New Zealand National Parks
New Zealand has 14 national parks and more than five million hectares — a third of New Zealand — protected in parks and reserves. They embody an incredible variety of landscape and vegetation for so small a country.
From the mangrove-fringed tidal inlets of Northland to the snow-capped volcanoes of the central plateau, from the forests of the Te Urewera to the majestic fiords, glaciers and mountains of the south, this land is unique. Plants and animals found nowhere else on Earth can be found here
Abel Tasman – Kahurangi National Park
Abel Tasman is renowned for its golden beaches, sculptured granite cliffs, and its world-famous coastal track. It also has a mild climate and is a good place to visit at any time of the year.
Aoraki Mt Cook National Park
Aoraki, Mt Cook a 70,696-hectare park is located in the central part of the South Island, deep in the heart of the Southern Alps. Aoraki Mount Cook village lies within the park with Twizel the nearest town outside.
Arthur’s National Park
Arthur’s National Pass is situated on a historical road between Canterbury on the east and the wild West Coast; high mountains with large scree slopes feature along with wide braided
Taranaki ( Egmont ) National Park
Taranaki – Egmont National Park is one of the most accessible of New Zealand’s national parks. It can be found on the western coast of the North Island. The nearest towns are New Plymouth, Inglewood, Stratford and Opunake.
Fiordland National Park
Fiordland National Park is a vast, remote wilderness that is is a land apart, spectacular, overwhelming and virtually uninhabited. It is also the heart of the World Heritage Area.
Kahurangi National Park
Kahurangi National Park has many places, it is an untracked wilderness, elsewhere a wonderful network of tracks lets you explore wild rivers, high plateaux and alpine herb fields, and coastal forests.
Mt Aspiring National Park
Nelson Lakes National Park
Nelson Lakes National park protects 102,000 hectares of the northernmost Southern Alps. The park offers tranquil beech forest, craggy mountains, clear streams and lakes both big and small.
Paparoa National Park
Paparoa National Park, Its boundaries were carefully chosen not just to protect the area’s forests and minerals but also a full range of ecosystems from the mountaintops to the coast.
Stewart Island ( Rakiura)
Rakiura National Park on Stewart Island is the 14th of our national parks. Covering about 157,000ha Rakiura National Park makes up about 85 per cent of the island.
Tongariro National Park
Tongariro National Park is a place of extremes and surprises, a place to explore and remember. From herb fields to forests, from tranquil lakes to desert-like plateau and active volcanoes – Tongariro has them all. Tongariro is New Zealand’s oldest national park and a dual World Heritage area. This status recognises the park’s important Maori cultural and spiritual associations as well as its outstanding volcanic features. It is a place of extremes and surprises, a place to explore and remember. From herb fields to forests, from tranquil lakes to desert-like plateau and active volcanoes – Tongariro has them all.
Westland / Tai Poutini National Park
Westland / Tai Poutini National Park extends from the highest peaks of the Southern Alps to the remote beaches of the wild West Coast. Westland Tai Poutini National Park extends from the highest peaks of the Southern Alps to the remote beaches of the wild West Coast. Its eastern boundary is shared with Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park yet it could not look more different, situated as it is on the ‘wet side’ of the Alps. Like Aoraki/Mount Cook, Westland is also part of Te Wāhipounamu South – West New Zealand World Heritage Area
Whanganui National Park
The Whanganui River winds its way from the mountains to the Tasman Sea through countless hills and valleys. Lowland forest surrounds the river in its middle and lower reaches – the heart of Whanganui National Park.