If you love world-class hiking, rugged terrain and beautiful views, you will LOVE Tongariro National Park.

The 80,000-ha park is New Zealand’s oldest national park and a dual UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its profound cultural significance and otherworldly scenery. It's no surprise that around one million people visit each year!

Movie fans might recognise Tongariro as the park that doubled as Mordor in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The volcanic landscapes created an otherworldly backdrop for the movies, with Mount Ngauruhoe starring as Mount Doom.

However, the national park is probably best known for being the home of the famous Tongariro Alpine Crossing, a 21-km through-hike that takes you to the top of volcanic craters and through active geothermal landscapes. It’s widely considered one of the world’s most incredible day hikes!

To be culturally respectful

Before you set out and explore, it's important to know that many areas around that park are recognised as tapu (sacred) by Ngāti Rangi (the local iwi). These sacred sites connect Māori to their whakapapa (ancestors) and serve as a pathway for communication with the gods.

The three mountains/active volcanoes, Mount Ngauruhoe, Mount Tongariro and Mount Ruapehu, are known in Māori as Te Kāhui Tupua, which translates to “the sacred peaks”. Please respect the significance of the area by paying attention to any trail signs and practising Leave No Trace.

When to visit

Your reason for visiting this corner of New Zealand will depend on your month of travel. In the summer months, thousands of people hit the world-renowned hiking trails. In the winter, however, you’ll head to Mount Ruapehu to hit the slopes at Whakapapa and Turoa on your cosy mountain getaway.

Where to stay

If you’re planning a trip here, I recommend staying in Ohakune, the liveliest town in the area. Alternatively, you can stay in the National Park if you’d like a quieter, cosier, more remote experience.

Know before you go

Remember that it is a sacred site with profound cultural importance. If you are planning a visit to Tongariro National Park, remember:

• It may be tempting to summit Mount Ngauruhoe for "even better views" but please remember the mountain is tapu and while climbing isn't illegal, it is strongly, strongly discouraged. The Department of Conservation has removed all trail markers leading to Mount Ngauruhoe and asks hikers to respect the significance of the mountain's peak by not climbing it. You will get incredible views along the Tongariro Crossing!

• You'll also see Blue Lake along the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Blue Lake is the most sacred site in Tongariro National Park, and it's believed that this is the place where the spirit world touches the living world. Please respect its cultural significance by not touching, entering, eating, or drinking around its shores.

1. Always be prepared, as the weather can change quickly. You must come prepared with the right gear, including warm layers, sun protection, first aid and plenty of food and water. Check out my travel tips for more information!

2. Leave no trace and take all of your rubbish with you. There are no bins in the national park, so you must ‘pack in and pack out.’

3. You cannot take drones into the national park, so please leave them at home.