Tongariro National Park is located in the central North Island. It is easily accessed by road, and is only a 4-5 hour drive from either Auckland or Wellington. The nearest towns are Taumarunui, National Park Village, Ohakune and Tūrangi. The small village of Whakapapa is located within the park. Road access Driving State highways surround the park and lead to key access points. Whakapapa. Tongariro is New Zealand's oldest national park and a UNESCO World Heritage area. The park’s stunning natural landscapes are imbued with deep cultural importance. Tongariro National Park is located in the central North Island. It is easily accessed by road, and is only a 4-5 hour drive from either Auckland or Wellington. The nearest towns are Taumarunui, National Park Village, Ohakune and Tūrangi. The small village of Whakapapa is located within the park. Road access Driving State highways surround the park and lead to key access points. Whakapapa. In 1894, Tongariro National Park was established - the first for Aotearoa (New Zealand), and fourth in the world. Legal ownership of the sacred mountain peaks increased significantly from the original 2,640 hectare tuku into a 25,000 hectare land block vested solely in the Crown. Call in to the Tongariro National Park Visitor Centre, situated in Whakapapa Village, and meet Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai (DOC) rangers who have first-hand, in-depth local knowledge about conservation places and activities. A peaceful campsite beside a stream on the edge of the Tongariro National Park. Tongariro is New Zealand's oldest national park and a dual World Heritage area. This status recognises the park's important Māori cultural and spiritual associations as well as its outstanding volcanic features. Description Tongariro fires 2025 Two fires recently burned significant areas of Tongariro National Park, affecting the area around the start of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Visitors can expect to see blackened landscapes and burnt vegetation, but also regrowth as plants begin to recover. The Rangipo Desert is dryer than most areas in Tongariro National Park as it is sited in the rain shadow to the east of Mt Ruapehu. The track passes Ohinepango Springs then traverses the eastern side of Ruapehu, past the Tukino Mountain Road, the Whangaehu River, eventually arriving at Rangipo Hut. Winning a whio adventure in Tongariro National Park was “an amazing experience” according to Palmerston North student Sarah Ridsdale… I arrived at Whakapapa Village and met Bubs, the local whio ranger.