There are 13 national parks and they feature 12,000 kilometres of walking tracks and 1,000 huts for overnight stays. Trails range from 15-minute scenic walks to demanding multi-day hikes and ice or mountain climbs – you need to don a pair of hiking boots to explore some of the most pristine corners of New Zealand.
Many of the national parks are recognized not only in New Zealand but internationally; the North Island’s Tongariro National Park, for example, is a World Heritage Site of natural and cultural significance, while in the South Island, four national parks – Westland Tai Poutini, Aoraki Mount Cook, Fiordland, and Mount Aspiring – combine to form another World Heritage Site, Te Wahipounamu.
The numerous regional parks are very close to cities, providing easy access to great outdoor adventures that range from wildlife walks and mountain bike tracks to cultural tours.
National Parks in North Island
- Egmont National Park
- Te Urewera (former national park)
- Tongariro National Park
- Whanganui National Park
National Parks in South Island
- Abel Tasman National Park
- Arthur’s Pass National Park
- Fiordland National Park
- Kahurangi National Park
- Mount Aspiring National Park
- Mount Cook National Park
- Nelson Lakes National Park
- Paparoa National Park
- Westland Tai Poutini National Park
National Park in Stewart Island
- Rakiura National Park