Tongariro Travel Guide

The name Tongariro originally covered the three mountains of the park (Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu) and comes from tonga (south wind) and riro (carried away). The story goes that Ngatoro-i-rangi was stuck on the summit and had almost perished from the cold. He called to his sisters in Hawaiki for fire and his words were carried to them on the south wind.

Tongariro is one of the country's most spectacular parks with mighty (and still working) volcanoes.