Tongariro National Park

Tongariro National Park
Tongariro National Park
IUCN category II (national park)
	Mahuia River, Tongariro National Park
	Map of New Zealand
Location	Ruapehu District, New Zealand
Nearest city	National Park, New Zealand
Coordinates	39°17′27″S 175°33′44″E / 39.29083°S 175.56222°E
Area	795.96 km2 (307.32 sq mi)
Established	October 1887
Governing body	Department of Conservation; Whakapapa Visitor Centre; Private Bag; Mount Ruapehu 2650
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Criteria	Cultural and Natural: (vi), (vii), (viii)
Reference	421bis
Inscription	1990 (14th Session)
Extensions	1993

Tongariro National Park (/ˈtɒŋɡərɪroʊ/; Māori: [tɔŋaɾiɾɔ]) is the oldest national park in New Zealand,^[1] located in the central North Island. It has been acknowledged by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site of mixed cultural and natural values.

Tongariro National Park was the sixth national park^[2] established in the world.^[1] The active volcanic mountains Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe, and Tongariro are located in the centre of the park.^[1]

There are a number of Māori religious sites within the park,^[3] and many of the park's summits, including Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu, are tapu, or sacred.^[4] The park includes many towns around its boundary including Ohakune, Waiouru, Horopito, Pokaka, Erua, National Park Village, Whakapapa skifield and Tūrangi.

The Tongariro National Park is home to the famed Tongariro Alpine Crossing, widely regarded as one of the world's best one-day hikes.^[5]

^ ^a ^b ^c Department of Conservation: "Tongariro National Park: Features" Archived 22 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 21 April 2013
^ Hardy, Uniqua. "The 10 Oldest National Parks in the World". Culture Trip. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
^ Beetham, George (1926). "Introduction by T. E. Donne". The First Ascent of Mount Ruapehu.
^ Cowan, James (1927). "Chapter II: The Mountains of the Gods". The Tongariro National Park, New Zealand - Its topography, geology, alpine and volcanic features, history and Maori folk-lore. pp. 29–33.
^ Tongariro Alpine Crossing

[DoC_F-1] Department of Conservation: "Tongariro National Park: Features" Archived 22 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 21 April 2013

[2] Hardy, Uniqua. "The 10 Oldest National Parks in the World". Culture Trip. Retrieved 29 January 2019.

[3] Beetham, George (1926). "Introduction by T. E. Donne". The First Ascent of Mount Ruapehu.

[4] Cowan, James (1927). "Chapter II: The Mountains of the Gods". The Tongariro National Park, New Zealand - Its topography, geology, alpine and volcanic features, history and Maori folk-lore. pp. 29–33.

[5] Tongariro Alpine Crossing

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