Originally a gift to Queen Victoria from the Tuwharetoa Maori chief Te Heuheu Tukino IV in 1887, Tongariro National Park was the first national park in New Zealand and the fourth oldest in the world. Since its inception, the park has grown to a size of nearly 80,000 hectares (197,688 acres). The area is of religious and cultural importance to the Maoris who first occupied the area in the ninth century when they arrived from Polynesia. In particular, they believed the region’s mountains had god-like ancestors, and the core of the park centres around three active volcanoes, Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and the largest, Ruapehu, which erupted in a spectacular fashion in 1995 and again in 1996. Some areas resemble a lunar landscape, which has been created by flowing lava, alongside forests and tussock lands. The Tongariro Crossing, completed by about 70,000 hikers every summer, is considered to be one of the best one-day walks in the country, offering magnificent volcanic scenery and fine views of Lake Taupo and Mount Taranaki.
Air: Wellington International Airport, then Taupo Airport. Rail: Train: National Park and Ohakune stations (from Auckland and Wellington). Road: Bus: Public services. Car: State Hwy-1 (from Auckland in the north or from Wellington in the south).

Tongariro National Park, Private Bag, Mt Ruapehu 2650, New Zealand
Tel: (07) 892 3814
or
Tongariro/Taupo Conservancy, Private Bag, Turangi, New Zealand
Tel: (07) 386 8607
Website: www.doc.govt.nz

New Zealand