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National parks

New Zealand has 13 national parks, each offering its own unique landscape. Two North Island parks, Tongariro and Egmont, centre on volcanoes while the third, Whanganui, has a river at its heart. The South Island offers the coastal karst of Paparoa and Abel Tasman, the mountaineering challenges of Mount Aspiring and Aoraki / Mount Cook, the classic tramping of Nelson Lakes, Arthur's Pass, and Kahurangi, the remote wilderness of Westland and Fiordland. Further south, Rakiura incorporates the majority of Stewart Island.

Entry into New Zealand national parks is unrestricted although motor vehicles and bicycles are prohibited. Services within parks are very limited. Visitors should be self-sufficient. Free camping is allowed. A large number of public huts are available in the parks, generally on a first-come-first served basis for a small fee.

Abel Tasman National Park

Place. National Park. 225.33km². Updated 20 November 201220 November 2012.

In many ways, the track that explores the golden shoreline of this coastal park and the park itself have become synonymous. When people say "Abel Tasman," they invariably mean both the park, New Zealand's smallest, and the track, New Zealand's ... More ▶︎

Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park

Place. National Park. 706.96km². Updated 25 February 201425 February 2014.

A climbers' park surrounding New Zealand's highest peak, Aoraki / Mount Cook, at 3724m. Mount Cook National Park is part of Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Area. The Copland Track is a classic crossing of Copland Pass (2150m), leading from Mount ... More ▶︎

Arthur's Pass National Park

Place. National Park. 1145.00km². Updated 4 September 20144 September 2014.

This alpine park straddles the Main Divide of the Southern Alps, with dry beech forests in the east and damp podocarp forests to the west. While lacking the international icon tracks, Arthur's Pass is a popular park with local trampers, ... More ▶︎

Fiordland National Park

Place. National Park. 12570.00km². Updated 20 November 201220 November 2012.

New Zealand's largest park, with large areas of impenetrable wilderness. Includes the Glaisnock and Pembroke Wilderness Areas. Fiordland National Park is part of Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Area. Highest point: 2746m (Mt Tutoko). More ▶︎

Kahurangi National Park

Place. National Park. 4520.02km². Updated 16 May 201916 May 2019.

New Zealand's second largest, and youngest national park, dating from 1996. A large area of land at the top of the South Island with some easier and some more challenging walking along lengthy tracks. Home to the most diverse flora ... More ▶︎

Mount Aspiring National Park

Place. National Park. 3555.18km². Updated 24 September 201124 September 2011.

The third-largest national park, although most of its space is under-utilised. The Routeburn is the second busiest trail in New Zealand. The Olivine Wilderness Area is located in this park. Mount Aspiring National Park is part of Te Wahipounamu World ... More ▶︎

Nelson Lakes National Park

Place. National Park. 1017.53km². Updated 28 September 201128 September 2011.

An alpine park of beech forests, valleys, and glacial lakes, offering some relatively easy walking. Established in 1956. Highest point: 2340m (Mt Franklin). More ▶︎

Paparoa National Park

Place. National Park. 305.60km². Updated 15 January 202015 January 2020.

A land of cliffs, gorges, caves, and disappearing rivers, draped in rich coastal forest. More ▶︎

Rakiura National Park

Place. National Park. 1570.00km². Updated 2 November 20092 November 2009.

New Zealand's newest and southernmost park, on Stewart Island. More ▶︎

Te Papakura o Taranaki

Place. National Park. 335.34km². Updated 29 March 202229 March 2022.

Encircling the symmetrical cone of Mt Taranaki, this is New Zealand's second national park, dating from 1900, and originally named Egmont National Park. More ▶︎

Tongariro National Park

Place. National Park. 790.00km². Updated 21 November 201221 November 2012.

New Zealand's first national park andand one of the first to be created anywhere in the world. The volcanic heart of the North Island was given to the Crown by Horonuku Te Heuheu Tukino IV in 1887 and gazetted as ... More ▶︎

Westland / Tai Poutini National Park

Place. National Park. 1316.00km². Updated 25 February 201425 February 2014.

This park stretches from the coastline along the Tasman Sea to the peaks of the Southern Alps. Westland National Park is part of Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Area. More ▶︎

Whanganui National Park

Place. National Park. 742.31km². Created 10 June 200610 June 2006.

Lowland forest surrounding the long and sinuous Whanganui River, the longest navigable river in New Zealand. New Zealand's 11th national park, gazetted in 1986. More ▶︎

Number of parks	13
Total area	2,945,260 square kilometres
That's	11.0% of New Zealand
Largest park	Fiordland National Park 12,570.00 square kilometres
Smallest park	Abel Tasman National Park 225.33 square kilometres