| Abel Tasman National Park | | | | Park are horse riding, fishing and indulging in an eco |
| Abel Tasman National Park, opened in 1942, is | | | | tour or some relaxation. If you are into your Lord of |
| potentially the most famous of New Zealand's national | | | | the Rings than you might find it helpful to know that |
| parks, and with good reason. It has earned its | | | | here is where South of Rivendell, Anduin River and the |
| reputation thanks to its golden sandy beaches, its | | | | Dead Marshes were filmed. |
| many rocky outcrops and its unmodified estuaries. | | | | Westland Tai Poutini National Park |
| It has a mild climate, making it a popular place to visit | | | | Westland Tai Poutini National Park (try saying that |
| year round, and with plenty of sunshine hours during | | | | fast) is found in the South Island, and it extends from |
| summer the beaches are very popular. The landscape | | | | the highest peaks of the Southern Alps to the wild and |
| tends to look scarse at times due to the early settlers | | | | remote beaches of the West Coast. |
| tendency to fire the hills to create pasture, but thanks | | | | Westland is split by the Alpine Fault, and this makes for |
| to the time it has been given forests are regenerating. | | | | some pretty dramatic scenery and features in the |
| The wildlife you can expect to see here are tui, | | | | Westland National Park. Here you will find mountains |
| bellbirds, pukekhoes, weka, dolphins, seals and even | | | | rising steeply with forested slopes until you get above |
| some penguins. | | | | the tree line and hit the permanent snowfields that |
| What to do in Abel Tasman National Park? | | | | feed the many glaciers, none more famous than Fox |
| There is plenty to see and do in and around the Abel | | | | Glacier and Franz Josef Glacier. |
| Tasman. One of the best known activities is sea | | | | Further out to the coast you will find lowland waters |
| kayaking and with plenty of operators willing to show | | | | that are home to wading birds and water-loving |
| you around you really are spoilt for choice. | | | | creatures such as the threatened kamana/crested |
| Other fantastic ways to see the park are on a sail | | | | grebe and the magnificent kotuku/white heron. |
| boat, charter boat, above in a helicopter or airplane or | | | | Throughout the park you will also stumble across |
| you can go right into the park on a guided walk and | | | | beautiful lakes, rivers and lowland forests which are |
| explore either the Inland Track or the Coastal Track, | | | | home to the only population of the endangered rowi - |
| which is one of New Zealand's Great Walks. | | | | Okarito brown kiwi. |
| Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park | | | | What is There to do in Westland Tai Poutini National |
| This national park is a beautiful yet harsh land of ice | | | | Park? |
| and rock, and amazingly 40% percent of it is covered | | | | There are some pretty unique things to do within the |
| in glaciers. The largest and longest glacier in New | | | | bounds of this National Park. You can indulge yourself |
| Zealand, the Tasman Glacer, can be found here as | | | | in some of the many walks, short and long, around. |
| well as the park's namesake, Aoraki/Mount Cook. | | | | Some of the short walks will take you right to the |
| Aoraki/Mount Cook is New Zealand's tallest peak, at | | | | terminal faces of the two famous glaciers, Fox and |
| 3754 metres, and is one of 19 peaks over 3000 | | | | Franz Josef, and to further explore the glaciers there |
| metres found in the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. | | | | are guided walks available. |
| The park is a true alpine region and with that comes | | | | If you want something a little more sedate you can |
| over 300 species of alpine plant and about 40 species | | | | relax in the hot pools in Franz Josef or treat yourself |
| of bird, including the cheeky kea. There is also plenty of | | | | to a flightseeing adventure aboard one of the local |
| invertebrate fauna. | | | | helicopters or small planes. |
| Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park can be found in the | | | | Kayaking and rafting on the local rivers and lakes is |
| Central South Island near Twizel and offers stunning | | | | spectacular and the opportunity to see unique wildlife |
| scenery for tourist and local alike. | | | | makes it all the more attractive. |
| What to do in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park? | | | | For the extreme there are options to skydive, |
| So Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park offers a very | | | | mountaineer, ski and hunt. Care needs to be taken |
| specialised environment and some of the things to do | | | | when attempting the later of these options as the |
| here really should only be attempted by professionals, | | | | environment and conditions can be extremely |
| ie mountaineering and skiing in some areas. Heli skiing | | | | challenging. |
| and snowboarding can be done in a variety of | | | | Five More New Zealand National Parks |
| locations around the park and intermediate to alpine | | | | - Arthur's Pass National Park -- a magical part of New |
| skills are required. | | | | Zealand dominated by high mountains, large scree |
| However, for those of you playing at home there is still | | | | slopes, steep gorges and wide rivers, the Arthur's |
| plenty to see and do. You can indulge yourself in one | | | | Pass National Park is situated between Canterbury |
| of the walks around. These range from very short to | | | | and the West Coast right smack in the Southern Alps. |
| multi-day walks. You do need to be well prepared if | | | | It is full of amazing scenery and differing plantlife |
| you are going to tackle one of the multi-day tramps. | | | | depending on what side of the pass you are on. It is |
| There is also some mountain biking to be done here | | | | also the path of an historical highway and unique |
| and an absolutely unique way to see the Tasman | | | | railway. |
| Glacier up close is to join Glacier Explorers boat tours. | | | | - Egmont National Park -- a beautiful part of New |
| If you are looking for something a little less strenuous | | | | Zealand dominated by the majestic peak of Mount |
| there is the option to do some flightseeing, and you | | | | Taranaki (aka Mount Egmont). Mount Taranaki |
| can even see Aoraki/Mount Cook in new light by going | | | | (pictured on the right behind the Heliview Taranaki |
| on a hot air balloon. | | | | helicopter) is a volcanic peak, now considered dormant |
| Tongariro National Park | | | | and beside it sit two extinct volcanic peaks - Kaitake |
| Tongariro National Park is one of the most visited | | | | and Pouakai. The mountain is surrounded by a lush and |
| national parks in New Zealand and with good reason. It | | | | dense rainforest and well settled and established |
| was the first national park to be established in New | | | | agricultural landscape. |
| Zealand and the fourth in the world, and is a dual | | | | - Kahurangi National Park -- one of New Zealand's |
| World Heritage area due to its significant Maori cultural | | | | largest and newest National Parks, the Kahurangi |
| associations and amazing volcanic features. | | | | National Park is full of natural and recreational |
| This is an absolutely stunning place to visit and you | | | | opportunities. It is found in the northwest corner of the |
| could spend hours just being amazed by the scenery | | | | South Island and parts of it are untracked wilderness |
| alone. | | | | paradise. Different types of rock can be found here, |
| There are three andesitic volcanoes in the middle of | | | | ranging from sedimentary to limestone to marble. The |
| the park. These are the mountains Tongariro, | | | | latter of these make for some pretty amazing caves, |
| Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu. Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe are | | | | sinkholes and natural arches. Vegetation here varies |
| two of the most active composite volcanoes in the | | | | from one side to the other and some threatened New |
| world. | | | | Zealand wildlife can be found here also. |
| The Tongariro National Park is a rough environment | | | | - Mount Aspiring National Park -- known to be a |
| and is full of strong contrasts, from barren lava flows | | | | walker's paradise the Mount Aspiring National Park |
| to winter snowfields to hot springs to active craters. | | | | combines remote wilderness with high mountains and |
| The planbtlife also varies greatly, from dense beech | | | | amazing river valleys. It provides a truely stunning |
| forest to shrubs to tussock and flax to alpine herbs. | | | | setting and is home to the highest peak outside of the |
| There are many creatures that inhabit this harsh alpine | | | | Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, Mt Aspiring. It is |
| environment including New Zealand's only native | | | | dominated by beech forest and provides those |
| mammel, the short and long tailed bats. You can also | | | | interested with many hours of walking and tramping |
| see North Island robins, fantails, parakeets and kereru | | | | fun. Care does need to be taken when tramping, |
| along with many varieties of insect that can be found | | | | however, as the environent here can be unpredictable |
| here. | | | | at times. |
| What can you do in Tongariro National Park? | | | | - Nelson Lakes National Park -- close to where I come |
| There is plenty that you can do in and around the | | | | from you will find the Nelson Lakes National Park. It is a |
| unique Tongariro National Park. One of the most | | | | beautiful spot protecting the northernmost Southern |
| common activities is walking, and with such a | | | | Alps and it's central features are Lakes Rotoiti and |
| spectacular setting its definitely a must. The most | | | | Rotoroa which form the headwaters of the mighty |
| common day trip is the Tongariro Alpine Crossing | | | | Buller River and are surrounded by some pretty |
| which is part of the larger Tongariro Northern Circuit. | | | | impressive mountains. This area is pristine and at the |
| There are also several more different multi day tramp | | | | leading edge of wildlife recovery with its Rotoiti Nature |
| options and other short walks that can be found. | | | | Recovery Project which is aiming to make and |
| Some of these walks can be quite demanding and for | | | | preserve a 'mainland island'. There is plenty of hiking, |
| all you should have some experience and know how. | | | | fishing, boating, walking and some skiing to be found in |
| The Whakapapa and Turoa Ski Areas on Mt | | | | the Nelson Lakes National Park. |
| Ruapehu are operated by Ruapehu Alpine Lifts and | | | | The Rest of the National Parks |
| offer some amazing skiing and snowboarding | | | | - Paparoa National Park -- found on the rugged West |
| opportunities with particularly good spring snow. | | | | Coast the Paparoa National Park is a unique place to |
| If you feel the need to do something that doesn't | | | | visit. It is most famous for the Pancake Rocks and the |
| involve your legs so much you can go for an amazing | | | | blowholes of Dolomite Point and is underlaid with |
| flightseeing adventure with Mountain Air or you can | | | | limestone which form most of the amazing landforms |
| spend some time on the Whanganui River jet boating, | | | | which can be found here. It is home to a variety of |
| kayaking or canoeing with several companies offering | | | | native birdlife, and vegetation in the area varies from |
| trips. | | | | areas filled with nikau palms to broadleaf forest to rata |
| For the hard outs there are also mountaineering and | | | | forest to the typical New Zealand beech forest. |
| rock climbing options to be found, just be sure you | | | | - Te Urewera National Park -- this remote and rugged |
| know your stuff and check with the appropriate | | | | national park is well-known for its amazing forests and |
| authorities and experienced people. Your best bet in | | | | beautiful pristine lakes. It's remoteness is a great thing |
| that regard is with the Department of Conservation. | | | | for the wildlife (particularly birdlife) that thrives there. It |
| Fiordland National Park | | | | contains a full complement of North Island native forest |
| Fiordland National Park is an area of rugged New | | | | birds including the whio (or blue duck) and the kokako. |
| Zealand wilderness and a large part of it is | | | | In the park you can find walks, including the Lake |
| inaccessible by road. It is the heart of the South West | | | | Waikaremoana Track, which is one of New Zealand's |
| New Zealand World Heritage Area also called Te | | | | Great Walks. You will also find opportunities for |
| Wahipounamu. | | | | boating, fishing and hunting. |
| It is one of the most amazing places to visit in New | | | | - Rakiura National Park -- the park that protects the |
| Zealand in my humble opinion and is that way because | | | | uniqueness of the Stewart Island in New Zealand's far |
| of its amazing features. You can see deep fiords (one | | | | south. There is loads of walking that can be done |
| of the most famous is Milford Sound), beautiful lakes, | | | | down here and some fantastic scenery to check out. |
| snow-capped mountains and unbroken forests. | | | | Rakiura Charters (pictured on the right) can take you |
| This magical wilderness environment is home to lots of | | | | to see some of the sights to be found here. And what |
| differing plantlife and creatures with over 700 plants | | | | exactly is here? You will find podocarp and hardwood |
| here that can be found no where else. New Zealand's | | | | forest and shrubland, grassland, wetland and alpine |
| rare flightless parrot, the kakapo, comes from Fiordland | | | | plantlife here. The west coast can get pretty pounded |
| as well and is the centre of a strenuous recovery | | | | but along the coastline you will find cliffs and sandy |
| programme. Dolphins, seals, other birdlife, mice, rats, | | | | beaches. The people here are friendly and the way of |
| possums, deer and the every present sandfly can be | | | | life is much less hurried. You also have here the best |
| found here as well. Some obviously much more | | | | opportunity to spot a New Zealand Stewart Island kiwi |
| welcome than others. | | | | and if you look up at night don't be surprised to see the |
| What is there to do in Fiordland National Park? | | | | Aurora Australis displays. All in all a pretty cool place to |
| Fiordland had been called the 'sightseeing and walking | | | | come visit. |
| capital of the world' and it's clear to see why. There | | | | - Whanganui National Park -- the Whanganui River |
| are a lot of short walks in the park and some of the | | | | forms the heart of this uniquely cultural National Park, |
| famous longer walks that are available are the Milford, | | | | and was used extensively by early Maori as they |
| Hollyford, Routeburn and Hump Ridge Tracks. Care | | | | made their way up and down the river trading and |
| needs to taken when attempting these tracks, | | | | traveling. The Park and river area are full of Wahi tapu |
| however. You can also take a guided walk on some | | | | (sacred places) and wahi taonga (treasured places) |
| of the day walks around. | | | | which are sites and landscape features with special |
| Some amazing ways to see the fiords, and particularly | | | | spiritual, emotional or historic significance to tangata |
| Milford Sound, are onboard on a boat cruise or up in | | | | whenua (or people of the land). The Whanganui |
| the air with some flightseeing. I have to say, however, | | | | National Park is where you will find the largest |
| that one of the more amazing ways to see the | | | | remaining lowland forest area in the North Island and |
| Sounds is from a kayak, and this is highly | | | | this is home to heaps of wildlife and beautiful plantlife. |
| recommended by Lonely Planet. | | | | There is a lot you can do in this park, from river related |
| Other pretty cool things to do around Fiordland National | | | | activities to walking to hunting if you are keen. |