Visit World Heritage Tongariro National Park

The most striking topographical and geological features of the North Island are the central North Island volcanoes; Mount Ruapehu, Mount Ngauruhoe and Mount Tongariro.  Together the mountains form the Tongariro National Park, New Zealand’s first national park and a dual World Heritage area. 

Mt Ruapehu is New Zealand’s most accessible live volcano and at 2,797 metres is the highest mountain in the North Island. Mt Ngauruhoe (2,291 metres) is an almost symmetrical cone, which formed from a vent in Mt Tongariro (1,968 metres).

Tongariro National Park

To the local Maori people, the mountains are sacred (tapu), kin by virtue of common parents but created first and therefore superior to man.  This bond underpins the spiritual and physical respect held for these ancestral mountains.

You can hear the different tribal stories, which tell of their individual associations with these mountains and their related connections to neighbouring mountains, rivers and lakes by experiencing Ruapehu's Maori Cultural tours. 

From herb fields to pristine rain forests, tranquil alpine lakes to desert-like plateau, hot springs and active volcanoes, Tongariro National Park is a land of strong contrasts providing visitors all year round with a unique and remarkable experience.

A Special Gift
The vision behind the gifting of the sacred Mount Ruapehu, Mount Ngauruhoe and Mount Tongariro grew out of the sanctity of the mountains to local Maori and the desire to ensure that their sacred nature (tapu) would be protected for all time.

The deed of gift was drawn up in court on 23 September 1887 and the peaks were gifted to the New Zealand people by the local Tuwharetoa tribe under the prescient leadership of their paramount chief, Te Heuheu Tukino IV (Horonuku). While Tongariro National Park was the world’s fourth national park, Tongariro became the first national park in the world to be gifted by a country's indigenous people.

Since the original gift of 2,640 hectares in 1887, large areas of land have been added to the park, which today covers an area of approximately 76,000 hectares.

In January 1991 Tongariro National Park was declared a World Heritage site in recognition of its natural characteristics.

In 1994 it was granted Cultural World Heritage status in recognition of its cultural significance and history.

World Heritage status brings increased international awareness of the park and Tongariro National Park is one of the few dual listed sites in the world.