TotK Whirly Swirly Things: Whirlpool, Quicksand Photo Locations

The Korok Kula heard from a friend about a big, whirly circle and would love to see it, but it is still too dangerous for him to leave the forest. So take a picture and bring it to him. That is the side quest Whirly Swirly Things in Korok Forest in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Every side quest is on all side quests.

What does Kula want to see?

Kula stands right next to Musanokir Shrine, sighing “I wanna see it…”. Talk to him and he first thanks you: “Thanks for making Korok Forest normal again!” When he asks if you have a minute, choose “Sure.”:

“You see, I have a friend who says they saw a big, whirly circle! They saw it in an area with water.”

He wants to see it, “Even a picture would do. But it’s still too dangerous to leave here…” He has also heard “there’s someone at Lookout Landing who made a tool that makes pictures”: the Purah Pad’s Camera. If you do not have it yet, do the main quest Camera Work in the Depths first.

Where do you photograph the whirly water circle?

It is the whirlpool in Lake Hylia (Show on map). There is a large whirlpool on the lake, and the cave there is named Lake Hylia Whirlpool Cave.

Open the Camera, aim at the whirlpool and take the shot when the Whirlpool label with a ”!” appears in the viewfinder. You do not need to get in the water: anywhere on the shore with a clear view of the whole whirlpool works, and so does shooting down from the sky island above the lake.

Go back to Kula in Korok Forest, choose “I brought it!” and show him the photo. He is thrilled: “Oooh… So this is it! It’s so neat!” Then he passes on something else his friend said: “They said there’s more than just whirly water circles. There’s a big swirly sand circle too!”

Where do you photograph the swirly sand circle?

It is a quicksand sinkhole in the Gerudo Desert: a pit of sand that sinks and swirls toward the middle. In the viewfinder the label reads “Quicksand sinkhole”. There are several in the east of the desert, so go to whichever is closer:

• East Gerudo Ruins: one sinkhole in the ruins (Show on map).
• East Barrens: walk south from Siwakama Shrine to a whole field of sinkholes (Show on map).

If you cannot see the whole pit from the ground, get higher before you take the picture, for example by building a balloon and rising up.

What is the reward?

Go back to Kula and show him the sand photo. “WHOA! Look at that big swirly sand circle! It looks like the sand is swirling toward the center.” With both photos seen, he is happy:

“Do you like carrots? I was going to keep them, but I want you to have them, Mr. Hero!”

The reward is five Endura Carrots. If your pouch is full he says “Uh-oh! Your pouch is full. And I was all set to give you five endura carrots.” Make space and talk to him again.

Related guides

• Korok Forest: getting into the forest, curing the Great Deku Tree and the other quests there.
• Walton’s Treasure Hunt: the other Korok Forest side quest, finding weapons on the Great Deku Tree.
• Camera Work in the Depths: how to get the Camera.
• All side quests: every side quest in the game.