Explore the volcanic heart of tongariro national park, a landscape of stark glacial contrasts and alpine views. Legal ownership of the sacred mountain peaks increased significantly from. View an interactive map of national park boundaries and other public conservation land
In 1993, tongariro became the first property to be inscribed on the world. The park’s stunning natural landscapes are imbued with deep cultural importance. On arrival to the village call into the centre for an introduction to the national park.
Tongariro is new zealand's oldest national park and a dual world heritage area. This status recognises the park's important māori cultural and spiritual associations as well as its. The three andesitic volcanoes at the heart of the park, the mountains tongariro, ngauruhoe and ruapehu, form the southern limits of the taupō volcanic zone, part of the pacific ring of fire. Tongariro is new zealand's oldest national park and a unesco world heritage area.
This led to the establishment of the tongariro national park in 1894, a first for new zealand, and fourth in the world. The other two are te wahipounamu in the south island, and the sub antarctic islands. Due to the insight of horonuku, matuaahu and other ngāti tūwharetoa rangatira, tongariro national park was the first national park in aotearoa new zealand and the fifth in the world.