New Zealand is famous for being one of the most picturesque countries in the world as well as being one of the most travel-friendly countries. The national parks in New Zealand reflect the beauty and natural diversity of the Pacific island nation. New Zealand is reasonably large — a similar landmass to the state of Colorado — but spread out over a much larger area because of its irregular shape.
When going to New Zealand, the national parks are some of the most important attractions — and in New Zealand, the national parks are all free. New Zealand currently has 13 national parks and all of them are utterly stunning. Here are some of the best national parks in New Zealand.
10 Fiordland National Park
Milford Sound, Fiordland national park, New Zealand
Fiordland National Park is by far the largest National Park in the nation and is located in the southwest of the South Island. Fiordland National Park protects some of the most unspoiled landscapes in the country and some of the most dramatic. It is famous for its majestic mountains, alpine lakes, timeless forests, and breathtaking fjords.
- Fiordland’s most famous fjords are Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound.
9 Tongariro National Park
Emerald lakes in Tongariro National Park, New Zealand
Tongariro National Park is located in the heart of the North Island and protects other-worldly volcanic landscapes.
It is most famous for the Tongariro Crossing where visitors spend a day trekking through the lands used for filming Mordor in the Lord of the Rings. Travelers will love seeing the emerald-colored alpine lakes and volcanic cones and other volcanic features.
8 Arthur’s Pass National Park
lookout of The Otira Viaduct. Arthur’s Pass National Park
Arthur’s Pass is at the center of the South Island and protects some of the most dramatic mountains of the Southern Alps. It is the only national park that can be accessed by train in New Zealand, which makes for not only an amazing sightseeing experience, but a comfortable one, too.
7 Mount Aspiring National Park
Mountains and lakes in Mount Aspiring National Park, New Zealand
Mount Aspiring National Park is located along the southern part of the Southern Alps. The mountains here are famous as some of the most dramatic in New Zealand, and many aspire to see (and climb) them.
They may not be as tall as those of Mount Cook National Park which has the tallest mountains in the country, but they are equally dramatic in their own right.
6 Mount Egmont National Park
Mount Taranaki in New Zealand
Mount Egmont National Park is another of the best national parks on the North Island. The park protects Mount Taranaki (also called Mount Egmont) — it is one of the most beautiful and iconic cone volcanoes in New Zealand.
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Mount Taranaki is normally snow-capped and rises dramatically up out of the plains. It was even used to represent Japan’s Mount Fuji in the 2003 Tom Cruise movie,
The Last Samurai.
5 Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park
Mount Cook in the Southern Alps
Mount Cook is the tallest mountain in New Zealand and is permanently snow-capped with glaciers descending dramatically from its peaks.
4 Abel Tasman National Park
Magnificent view of Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand
Abel Tasman National Park is named in honor of the first European to discover New Zealand (a Dutchman) and the park protects some of New Zealand’s most dramatic coastal scenery.
It has the Abel Tasman Track, one of the Great Walks of New Zealand that explores some of the most picturesque beaches in the country.
3 Rakiura National Park
Stewart Island From The Air
Rakiura National Park is the only national park in New Zealand not located on one of the two main islands. Rakiura National Park covers around 85% of New Zealand’s third island, Stewart Island (also called Rakiura).
It is the youngest of the national parks and perhaps the most remote. It is also one of the few places in New Zealand where is reasonably easy to see the iconic kiwi bird in the wild with a special tour.
2 Westland Tai Poutini National Park
Tourists trekking at Fox Glacier, New Zealand
The Westland Tai Poutini National Park is famous in New Zealand as it protects the most popular glaciers, Fox Glacier and Franz Josef Glacier. It extends from the peaks of the Southern Alps to the rainforests of the remote South Island’s West Coast.
The rainforests are dramatic, and the glaciers are some of the only opportunities to almost see a glacier descend into a rainforest.
1 Whanganui National Park
Whanganui National Park, North Island
Whanganui National Park is one of the national parks on the North Island, and it protects some of the unspoiled lands boarding the Whanganui River.
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Taking
a multiday rafting trip
down the Whanganui River is one of the most rewarding things people can do in New Zealand and is the only “Great Walk” that isn’t actually walking.
No matter which National Park travelers venture to in New Zealand, they are sure to make memories and maybe some gorgeous snapshots to remember the adventure with.