Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
NZ'S NATIONAL PARKS & RESERVES
NZ has 14 national parks covering a total of 30,858 sq km, or just under 12% of the
country's landmass. They embrace almost every conceivable landscape: from spark-
ling bays and lagoons to snow-topped volcanoes, and from thickly forested wilder-
nesses to majestic mountains, glaciers and fiords.
According toThe National Parks Act(1980), they 'contain scenery of such distinct-
ive quality, ecological systems, or natural features so beautiful, unique, or scientific-
ally important that their preservation is in the national interest.' We couldn't agree
more, and Unesco seem to concur too, bestowing the honour of World Heritage status
to five of them: Tongariro on the North Island, and Fiordland, Westland Tai Poutini,
Aoraki/Mt Cook and Mt Aspiring that make up the South Island's Te Wahipounamu.
NZ's national parks, from north to south:
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Te Urewera
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Tongariro
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Whanganui
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Egmont
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Kahurangi
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Abel Tasman
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Nelson Lakes
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Paparoa
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Arthur's Pass
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Westland Tai Poutini
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Aoraki/Mt Cook
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Mt Aspiring
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Fiordland
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Rakiura
Joining these national parks are three marine parks, more than 30 marine reserves, 19
forest parks and hundreds of regional parks and reserves, together offering huge
scope for wilderness experiences, ranging from climbing, snow skiing and mountain
biking to tramping, kayaking and trout fishing.
