Natural Wonder · Whakapapa Village, New Zealand
Tongariro National Park
Tongariro National Park, located in the central North Island, is the oldest national park in New Zealand and the sixth national park established in the world. Built 1887.
Photo: Javier Sánchez Portero via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped and resized for display.
Landmark facts
| Location | Whakapapa Village, New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Type | Natural Wonder |
| Built | 1887 |
| Area | Area: 795.96 km² |
| Coordinates | 39.2908° S, 175.5622° E |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
What Tongariro National Park is known for
Tongariro National Park, located in the central North Island, is the oldest national park in New Zealand and the sixth national park established in the world.
About Tongariro National Park
Tongariro National Park, located in the central North Island, is the oldest national park in New Zealand and the sixth national park established in the world. It has been recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site for its mixed cultural and natural values. The active volcanic mountains Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe, and Tongariro are located in the centre of the park.
History
According to Māori oral history, Ngāti Tūwharetoa ancestor Ngātoro-i-rangi climbed the volcanoes 30 generations ago, naming Tongariro and other landscape features and claiming the area for his descendants. Around 1750, Te Rangihiroa, son of local chief Pakaurangi, was said to have explored the area around the volcanoes in the park. The Māori name for Blue Lake, near the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, is Te Wai-whakaata-o-te-Rangihiroa, which can be translated as 'Rangihiroa's mirror'.
Planning a visit? Visit the official Tongariro National Park website — the official site has the current visiting information.
How to get there
| Nearest town | Whakapapa Village |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Taupo Airport (TUO) |
| Distance from the airport | 47.1 miles (straight line) |
Nearest major airport by straight-line distance from the landmark’s coordinates; road distance will be longer.
Airports near this landmark
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Wellington International Airport (WLG) · Wellington, New Zealand · 146.2 miles away
Landmarks nearby
The closest landmarks in this library, by straight-line distance.
More landmarks in New Zealand
More natural wonders
Frequently asked questions
What is Tongariro National Park?
Tongariro National Park, located in the central North Island, is the oldest national park in New Zealand and the sixth national park established in the world.
Where is Tongariro National Park located?
Tongariro National Park is in Whakapapa Village, New Zealand. Its coordinates are 39.2908° S, 175.5622° E.
How do I get to Tongariro National Park?
The nearest town is Whakapapa Village, and the nearest airport is Taupo Airport (TUO), about 47.1 miles away (straight line).
When was Tongariro National Park built?
Tongariro National Park was built 1887.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tongariro_National_Park — Wikipedia article — overview, history and core facts (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q202845 — Wikidata — built year, architect, height/size, visitors, official website (CC0).
- https://www.nationalpark.co.nz/ — Official website of the landmark / managing body.
- https://github.com/jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports — Nearest major airport computed from landmark and airport coordinates (haversine); airport list: jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports.
Page last updated 13 November 2026.