Tongariro National Park


World Heritage Identification Number: 421

World Heritage since: 1990

Category: Mixed Cultural Heritage and Natural Heritage

Transboundary Heritage: No

Endangered Heritage: No

Country: 🇳🇿 New Zealand

Continent: Oceania

UNESCO World Region: Asia and the Pacific

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Tongariro National Park: A Unique Blend of Cultural Significance and Natural Beauty

Tongariro National Park, situated in the central North Island of New Zealand, is a remarkable testament to the harmonious coexistence of cultural heritage and breathtaking natural beauty. Established in 1887, it was the first national park in the country and the sixth globally. In 1990, it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, making it one of the few sites worldwide that hold such distinction based on their mixed cultural and natural values.

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UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

In 1993 Tongariro became the first property to be inscribed on the World Heritage List under the revised criteria describing cultural landscapes. The mountains at the heart of the park have cultural and religious significance for the Maori people and symbolize the spiritual links between this community and its environment. The park has active and extinct volcanoes, a diverse range of ecosystems and some spectacular landscapes.

Encyclopedia Record: Tongariro National Park

Tongariro National Park, located in the central North Island, is the oldest national park in New Zealand and the sixth national park established in the world. It has been recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site for its mixed cultural and natural values.

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Additional Site Details

Area: 79,596 hectares

UNESCO Criteria: (vi) — Directly associated with events or living traditions
(vii) — Contains superlative natural phenomena or beauty
(viii) — Outstanding example representing major earth stages

Coordinates: -39.29083333 , 175.5622222

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Image of Tongariro National Park

© Unknown, CC BY 2.5 Resized from original.

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Nearby World Heritage Sites

Te Wahipounamu – South West New Zealand
932 km — New Zealand

Country Information: New Zealand

Flag of New Zealand

Official Name: New Zealand

Capital: Wellington

Continent: Oceania

Population (2024): 5,338,500

Population (2023): 5,245,000

Population (2022): 5,117,100

Land Area: 263,310 sq km

Currency: New Zealand dollar (NZD)

Country Data Sources

Last updated: January 18, 2026

Portions of the page Tongariro National Park are based on data from UNESCO — World Heritage List Dataset and on text from the Wikipedia article Tongariro National Park, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes made. Additional original content by World Heritage Explorer (WHE), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. WHE is not affiliated with UNESCO or the World Heritage Committee. Legal Notice. Privacy Policy.

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