Tongariro National Park is the oldest national park located in the central North Island of
New Zealand. Actually, I knew the park at the first time because it is one of
the several locations (Mount Tongariro) where Peter Jackson shot the film
series “The Lord of the Rings”! Because of the spectacular landscapes, diverse
range of ecosystems as well as the great significance of the active and extinct
volcanoes to the local Māori, Tongariro National Park has been acknowledged by
UNESCO as one of the 29 mixed cultural and natural World Heritage Sites. This postcard
shows the three active volcanoes in the park that dominate the landscape of the central
North Island. Among them, Mount Tongariro (in the
foreground) is the most ancient one while Mount Ngauruhoe (centre) is the
youngest. Particularly, Mount Ngauruhoe is about 5000 years old and still retains
its distinct cone shape. Mount Ruapehu is the southern most of the three, at
2797m it is also the highest mountains in the North Island. Many thanks to kind
friend Aaron, for this awesome card and the lovely bee stamp!
