Tongariro National Park (38°58'-39°25'S, 175°22-175°48'E) is a
World Heritage Site in the Tongariro and Wanganui regions in the
middle of North Island, New Zealand, on the central North Island
volcanic plateau. Lake Taupo lies a few kilometers (km) to the
north-east and the nearest towns are Turangi, Waiouru and
Ohakune. Auckland is some 330 km to the north-east and
Wellington is about 320 km to the south-west, by road,
respectively. The boundary encircles the Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and
Tongariro mountain massif at an altitude of 500-1,550 meters
(m). The north island main trunk railway to the east and the
National Park-Rangipo road to the north and north-east delimit
the park. An outlier, 3 km north of the main park area and
separated from it by Lake Rotoaira, includes Lake Rotopounamu,
Mount Pihanga and Mount Kakaramea. Date and History of
Establishment Established on 23 September 1887 by deed of gift
when the Paramount Chief Te Heuheu Tukino of the Ngati
Tuwharetoa people gave 2,630 hectares (ha) of the centra