#OurWorldIsAwesome – Edition 17
Tongariro National Park on the North Island of New Zealand is one of the earliest national parks ever established in the world. It has dual World Heritage status – recognized for both its Māori cultural significance and its outstanding volcanic features.
In fact, it was the first property in the world to be inscribed on the World Heritage List for its cultural landscape. Some Māori view the mountains as their ancestors, with the peaks being the heads of the ancestors.
The park covers 80,000 hectares and has a truly unique landscape – a combination of volcanic and alpine terrain with three volcanoes: Tongariro, Ngauruhoe, and Ruapehu. Ruapehu is the tallest active volcano in New Zealand and the highest point on the North Island.
The fascinating part about Tongariro is the variety. It features a ski resort on one side and really barren volcanic landscapes on the other.
We hiked a portion of the famous Tongariro Alpine Crossing and got to see barren landscapes, including some that were shot around Mount Doom in the Lord of the Rings films. Mount Doom itself is a digitally altered version of Mount Ngauruhoe.
At the same time, you could go into another area close by and it was lush – like Tawhai Falls, the famous Gollum’s Pool.
Similarly, you could take a hike to Taranaki Falls.
On the way to the falls, it’s a more rugged and unshaded volcanic landscape. On the way back, you’re going through a thick old forest.
That diversity makes Tongariro National Park a fascinating place to visit.
A Learning a Day 