some intermediate tracks are open too. Must be really good when all the tracks are open but unfortunately we didn’t get that this year. There are also less parking spaces than in Whakapapa’s ski field.

Wonderful experience, can’t express in words. However I have suggestion from my experience. Reach before 9:30 to access the parking otherwise will end up with the opportunity when people are returning and you are going up. Or book shuttle which will expensive enough. Wonderful slides and loads of fun around - highly recommended

It is a Nice place, food and good ☕😋.. It was a shame the weather when I visited it, but anyway I enjoyed a lot my experience on the snow 🌨️❄️.. Recommended to visit 😌😎 and without any doubt I will come back.

There’s plenty of parking any time of the day. The snow area is huge and kids will enjoy the snow without paying any cent. It is a bit far but worth it :)

NZ$79.36 for two. If it’s a clear day it’s worth it, but not if you see clouds at the top of the mountain. We were lucky to have a glorious sunny morning with a cloudless summit. Clearly we visited during the summer so the place is almost empty. That’s good for visitors because you get a gondola to yourself! The craggy ridge is striking but the views are enjoyable mainly because one can see the inner workings of a ski resort. While there is a walk or two at the top the terrain is rocky, and unlike the European Alps there aren’t wild flowered summer pastures to enjoy. In fact the most interesting part of our visit was a ten minute conversation with Goody who was working at the top end gondola station. He knew a lot about the workings of the snow machines and the history of the area. It would be a really good addition for summer visitors if a temporary viewing area was created within the largely empty lounge. This could show a loop video all about the resort as per Goody! And I wonder if more non-snow attractions could be added to make the financials healthier? A series of water park-style chutes using the snow machine infrastructure? Mountain bike tracks? Skateboard ramps? All things people would buy tickets to use the gondola and other lifts for.

Amazing view. Wait time to get on it from Happy Valley was 5-10 minutes. Food and beverages prices are high but worth the view ! Loved it.

Great high tea. Staff were excellent reserved table no wait. Tge picture with the drinks list comes included with the price. Walk it off with stunning views

First time up the mountain in the summer And on a gondola not a chairlift. Great bits of kit these are with a great team of people Manning the station points. We loved it. SO different without snow AND such a glorious day we could see for miles!

Day trip up the Sky Waka. Bluebird day, which always helps. Shuttle bus from the lower car park essential for me due to a mobility issue. Great service and the driver (9th Sept) was brilliant. Full of life, jovial, friendly, a great ambassador for the facility. Once we'd figured out the online ticket purchase system, it's slick and works great. The single return trip is way too expensive at $59 pp. which is why this isn't a 5 star review. $40-45 would be fair. But happy to help out as they recover from the perfect storm of Covid and lack of snow last season. Good luck with the recovery! The trip in the gondola almost forgives it though. Wonderful experience! Coffee and tea at the Knoll Ridge cafe were excellent and a slick ordering and serving system. The views are spectacular!

Spectacular the drive getting there was easy and then the gondola and restaurant at the top fantasticThe day was perfect could also see Mt Taranaki to the west.I thought the food was reasonably priced the Chef was so lovely however the young servers were a little confused and working in hospo for over 30 yrs myself I feel needed supervision and training (just my opinion )The restaurant was gorgeous .It was just the most magical place. Made me want to move back to NZ it’s just so beautiful here.I bought a ticket on book me was $31 Aud

Went up the Sky Waka on a Thursday a week prior to school holidays, start of season. Beautiful weather, nice and quiet. Good parking spot. Plenty availability of sledding and having your own gondola. Beautiful views. Click and collect is super easy, purchase online before you go (or even at the top of the Bruce) scan QR code and moments later, the computer spits out your passes. Your ready to go. $10 Locker Hire for the day - they are a little small, couldn't quiet fit my fold down pram that fits in overhead on a plane but just left it near the board racks. Handy so you dont have to lug your stuff around (your around snow, but will quickly warm up while walking/boarding/sledding around the slopes) $11 for large chips which I thought was good considering the logistics of getting them to the top. Free self serve sauce. Well worth the journey!! Day trip from Whanganui - 2 hour drive to the top of the Bruce.

The cable car ride up was great, with nice views and wasn’t crowded during our ride up and down (could be because it was summer). Enjoyed our time here with our 3 year old kid. Did a short walk downwards upon arriving at the top. Could have explored further and walked more if our kid could walk further without much help.

We went mid June- actually very excited because the weather said it would snow! Due to weather change there was no active snowfall! I would say the gondola rides are overly pricey for what they have to offer! If you are taking an eager toddler to make snowman then you will surely be disappointed if it’s not peak winter! It would be really good if they could have some activity for kids! Activities are very limited! We actually had expected to hire jackets and pants but they weren’t providing anything for hire at that moment!- would recommend to go prepared!Website needs to be updated! In saying this, very nice views!

Worth going in gondola. There is a restaurant at the top. Toilets too. Luckily we had a great sunny weather. We hired the snow gears at SKI BIZ @ Alpine centre.

Gondola was a great addition to the ski field and mountain. Amazing for tourists to ride up to the top cafe and enjoy the view while drinking a nice coffee. Great tourist attraction and good for skiers and snowboards to ride up the mountain. 👍

I love the Gondola experience a lot, it was really fun and you could see the scenic view of the place. At the top of the mountain there is a caffe and restaurants, it's just it is too crowded. You can also relax, play, and ski at the top of the mountain.

It was a fantastic experience. Chose a day with fine weather was well worth the detour on our way south! Booking can be challenging as there is no refund policy for the Sky Waka.

We decided to try this out after reading the reviews, and did not disappoint. We were here in early Jan. Really easy to get to by car, and the ride was amazing with volcanic terrain and really steep. We enjoyed the cafe at the top of the mountain, and booked their High Tea. This was really worth it if you have the combo ticket. the staff were super friendly and talkative. You can even take a hike or walk at the top, so have some good shoes with you. If you have the energy, you can actually hike all the way down again. Overall, totally recommend this. Would love to come back in winter to see the snowy effect.

I've been on a few similar gondolas in Austria, but this was easily the best. Great views, and you really feel like you're going up a proper mountain. We went mid summer and it wasn't to cold, easy parking, I definitely highly recommend this for the whole family. Lovely facilities at the top.

Fantastic …. Would highly recommend booking the high tea and gondola ride combo online in advance as well worth it at $69. Fabulous food and an amazing trip up the mountain… will be back!!

Friendly staff, gondolas were nice & clean. Good walk to the skyline in summer. Can be hot & cold so take a long sleeved top or jacket & good walking shoes. Rocks can be loose.

Sky Waka is great. Easy access and a fantastic ride to North Islands highest Cafe. Winter has some of the most amazing ski and boarding terrain in the world. Riding on an active volcano is very unique. Currently some great Riding to be had so get in before the season wraps up.

Wonderful experience. Must reach before 10 am. Otherwise securities will tell parking is full. Once parking is full you have to go back to national park and get bus from there. The ticket costs 50, 45 for child.

Interesting display of skiing on the mountains. Details of geothermal area and the usual kiwiana. Lots of local information as you would expect. Staff are friendly and helpful.

A great source of information from the workers there, not to mention the informative displays. I was appreciative of the help the front desk people provided when trying to plan our excursions. There's also clothing to purchase if you feel like you've gone to Tongariro ill prepared for your adventures.

Great visitor center, very helpful and informative staff! Also a great spot to start! There a few hikes, 15 min, 40 min, 1.5 hours etc and all start in the area. There is also a small store close by an many bathrooms. Great for a day hike or a place a a family stop. The center has exibits and a topographic map of the trails.

Ruggedly beautiful and worth every step of the hike. Expect rapidly changing weather and brace yourself against the winds!

Stunning natural beauty. The Skywaka gondola was excellent. The hiking was iconic.

Visited the visitor centre just prior to starting out on tongariro northern circuit. Lady from DOC was really helpful, and advised me not to go because of poor weather conditions. She then helped me reschedule my plans for another week. I really appreciated the advice. Visitor centre itself has lovely displays, there’s a lot to see here!

Multiple options for hiking. We did a 3 hour walk that included seeing the waterfall! Gorgeous! Awesome visitor center. Highly recommend!!

Beautiful park located at the foot of grand Mt Ruapehu. It has exceptional views and near by waterfalls and so great walks.

The staff are very helpful! I love how informative they are, you can walk through the centre and learn about the history of previous eruptions, what to do when an eruption happens. There was such a cool 3D model of the park which makes it feel so real and up close. They also have cute gifts.

Staff at information center is really helpful, advised us really well for snow and weather conditions. I recommend to stop there and check before going to ski field or up the mount. 4×4 and 2 wheel drive with chains are recommend when snow.

Great little place full of interesting information about the area,has a cinema explaining things about the volcano fantastic. The gifts shop is very small not alot to offer. The silica rapids walk is a nice easy walk and great views

I do not recommend this visitor center. I talked with two agents and had define question - what is the best activity to do in this weather if I want to hike up to 3 hours. Both said - take gondola up. And showed me the camera. Then I asked what should I hike - one didn’t recommend me anything - I have asked like 3 times about the recommendation, and she just showed me the map and descriptions on the wall and said to read them. Then I tried the other person on the counter, she suggested take gondola as it’s sunny there, and two hikes for this weather from the list on the wall. Then I drove to the gondola and took it up - 49$, and learned that to get the views I need to hike 2.4 kilometers up. I didn’t even put my hiking boots or had water. And it’s loose gravel so sneakers are simply dangerous. And ticket valid for 1 ride. Awesome. I am highly disappointed. I have been to a lot of visitors centers and never had any issues - always got the best experience and highly knowledgeable rangers.

Beautiful views, the arvo turned misty and grey but the mountain still looked capturing.

Nice view of the mountains and great visitor centre! Almost like a museum! I wish we had more time to spend there. Id plan an hour for it. Great even if u dont do the crossing ( like us) youll still be well informed and have a great view of the mountains during the drive

We spent a couple if hours just before and after sunset exploring the park. Spectacular views and scenery, highly recommebded

Nice spot. Has heaps of different swimming spots that you can explore if you are adventours. It's perfect for the people that don't like hikes but want to see nature at its best by only walking 1km as this walk is only 800m...is a very easy walk. Highly recommend.

This time we visited this fall during winter. With so much rain, the volume of water was incredibly awesome. The tracks are not muddy at all. The tracks are well maintained during the rainy season. The waterfall was amazing. There were a lot of people visiting this fall when we went. You won't be disappointed, even if you are not a fan of The Lord of the Ring franchise.

This would be a beautiful place to take a walk and enjoy the stunning falls even if it were not a location from LOTR. It's a short flat walk most of the way. There are stairs to get down closer to the falls. And the really adventurous can climb on the rocks to get even closer. This is definitely worth a stop, whether you are a movie fan or a lover of nature. The little parking area was full when we came, but you can park on the side of the road. There are nice views of Mt. Tongariro and Mt. Ngauruhoe as you walk along as well.

Great little 10minute walk to a bubbling waterfall where a scene from LOR was filmed. Scenic and well worth the stop. About 4km from chateau on right signposted.

Beautiful falls that are a quick 5-10 minute walk from the parking area. It’s an easy walk though it does have several flights of steps. You can get quite close to the falls by scrambling over the rocks.

The parking lot is quite small thus with a campervan we waited for one car to leave before parking. The hike is easy and the waterfalls are gorgeous. We watched the lord of the rings video on YouTube after visiting. Fun!

We arrived closer to 5:30pm and started to lose daylight. Car park appears to fit <6 cars. No toilet nearby of course and a quick stroll with some built in steps down to the broom if the fall. We didn’t get much peace here with other budding photographers but worth dropping in if your a LOTR movie fan or not

We went because we had heard it it was a filming location for Lord of the rings but it was actually stunning in its own right! Short walk from the car park to the waterfall, probably no more than 40 mins there and back including taking photos.

Nice and short little walk through the bush. Takes only about five minutes to reach the falls. Recommend this place for families since it's very easy and right off the road. Parking is very limited however.

This was a stunning experience! The whole Tongiriro National Park was under a huge dark grey cloud and fog everywhere! The walk is short to the waterfall and has good points to take pictures!

Its a short walk down several stairs (not wheelchair accessible) down to the falls. We were fortunate enough to be completely alone and its really a beautiful and humbling sight. For any LOTR lovers, its 100% worth the stop.

Free access to the site. You leave your car at the entrance to the path, in 5 minutes you arrive on the terrace overlooking the waterfall, another couple of minutes and you arrive on the riverbed in front of the waterfall.

Nice short 5-10min walk through a flat trail to a beautiful waterfall and a view of Tongariro. Clearly marked and easy parking. There is a platform at the top of the falls, then you can walk down a couple flights of stairs down to the water. Really peaceful not too many tourists at the end of winter.

What is a visit to Hobbiton with our going to visit Gollums pool on the drive up. View did not disappoint and the walk was super easy, I had only been out of surgery for 3 days and was easily able to walk it.

Beautiful, easy track with an amazing Waterfall and basin. Also home to a few endangered Whio so please be careful.

Very hard to get to the point at the very end where you can see the falls. Just 10m more trails and not slippery rocks and its a 5 stat

The sun really brings out the colours of this magnificent cascade! Besides being a Lord of the Rings filming location, it is really enjoyable and quiet. Went there on a Saturday, around noon, there were a couple of people but it was still quiet and peaceful. The walk there is an easy gravy road with a few stairs. No hiking shoes needed.

Short Walk from the Road to the Falls. If you want to get a good shot you need to do a bit of climbing. But its not a problem saw a 5 year old girl doing it.