Tongariro National Park - NZ — Rachel Herbert

Tongariro National Park - NZ

Tongariro National Park is New Zealand's oldest national park and 6th oldest national park in the world. The park is a mixed cultural and natural World Heritage Site.

Mount Tongariro, Mount Ngauruhoe and Mount Ruapehu, which have enormous cultural significance to Maori, were gifted by local iwi (tribes) to the New Zealand government in 1886 under the condition that it be turned into a protected area. The New Zealand government acquired further surrounding lands, establishing the park in 1887 and modelling it after Yellowstone National Park in the United States.

Today the park is home to the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, one of New Zealand's most popular day hikes, and a part of the Tongariro Northern Circuit, one of New Zealand's Great Walks.

See this location on a map by clicking here.

Tongariro National Park

Tongariro National Park

As seen from Mount Ruapehu

Mount Taranaki

As seen from Mount Ruapehu

Mount Taranaki

As seen from Mount Ruapehu

Mount Ruapehu

Mount Taranaki

As seen from Mount Ruapehu

Mount Ngauruhoe

Mount Ngauruhoe

As seen from the Tongaririo Alpine Crossing

Mount Ngauruhoe

Mount Ngauruhoe

Mount Ngauruhoe

Mount Ngauruhoe

As seen from the Tongariro Alpine Crossing

Mount Ngauruhoe, Mount Tongariro + South Crater

Mount Ngauruhoe, Mount Tongariro + South Crater

As seen from the Tongariro Alpine Crossing

Emerald Lakes

As seen from the Tongariro Alpine Crossing

Mount Ngauruhoe

Mount Ngauruhoe

Mount Ngauruhoe

Mount Ngauruhoe

As seen from the Tongaririo Alpine Crossing

Tawhai Falls

Tawhai Falls

Mount Ngauruhoe + South Crater

Mount Ngauruhoe + South Crater

As seen from the Tongariro Alpine Crossing

Tawhai Falls

Mount Ngauruhoe + South Crater

Mount Ngauruhoe + South Crater

As seen from the Tongariro Alpine Crossing

Emerald Lakes

As seen from the Tongariro Alpine Crossing

Emerald Lake Lookout

Emerald Lake Lookout

As seen from the Tongariro Alpine Crossing

Red Crater

As seen from the Tongariro Alpine Crossing

Blue Lake + Central Crater

Blue Lake + Central Crater

As seen from the Tongariro Alpine Crossing

Emerald Lakes

As seen from the Tongariro Alpine Crossing

Emerald Lakes

As seen from the Tongariro Alpine Crossing

Red crater + Central Crater

Red crater + Central Crater

As seen from the Tongariro Alpine Crossing

Emerald Lakes

As seen from the Tongariro Alpine Crossing