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3 Best National Parks To Explore In New Zealand In 2023

Ngauruhoe in Tongariro National Park, New Zealand
Ngauruhoe, National Parks of New Zealand [Image by Makalu from Pixabay]

Nestled in the Pacific Ocean, New Zealand is an island nation spread over two main islands, North Island and South Island. Here, nature seekers can find many opportunities to go hiking, spot wildlife and generally have fun exploring the country’s 13 national parks, including World Heritage Sites. The following are xxx of the best national parks to explore in New Zealand in 2023.

1. Tongariro National Park, North Island

Tongariro National Park, New Zealand
Tongariro National Park, North Island, New Zealand [Image by Frank Ravizza from Pixabay]

Located in Taupo and the Ruapehu Region of North Island, Tongariro National Park is an awe-inspiring landscape of the alpine desert, dominated by three volcanoes – Tongariro, Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe.

One of the most popular crossings is a single-day wilderness walk across the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. The challenging hike skirts the base of two of the mountains offering stunning landscapes of the craters, lakes and Central Plateau. However, it should be noted that due to the crossing’s popularity, visitor numbers have been limited by the DOC, so it’s best to book early. Visit the park’s official website here.

Meanwhile, Tongariro has been granted two UNESCO World Heritage statuses for the volcanic landscape, as well as the cultural importance for the Māori people.

2. Arthur’s Pass National Park, South Island

Arthur's Pass National Park, South Island
Views of Arthur’s Pass National Park [Image by irapua from Pixabay]

Arthur’s Pass National Park became the first national park on New Zealand’s South Island in 1929. The park straddles the Southern Alps while the rest is in Westland. Moreover, the terrain is mountainous and rugged, with deep valleys and crossed by the Taramakau River at Mt. Murchison.

Hikers have a number of clearly marked day hikes to enjoy through the park and particularly around Arthur’s Pass village. To find out more about the available hikes, read the DOC’s Discover Arthur’s Pass booklet which is available here. One particularly popular 2½ hour return hike is the Arthur’s Pass Walkway. This fairly easy trail takes hikers from the village to the Dobson Memorial at the summit. Meanwhile, a one-hour return hike is clearly marked to Devil’s Punchbowl Falls. For a steeper and longer hike (three hours return), head out to see the amazing views at Temple Basin.

3. Abel Tasman National Park, South Island

Abel Tasman National Park, South Island
Abel Tasman National Park, South Island [Image by Ricardo Helass from Pixabay]

The stunning Abel Tasman National Park lines South Island’s coast of limestone and marble hills extending to Kahurangi National Park. While the national park has a number of popular trails, the most popular is the Coast Track, which is known as New Zealand’s most popular Great Walk.

One of the major reasons for the coast track’s popularity is the idyllic, golden-sand beaches along the way. While a few of the beaches can be reached by road, non-hikers can access others by water taxi, kayak, or boat transfer. Naturally, Great Walkers will get to experience the entire, spectacular coast.

Find out more about these three parks and more on the official website for New Zealand’s national parks.