Tongariro National Park

Five hours drive north of Wellington is Tongariro National Park.  It was the first park in the world to achieve UNESCO World Heritage status for is natural and cultural significance.  At the centre of the park are three active volcanoes Mt Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro (the last time Mt Ruapehu erupted was in 1995).  The lands were gifted to the Government in 1887 by the Maori Chief Tukino Te Heuheu IV.  


The mountains attract skiers in winter and trampers in summer,  we were just in awe of the size of them as they just dominate the landscape.

Our first sighting of Mt Ruapehu 

'The Long White Cloud'

Beware Kiwi 'sking'