National Park, New Zealand - Definition and Overview

National Park is a small town on the central plateau of the North Island of New Zealand. As the name suggests, it is located close to Tongariro National Park, New Zealand's first national park.

The town is sited close to the junction of State Highways 4 and 47, half way between Raetihi and Taumarunui and 45 kilometres southwest of the southern shore of Lake Taupo. It is also 15 kilometres from one of the country's main skifields, Whakapapa, on the slopes of the active volcano, Mount Tongariro.

To the northwest of the town, the North Island Main Trunk railway performs the convoluted dance that is the Raurimu Spiral, one of New Zealand's most impressive feats of engineering.