New Zeland´s National Parks

New Zeland has 13 National Parks. National Parks cover 2,7 million hectars. That´s 700 km2
Five of them are in UNESCO World Heritage Area. These are Fiorland, Mount Aspiring,
Westland National Park, Tongario N.P. and Mount Cook N.P. Each of New Zeland´s National Park has its own original geologic and bio face.
Department of Conservation - D.O.C. - administers all New Zeland´s National Parks, Ecotourism grow up each year and D.O.C. is under pressure to maintaim the flood of people.

Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park
It was proclaimed in year 1953. First climb was done in year 1894. Mt Cook N.P. with Westland N.P. forms a Heritage Park. In Mt Cook´s park are 145 peaks over 2 000 m and 26 peaks over 3 000m above the sea level. Mount Cook is with it´s 3754 metres the highest mountain on New Zeland. Second name for this mountain is Aoraki.
In Mt Cooks N.P. is over 750 native flowering plants. 40% of the park is covered by glaciers. Biggest glacier is Tasman glacier. It´s 27 km long and at places 3 km wide and 600m deep. In Park are 72 named glaciers. Glaciers are a mojor force shaping the Mt Cook National Park.
Because of Parks big altitude have local temperatures differences. In winter from - June to August - there is about minus 10 degrees Celsius and snowfalls aren´t uncommen. In summer - that´s from December to February - there can be 30 degrees Celsius. There´s high level of rainfalls each year. Above 4 000 milimeters per year.
In Park is allowed numeber of outdoor activities: walking, running, mountain biking, hunting, skiing, climbing. Park´s mountains are the best for climbing in New Zeland. Despite of dangerous avanches and unstable greywacke (droba) rock.
Mt Cook has Mount Cook Village. Here are lot of tourist facilities, including two tennis courts and volleyball court.

Tongario National Park
This is first New Zeland´s N.P. Because of natural landscapes values there was in year 1988 declared a World Heritage Site. And in 1993 there was declared another World Heritage Site. It was because of an old Maori cultur.
In Park is volcanic Mount Ruapehu. In 1996 it erupted and covered surrounding countryside and towns with steam and ash. Also it sends streams of mud and water down the ski slopes. In spite of this is Mt Ruapehu popular ski-mountain.
The biggest eruption was in 186 and that´s why the lake Taupo was created.
Parks sargest peak is 2 797 m high. In this park you can go fishing, skiing, climbing, rafting, tramping and boating.

Nelson Lakes National Park
There are lakes Rotoiti and Rotoroa. In National Park lives many uncommon birds, including the parrot Kaka. D.O.C. wants to realize Rotoiti Nature Recovery Project. It would be an imitation of real island in the middle of the Rotoiti lake. From there will be removed all imported animals and only aboriginal animals will let to live there.
There is one legend known about Nelson Lakes: Maors king traveled into mountains and on his trip he made two nig holes. Then he put in them water and food for another Maors. Maors were going that track regulary, when they were going to Greenstone. Greenstone was somethin like their god. The lakes were with their fish important food source on their trips.

Abel Tasman National Park
It is smallest New Zeland´s National Park. It´s great recreatiom area. It is known for its golden sand beaches - especially Golden Bay. There are lagoons and coastal forests too. This park dosn´t allow biking.
Near Nelson Region and Golden Bay fast becoming tourist interest. Its for culture crafts and pottery and for unique beauty nature.

Kahurangi National Park
It´s newest and second largest National Park in New Zeland. Kahurangi National Park is popular through Heaphy Track. It leeds from Karamea on the west coast right up to Golden Bay. Throw the Kahurangi National Park goes a lot of biking tracks and hiking trails.
Nikau Palms, form of the coastal forest along the Heaphy Track, is the main factor why there is tropical rainforest atmosphere.

Fiorland National Park
Fiorland N.P. is fifth largest N.P. in the world. It´s also the UNESCO Heritage Area. There are 14 fiords which were created by glaciers. Very popular is one fiord - Milford Sound. Along Milford Sound and other fiords goes Milford Track. It´s in great demand, so you must be booked ahead one year when you want to go there. There is another beautiful track - Roteburn track - and on this you shouldn´t be booked.
When fiords were flowing eastwards they made deep basins. These basins were filled by lakes Te Anau and Manapouri lake.
In Fiorland Park is aboriginal rainforest. Main town in this area is Queenstown. From there you can make helicopter trips, kayaking, rafting, skiing, paragliding and bungy jumping.

Westland National Park
Westland N.P. is full of glaciers and lagoons. There are lakes and native, very wet, rainforest too. Here grows New Zelands tallest tree - Kahikatea. Its wood is easily worked. It grows in lowlands forest and swamps. It´s the evergreen tree. In Okario lagoon lives thousand of birds. Including White heron which breeds here.
In enter is small coastal town Punakaiki. In N.P. isn´t allowed farming or pastoralism. So local people live from eco-tourism. Along the coast is great road for mountain biking. But it´s a little bit dangerous because the west coast is very sheer and stony.
Westland National Park belongs in World Heritage Area.