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Tongariro National Park

National Park Village borders the World Heritage Tongariro National Park (Tongariro Crossing) to the east and the Whanganui National Park, to the West. National Park Village is located near the base of Mt Ruapehu, at the intersection of SH4 & SH47 on the volcanic plateau. The village has great views of Mt Tongariro, Mt Ngauruhoe (Mt Doom in the Lord of the Rings filiming locations) and Mt Ruapehu.

Tongariro National Park is New Zealand’s oldest National Park – gifted to the people of New Zealand in 1887 by Te Heuheu Tukino IV (Horonuku), the paramount chief of Ngati Tuwharetoa.

Since then, thousands of visitors have enjoyed the splendour of this park – home of New Zealand’s top short walk, the Tongariro Crossing.

Tongariro National Park History

Tongariro National Park – the heart of the Ruapehu District – is not only a special Park for the people of New Zealand, it is also unique in the world. It is recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site under two categories. It is listed because of its unique, active volcanic attributes and also its special cultural significance.

When Horonuku Te Heu Heu Tukino gifted Tongariro to the people of New Zealand, he was also gifting it to the people of the world. The volcanoes of the Park and their glaciers, plants and animals represent a set of landforms and natural communities which have been recognised as outstanding heritage of international significance.

The volcanoes are unique because of the frequency of eruptions, their highly explosive nature, and the high density of active vents. Ruapehu and Tongariro/Ngauruhoe (technically the same volcano) are two of the world’s most continuously active composite volcanoes.

The Park is considered a unique natural laboratory for scientific study and education on volcanoes.

Another outstanding natural feature is the unusual interplay of volcanic and glacial processes on Ruapehu. Its Crater Lake is one of only two of its type in the world where magma and glacial meltwater interact to gives rise to spectacular eruptions.

The Park was given World Heritage status by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) in 1990, as a natural site of outstanding universal value. It joined the Grand Canyon, Sagarmatha (Mt Everest) National Park, Kilimanjaro and 350 other World Heritage sites.

The Park is now one of a handful of sites from around the world with dual natural and cultural World Heritage status. It was because of the special cultural significance to Te Heu Heu Tukino’s people, Ngati Tuwharetoa, that they gifted the peaks to the Crown, so that ownership of the land would not be broken up.

Tongariro National Park

At 2797, 2291 and 1968 metres respectively, Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro are sizeable volcanoes. Tongariro's huge massif extends over 18 kilometres in length - classic, cone-shaped Ngauruhoe is actually one of Tongariro's vents. Ruapehu had the honour of playing Mount Doom in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

The mountains of this national park have deep spiritual significance for the Maori people. Legend has it that the high priest Ngatoroirangi was frozen in a snowstorm while exploring Tongariro and called to Hawaiki, the traditional Polynesian homeland of the Maori, for fire. His prayer was answered, via the channel we now call the Pacific Rim of Fire, and the mountain erupted.

The lower slopes of the mountains are blanketed with forest, which provides a habitat for many native birds. New Zealand's only native mammals, short and long tailed bats, also live in the park.

Skiing
Enjoy excellent skiing and boarding at Mount Ruapehu's ski areas - Whakapapa and Turoa. For non-skiers there is tobogganing and tubing or just drive up to see the spectacular view! The ski season usually begins in July and often runs until late spring. In summer, at Whakapapa, scenic chairlift rides and guided hikes to Ruapehu's Crater Lake are also available.

River fun
The Tongariro River provides an invigorating dip into the world of white water rafting. A succession of grade 3 rapids promises an exciting trip. Fly fishermen enthuse about the rainbow trout that are prolific in the streams and rivers around the park.

Activities in Tongariro National ParkTracks and walks

Backcountry huts, located throughout the park, are linked by excellent track systems.
One of the best one day treks in the country is the traverse of Mount Tongariro (known as the Tongariro Alpine Crossing). It can be done as part of the longer Northern Circuit, one of New Zealand's Great Walks.
There are also many easy, short walks: to spectacular waterfall and fascinating volcanic features and through a variety of landscapes from open herbfields to magnificent podocarp forest.
The Rimu Track nature walk at Ohakune and the Alpine Walk at Whakapapa are both wheelchair accessible.
Walks brochures are available from the Whakapapa Visitor Centre and other local visitor centres.

Getting There

All the roads around the park lead to key entry points – meaning the park is highly accessible from all directions.

Regular bus and shuttle services run to and from the park – especially the start and end points of the popular Tongariro Crossing.

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