Places to Visit in New Zealand – Tongariro National Park

South of beautiful Lake Taupo and roughly in the center of New Zealand’s North Island, Tongariro National Park is one of the highlights of any visit to New Zealand. Centered on the country’s highest township, Whakapapa, the region is a year-round outdoor enthusiast’s paradise. Tongariro is actually the name of one of the 3 volcanoes that dominate the area, the others being Mount Ruapehu, at 2,797 meters, the highest point in the North Island, and Mount Ngauruhoe, the Mount of Destiny for fans of The Lord of the rings. The region became the country’s first national park in 1887 after the Maori chief Heu Heu Tukino presented it to the people of New Zealand. Tongariro was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1990.

Whakapapa is the most central base for exploring the area and has a good choice of accommodation from the excellent value Department of Conservation camp to the opulent Chateau Tongariro Hotel. In winter and spring, New Zealand’s largest ski field, Whakapapa Ski Area, is literally at the end of the road and has runs to suit all standards, including a decent sized nursery area for those of us who have not yet perfected his technique.

There is a golf course next to the town by the Chateau hotel, but the reason many come to Whakapapa is to walk and hike. The town is situated on the multi-day Tongariro Northern Circuit route and a short drive from the start of the popular Tongariro Crossing. There are also many shorter day hikes that can be done from Whakapapa, including climbing Mount Ruapehu Crater, a route I took on a clear winter day when the view from the snowy summit seemed endless, as well as local viewpoints such as such as Taranaki Falls and Tama Lakes. This surrounding area is fascinating volcanic terrain because here the landscape itself is still under construction!

Mountain biking is only allowed on marked roads within the park, but from the National Park Village, which also has plenty of places to stay, there are a number of trails within the national forest areas. These include the 21km Fishers Track, which is just outside of town, and 42 Traverse, also called the Tongariro Forest Crossing, a 46km loop a little north along Highway 4 in the Tongariro Forest Conservation Area. Tongariro.

The largest of the townships surrounding Tongariro is Ohakune to the south, which is a center of horticulture and home to the annual Ohakune Carrot Carnival to celebrate the town’s agricultural history. Ohakune is situated at the base of the road that leads to the Turoa ski resort on the southern flank of Mount Ruapehu and the town offers a wide variety of places to stay as well as the ability to rent mountain bikes, canoes and reserve motorboat trips. along the mysterious Wanganui River.

Getting to Tongariro National Park is easy from virtually anywhere in the North Island. from Turangi in the north, Highway 1 (the Wellington Highway) crosses the eastern part of the region – this section to Waiouru is known as the Desert Highway – and Highway 47 crosses the western side of the park from Turangi to National Park. Village with a detour to Whakapapa via the airstrip. The main rail line also crosses the southern half of the area in a northwesterly direction from Waiouru with stations at Ohakune and National Park Village, which are also connected to Turangi by regular bus services.

Whether you want to be active or just relax and enjoy nature, Tongariro National Park is firmly on the must-see list for any trip to New Zealand. One of the most enduring memories of my visit is sitting in a Whakapapa bar after a long day in the mountains with a cold beer, looking out the window at snow-capped volcanoes lit by the setting sun.