Tongariro World Heritage National Park

The Tongariro World Heritage National Park isn't special just because of its three magnificent volcanoes. It's also highly treasured because it was New Zealand's first national park, and the first park in the world to be created by a gift of land by indigenous people.

In 1887 Te Heuheu Tukino IV (Horonuku), paramount chief of the Ngati Tuwharetoa people, handed over 2630ha of the central volcano area to the New Zealand government, including the summits of Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu. His move secured the mountains for all people, for all time.

In the last century, adjoining land was added to the park, taking it to its present size of almost 80,000ha. The park's centrepiece, Mt Ruapehu (2797m), rises dramatically from the surrounding alpine tussock and volcanic rock plateau. Alongside Mt Ruapehu are the two smaller volcanic mountains of Mt Ngauruhoe (also active) and Mt Tongariro. The snow-covered cone of Mt Tongariro is the perfect place to gaze across the North Island towards Mt Taranaki in the west and the native forest-clad Kaimanawa Ranges in the east.