The best National Parks in New Zealand

So how do you get to experience the best National Parks in New Zealand on your trip to Aotearoa? There are no shortages of natural wonders around New Zealand to explore with almost every variety of outdoors environment found in nature. From dunes to beaches, ancient forests to fiords, otherworldly volcanic landscapes to glaciers – and much more. Across New Zealand, there are 13 national parks showcasing breathtaking and unique geodiversity and biodiversity across 30,000 kilometres.

The great thing about these incredible earthly works of art across the Land of the Long White Cloud is that they are easily accessible. They can be explored by foot, boat, and air. And of course by driving through the captivating and transforming terrains of Aotearoa on an epic road trip! Wild Kiwi helps get your fill of environmental delights here in New Zealand, and these are the Top 5 National Parks in New Zealand you’ll get to visit!

Fiordland National Park & Milford Sound

Ethereal is one way to describe Fiordland National Park. Spanning 12,500+ kilometres it is bound to leave you in that smooshed face to the window mouth open in awe style the whole drive. In the largest National Park of New Zealand, you’ll get to visit the unreal landscapes of Milford Sound on a ferry through the fantastical sights of the fiord.

On a clear day, in one of the best National Parks in New Zealand you can see the jagged Mitre Peak piercing the sky, surrounded by dizzyingly steep fiord walls that are topped with lush rainforest, with waterfalls plummeting over the sheer sides. Keep an eye out for the pods of bottlenose dolphins that love to put on a show, leaping high into the air. And even on an overcast day, Milford Sound has a mystical ambience, as the fiord waters appear like dark obsidian and the waterfalls seem to descend from the clouds.

Experience Fiordland National Park on our Wild Kiwi Southern Voyager and Big South tours.

Abel Tasman National Park

One of our favourite outdoors excursions on the South Island of New Zealand, Abel Tasman has a wonderfully unique way to experience the best the national park has to offer. Though it’s the smallest National park, there are heaps of hikes in the area and breezy seaside strolls, but our preferred way to explore is by land AND sea.

Hop in a kayak and paddle your way along this coastal paradise, with ancient flora skirting the rugged marble and granite cliffsides while listing to the songs of tui birds and the abundance of native wildlife around. Wave to the fur seals lazying the day away on the warm rocks and take your own break when needed with a picnic on a sliver of the soft sand beach. The reason this is our favourite excursion is the sea-to-land loop – after kayaking along the coast you get to hike your way back for a wholly different experience along the winding trails beneath canopies of giant ferns.

Experience Abel Tasman National Park on our Wild Kiwi Southern Loop, Big South, and NZ Adventurer tours.

Tongariro National Park (And Crossing)

Next on our list of the best National Parks in New Zealand is the incredible Tongariro National Park. The lands around Tongariro National Park just feel magical and are some of the most important regions spiritually for the Māori people. And it’s no wonder – iridescent pools of emerald, jade, and topaz colours pop from the dark crimson craters. Lava flows and steam vents dot the distant marbled ridges across the changing landscapes. On the horizon looms the smouldering Mount Ngauruhoe, aka Mount Doom from Lord of the Rings, but no movie magic is needed as these awe-inspiring surroundings are completely real.

The national park as a whole is sprawling, with easier hikes across plains of golden grass and through moss-tufted mountain beech forests to cascading waterfalls. But the main highlight is New Zealand’s greatest day hike – the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. This hike, arduous at times, takes you across mind-blowing active volcanic landscapes that is one hike you’ll never forget. Just remember to pick up your jaw when you finish!

Experience Tongariro National Park on our Wild Kiwi Northern Voyager, NZ Explorer, and NZ Discovery tours.

Westland National Park & Franz Josef

Imagine standing amongst shimmering blue shards of ice, breath frosting before you, while staring into a river valley of waterfalls weeping from the dramatic rock faces that fan out revealing the dense rainforest beyond. Welcome to Westland National Park and the famous South Island attraction of Franz Josef Glacier, a bewildering and breathtaking flourish of Mother Nature’s beauty as the glacier-fed ice spills 2,600 meters into the valley.

Here you can witness this wonder of Papatūānuku (Earth Mother in Māori) up close in all its glory with a helicopter glacier hike. Or if you prefer to stay grounded, tramp along the winding trails from town to the foot of the ice melt. For those hungry for a little adrenaline, hop on a quad and explore the dense rainforest and splash across the low rivers fed by the Franz Josef Glacier, or why not go big and skydive to get a birdseye view of this remarkable national park.

Aoraki Mount Cook National Park

It’s fully acceptable to continually whisper “wow” when you first lay eyes on New Zealand’s tallest peak and the dazzling surroundings of Aoraki Mount Cook National Park. Far away from city lights, the snow-covered peaks sparkle in the daytime with glaciers floating in the murky blue waters. At night, the star-studded sky shines brighter than you’ve ever seen before because of Mount Cook’s dark sky reserve that restricts light in the park at night.

A must-do afternoon hike is the Hooker Valley Track which snakes through the valley over rivers and suspension bridges to a glacial pool where you can test your mettle with a dip in the icy waters. At night, cozy up and don’t miss the baffling cosmic display at the dark sky reserve where you can stargaze like never before.

Experience Fiordland National Park on our Wild Kiwi Southern Voyager, NZ Explorer, and Big South tours.

Bookmark this article and keep these unbelievably beautiful national parks in mind for your epic Wild Kiwi escape!