The national parks of New Zealand protect some of the country’s most well-known landscapes and natural attractions, such as Milford Sound, the Franz Josef Glacier, and the central volcanoes of the North Island. These parks also harbor unique flora and fauna. The parks cover more than 30,000 square kilometers, offering a variety of impressive ecosystems, including coastlines, marine reserves, mountain ranges, volcanic formations, beaches, native forests, and channels. They can be explored on foot, by car, by boat, by plane, and even by train.
New Zealand is committed to biodiversity conservation, offering a wide range of protected areas within its national park network. These areas provide various activities to learn about its culture and diverse ecosystems, with the most well-known being the Abel Tasman National Park and the Tongariro National Park.
Content
- 1 List of National Parks in New Zealand
- 1.1 Abel Tasman
- 1.2 Tongariro
- 1.3 Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park
- 1.4 Fiordland National Park
- 1.5 Kahurangi National Park
- 1.6 Nelson Lakes National Park
- 1.7 Paparoa National Park
- 1.8 Rakiura National Park
- 1.9 Arthur’s Pass National Park
- 1.10 Egmont National Park
- 1.11 Te Urewera National Park
- 1.12 Westland Tai Poutini National Park
- 1.13 Mount Aspiring National Park
- 1.14 Whanganui National Park
- 2 Location Map of New Zealand National Parks
- 3 How many national parks are there in New Zealand?
- 4 New Zealand’s Reserves and Protected Areas
List of National Parks in New Zealand
Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park
Home to Aoraki/Mount Cook, the highest mountain in New Zealand. It is famous for its alpine landscapes, glaciers, and stargazing.
Fiordland National Park
The largest in the country, located in the southwest of the South Island. Known for its towering fiords, including Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound.
Kahurangi National Park
Located in the northwest of the South Island, home to the famous Heaphy Track. Its landscape includes ancient rock formations and unique biodiversity.
Nelson Lakes National Park
Situated in the Tasman region, offering mountainous landscapes and two main lakes, Rotoiti and Rotoroa, surrounded by forests.
Paparoa National Park
Located on the west coast of the South Island, known for the Pancake Rocks formations and the Inland Pack Track trail.
Rakiura National Park
Covering most of Stewart Island, it is famous for opportunities to see the kiwi in its natural habitat and its clear night skies.
Arthur’s Pass National Park
Located in the Southern Alps, offering dramatic mountainous landscapes and hiking routes like Avalanche Peak and Bealey Spur.
Egmont National Park
Known for Mount Taranaki, a symmetrical volcano. It offers trails through rainforests and subalpine landscapes.
Te Urewera National Park
Te Urewera National Park, located in the North Island of New Zealand, encompassed a vast area of native forest and was known for its rich biodiversity and cultural significance to the Tūhoe iwi. In 2014, it ceased to be a national park and became a unique legal entity co-managed by the government and the Tūhoe.
Westland Tai Poutini National Park
Covering the west coast of the South Island, it includes the Franz Josef and Fox glaciers, and the temperate rainforest.
Mount Aspiring National Park
Located in the Otago region, offering mighty alpine landscapes and popular among climbers and hikers.
Whanganui National Park
Known for the Whanganui River, offering canoeing and hiking routes through lowland forests.
Location Map of New Zealand National Parks
How many national parks are there in New Zealand?
New Zealand has 14 national parks that protect diverse landscapes and ecosystems of the country. Additionally, there are numerous reserves and protected areas.
New Zealand’s Reserves and Protected Areas
New Zealand has numerous reserves and protected areas that complement its national parks, protecting a wide range of ecosystems and species. These areas include marine, forest, and conservation reserves that ensure the preservation of the country’s biodiversity.
For a complete list of reserves and protected areas, and more details about each park, you can visit the New Zealand Department of Conservation website (Haere mai).