New Zealands National Parks and Reserves

Tongariro

Click on any of the images for more details

Kahurangi

Abel Tasman

Nelson Lakes

Arthurs Pass Paparoa

Rakiura

New Zealands National Parks and Reserves Te Urewera National Park is one of fourteen national parks within New Zealand and is the largest of the four in the North Island. Covering an area of approximately 2,127km², it is in the north east of the Hawke's Bay region of the North Island. On 28 July 1954, the catchment areas of Lake Waikaremoana, Lake Waikareiti and other Crown reserves were gazetted as a national park, and by 1957 proposals were well underway to add the rest of the Crown land in Te Urewera north of Ruatahuna. This proposal was formalized in November 1957 when an additional 1,350km² were added. Further additions were made in 1962, 1975 and 1979, with smaller acquisitions and boundary alterations in the intervening period. The lake bed and Māori enclaves were not included in the park gazetting. The Crown has leased the lake bed, which is managed by the Department of Conservation. Te Urewera is the traditional home of the Tuhoe people. Due to its geographical isolation, it was one of the last regions to come under control of the British during colonisation in the 1800s. Te Kooti, the Māori leader, found refuge there from his pursuers among Tuhoe, with whom he formed an alliance. The park's name comes from the Māori words ure meaning penis and wera meaning burnt, so it means "burnt penis" in Māori. The name comes from the tale of a Maori chief who died after rolling over in his sleep while lying too close to a camp fire Back to Top Tongariro National Park is the oldest national park in New Zealand, located in the central North Island. It has been acknowledged by UNESCO as one of the 25 mixed cultural and natural World Heritage Sites. Tongariro National Park was the fourth National Park established in the world. The active volcanic mountains Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe, and Tongariro are located in the center of the park. There are a number of Māori religious sites within the park, such as one at the grave to Te Heuheu Herekeikei.The summits of Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu are tapu (sacred). Back to Top The Whanganui National Park is a national park located in the North Island of New Zealand. Established in 1986, it covers an area of 742 km² bordering the Whanganui River. It incorporates areas of Crown land, former state forest and a number of former reserves. The river itself is not technically part of the park. Taranaki National Park is located south of New Plymouth, close to the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named for the mountain which dominates its environs, which itself was named by Captain Cook after John Perceval, 2nd Earl of Egmont, the First Lord of the Admiralty who promoted Cook's first voyage. Taranaki has been the Māori name for the mountain for many centuries, and the mountain is now officially named "Mount Taranaki or Mount Egmont". The park, established in 1900, is dominated by the dormant volcano of Mount Taranaki.The park receives massive annual precipitation which is essentially orographic in origin as moist westerlies moving inland from the Tasman hit Mount Taranaki and the adjacent Pouakai and Kaitake ranges and are thus forced to rise. Since the area has high annual rainfall and mild coastal climate there is a lush rainforest covering the foothills- this forest is nationally significant for the total absence of beech trees Back to Top Kahurangi National Park is a national park in the northwest of the South Island of New Zealand. It was gazetted in 1996 and covers 4,520 km². It is the second largest of New Zealand's fourteen national parks. It was formed from what was called the North-west Nelson Forest Park. Kahurangi Point, regarded as the boundary between the West Coast and Tasman Regions, is located in the park, as are the Heaphy Track and Mount Owen. The park is administered by the Department of Conservation. Tramping, rafting and caving are popular activities in the park. Prior to becoming a National Park mountain biking was allowed on the Heaphy Track but this is no longed permitted under the National Parks Act. There is pressure by some groups to allow some mountain biking on the track. In addition to ongoing conservation work by the Department of Conservation, there is a community initiative that aims "to implement, in partnership with the Department of Conservation, a conservation strategy to bring about the protection and/or return of endangered and threatened flora and fauna to the Flora Stream catchment area in Kahurangi National Park. This will enhance the experience for all visitors to this popular area, resulting in wider community appreciation and use of the Park." "The society now has approximately 30 kilometers of trap lines, with all traps at 100 meter spacing. Also a wasp eradication program is in place. Bird monitoring is also part of the society's program Back to Top Abel Tasman National Park is a national park located at the north end of the South Island of New Zealand. The park was founded in 1942 and with a coverage of only 225.3 square kilometres, is the smallest of New Zealand's national parks. The park consists of forested, hilly country to the north of the valleys of the Takaka and Riwaka Rivers, and is bounded to the north by the waters of Golden Bay and Tasman Bay. It is named after Abel Tasman, who in 1642 became the first European explorer to sight New Zealand. Abel Tasman National Park does not extend beyond Mean High Water Mark on the adjacent coast. Between Mean High Water and Mean Low Water Springs, the beaches are gazetted as a Scenic Reserve, covering 7.74km² in total (about 70km long). The Tonga Island Marine Reserve adjoins part of the park. Department of Conservation administers the National Park. The Scenic Reserve is administered by the Tasman District Council (TDC) Chief Executive and Department of Conservation’s Nelson/ Marlborough Conservator. Activities in adjoining coastal waters are TDC’s responsibility. These areas operate under separate regulations. The Abel Tasman Coast Track is a popular tramping track which follows the coastline; while an inland route, the Abel Tasman Inland Track, is less frequented. Kayaking, camping and sightseeing are other activities carried out in the park. The nearest large town is Motueka, 20 kilometers to the south. In 2008 an extra 7.9km 2 , including the formerly private land known as Hadfields Clearing, were added to the park. Back to Top Nelson Lakes National Park is located in the South Island of New Zealand. It was formed in 1956 and covers some 1,020 km². It is centered at two large lakes, Rotoiti and Rotoroa. The park also includes surrounding valleys (including Travers, Sabine, and D'Urville, upper reaches of the Matakitaki) and mountain ranges (Saint Arnaud Range, Mount Robert). The park is a popular area for camping, tramping and fishing. The park is administered by the Department of Conservation who operate a Visitors Centre in Saint Arnaud that provides up to date and reliable information on all aspects of the National Park. The main access point to Nelson Lakes National Park is at Lake Rotoiti and the village of Saint Arnaud, on Highway 63, about 100 kilometres from both Nelson and Blenheim. A secondary access point is at Lake Rotoroa, turning off New Zealand State Highway 6 at Gowanbridge. Shuttle services operate between St Arnaud, Nelson, Blenheim and Picton. The main campgrounds are on the shores of Lake Rotoiti; there is a smaller campground at Lake Rotoroa. There is a network of tramping tracks throughout the park. Tracks range from short nature walks at Lake Rotoiti and Lake Rotorua, to multi-day backcountry tramps. Day tramps include the Lake Rotoiti circuit, St. Arnaud Range and Mt. Robert. The most popular long-distance tramping routes are the Travers-Sabine Circuit and other loops through Lake Angelus. The skifield on Mt. Robert is no longer operational. Rainbow Ski Area is located on the eastern side of the St Arnaud range, just outside the park. Other activities include mountaineering, boating and fishing, and mountain biking. See the DOC web site for more inform Back to Top Paparoa National Park is on the west coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It was established in 1987 and encompasses 306 km².The park ranges from on or near the coastline to the peak of the Paparoa Ranges. A separate section of the park is to the north and is centered at Ananui Creek. The park protects a limestone karst area. The park contains several caves, one of which is a commercial tourist attraction. The majority of the park is forested with a wide variety of vegetation. The park was the site of the 1995 Cave Creek disaster where a scenic overlook collapse killed fourteen people. The small village of Punakaik Arthur's Pass National Park is located in the South Island of New Zealand. It was established in 1929, becoming the first national park in the South Island and the third in New Zealand. It is bisected by State Highway 73. The road passes through Arthur's Pass village and the mountain pass with the same name over the Southern Alps at a height of 920 meters above sea level. The park is administered by the Department of Conservation and operate a depot, administration and information center in Arthur's Pass village. The park is very distinctly split by the main divide of the South Island. The eastern side is typically drier and consists of beech forest and wide riverbeds, while the western side contains dense rainforest. Much of the geography was formed by ancient glacial action, forming flat bottomed U shaped valleys. In the middle is a high range, consisting of large snow covered peaks and scree slopes. The park contains the following features: A portion of the main divide of the South Island, including the following passes - Harman, Waimakariri Col, Arthur's itself, Goat (on the Mingha-Deception route), Tarahuna, Worsley, Minchin and Harper. The source of the Waimakariri River, very close the Waimakariri Falls Hut. Numerous tributaries to the Waimakariri River, including the Bealey, Poulter, Hawdon, White, Crow and Anti Crow Rivers. Numerous tributaries to the Taramakau River, including the Otira, Deception and Otehake Rivers. Mt Murchison at 2400 m is the highest peak within the park Back to Top Arthur's Pass (elevation. 920 m.) is a mountain pass in the Southern Alps of the South Island of New Zealand. It marks part of the boundary between the West Coast and Canterbury regions, 140km from Christchurch and 95km from Greymouth. The pass lies in a saddle between the valleys of the Otira River, a tributary of the Taramakau, in the west and the Bealey River in the east. Arthur's Pass lies on the border of the Selwyn and Westland districts. The pass is named after Sir Arthur Dudley Dobson (1841–1934), who led the first party of Europeans across the pass in 1864. He had been informed of the presence of a pass, which had been used occasionally by Māori hunting parties by a West Coast Māori Chief, Tarapuhi. It is also believed that writer and explorer Samuel Butler had seen the pass several years earlier, but was unable to explore it at that time. The timing was perfect, as the West Coast was soon to be hit by a goldrush, and easy access to the Tasman's coast became imperative. Back to Top Westland Tai Poutini National Park is located in New Zealand's South Island. Established in 1960, the centenary of the European settlement of Westland, it covers 1,175 km², and extends from the highest peaks of the Southern Alps to a wild and remote coastline. Included in the park are glaciers, scenic lakes and dense temperate rainforest, plus remains of old gold mining towns along the coast. Westland National Park offers hunting opportunities for Red Deer, Chamois and Tahr. Helicopter access allows hunters access to the rugged mountain areas. The famous Copland Track runs upstream from the Karangarua River bridge. Along with mountain scenery there are hot springs found at Welcome Flat Hut. Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park is in the South Island of New Zealand near the town of Twizel. Aoraki/Mount Cook village lies within the park. The area was gazetted as a national park in October 1953 and consists of reserves that were established as early as 1887 to protect the area's significant vegetation and landscape. The park covers a little over 700km². Glaciers cover 40% of the park area, notably the Tasman Glacier on the slopes of Aoraki/Mt Cook. Of New Zealand's 20 peaks over 3,000 metres, all except Mount Aspiring lie in the park. These include New Zealand's highest mountain, Aoraki/Mt Cook, at 3753 metres. Other prominent peaks include Mt Tasman, Mt Hicks, Mt Sefton and Mt Elie de Beaumont. The mountains of the Southern Alps in general are young, less than ten million years old, and are still building. Uplift in the region of the national park is at the rate of 5mm per year. The park is also part of Te Wahipounamu South Westland World Heritage Site in recognition of its outstanding natural values. Back to Top Most of the park is above the tree line so that the plant life consists mainly of alpine plants such as the Mount Cook lily, (Ranunculus lyallii), the largest buttercup in the world, large mountain daisies and wild Spaniard or spear grass. Birdlife consists of species like the kea, the only alpine parrot and the well-camouflaged pipit. Introduced chamois, Himalayan tahr and red deer can be hunted. Mount Aspiring National Park is located in the Southern Alps of the South Island of New Zealand, north of Fiordland National Park, and between Otago and south Westland. The park forms part of the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site. It was established in 1964 as New Zealand's tenth National Park. The park covers 3,555 km² at the southern end of the Southern Alps, directly to the west of Lake Wanaka, and is popular for tramping, walking and mountaineering. Mount Aspiring/Tititea (3033 m) is the mountain which gives the park its name. Other prominent peaks within the park include Mount Pollux (2542 m) and Mount Brewster (2519 m). The Haast Pass, one of the three principal road routes across the Southern Alps, is found in the north-eastern corner of the park. Back to Top Fiordland National Park occupies the southwest corner of the South Island of New Zealand. It is the largest of the 14 national parks in New Zealand, with an area of 12,500km², and a major part of the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site. The park is administered by the Department of Conservation. During the cooler past, glaciers carved many deep fiords, the most famous (and most visited) of which is Milford Sound. Other notable fiords include Doubtful Sound and Dusky Sound. From one of the peaks within Fiordland National Park, a view of Mount Aspiring/Tititea to the far north can be observed. Fiordland's coast is steep and crenellated, with the fiords running from the valleys of the southern ranges of the Southern Alps, such as the Kepler and Murchison Mountains. At the northern end of the park, several peaks rise to over 2000 metres. Ice has carved islands from the mainland, leaving two large uninhabited offshore islands, Secretary Island and Resolution Island. Several large lakes lie wholly or partly within the park's boundaries, notably Lake Te Anau, Lake Manapouri, Lake Monowai, Lake Hauroko, and Lake Poteriteri. The Sutherland Falls, to the southwest of Milford Sound on the Milford Track, are among the world's highest waterfalls. Prevailing westerly winds blow moist air from the Tasman Sea onto the mountains; the cooling of this air as it rises produces a prodigious amount of rainfall, exceeding seven metres in many parts of the park. This supports the lush temperate rain forests of the Fiordland temperate forests ecoregion. The wildlife in this area include dolphins, seals and birds. Introduced species include mice, rats, hare and deer. Among the birds are the Kakapo, the only flightless parrot in the world. Also there is the kiwi, which is native to New Zealand. The Park is heavily forested with nothofagus trees, a large variety of understory shrubs and ferns being present; examples of the forest floor vegetation include Crown Fern, Road access to Fiordland is restricted to the Milford Road (SH 94), which runs north from Te Anau, skirting the edge of the park before entering it close to the headwaters of the Eglinton River. From there it crosses the northwest corner of the park, reaching its terminus at Milford Sound. South of Te Anau a smaller road links to Manapouri. A minor road links Doubtful Sound with the western edge of Lake Manapouri. Light aircraft and helicopter services link with Milford Sound, which also has a small boat marina. The park is a popular destination for alpine climbers and especially for trampers, with the Milford, Kepler, Hollyford and Routeburn Tracks all in or close to the park. Fiordland is a challenging tramping destination. There are few tracks. Off-track travel relies on following deer trails. Sand flies, flooding and poor weather are a hazard. Back to Top Rakiura National Park is a nature reserve park located on Stewart Island/Rakiura, New Zealand. It is the 14th of New Zealand's national parks and was officially opened on March 9, 2002. It covers 1,570km², which is about 85% of Stewart Island, New Zealand's third-largest island. The park area excludes the township area around Halfmoon Bay (Oban) and some roads as well as private or Maori-owned land further inland. It is made up of a network of former nature reserves, scenic reserves, and State Forest areas. The popular Rakiura Track is within the national park. Many native birds can be found within in the park, and Rakiura offers perhaps the best opportunity anywhere in New Zealand for viewing kiwi in the wild. This is in part due to the absence of stoats and ferrets. Certain coastal areas of this Park are breeding areas for the endangered Yellow-eyed Penguin.

Home - FAQ - About NZ - Places/Maps - Advertise Here - Contact US - Salt Water Fishing - Fresh Water Fishing - SCUBA Diving - Ocean Kayaking - White Water Rafting - Surfing - Hiking -Mountain Biking - Climbing/Canyoning - Sailing - Skiing - Helicopter Adventures - River Adventures - Scenic Flights - Dolphin/Whale Tours - 4 Wheel Fun - Horse Trekking - Articles - Photo Gallery - Links - Sponsors - Site Map

Share |