Taranaki/ Mount Egmont National Park

Taranaki or Mount Egmont National Park is located in the south-west part of the North Island. The main characteristic of the region is the main peak, Te Maunga O Taranaki in Maori; with a height of 2,518 m it is the highest mountain on the North Island. According to Maori legend Taranaki previously lived with the Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu mountains of the central North Island but fled to its current location after a battle with Tongariro. The volcano itself last erupted in the mid-18th century. Although the Maori name has been around for many centuries, it was Captain James Cook who re-named it Egmont after the Earl of Egmont, the person who had encouraged him to undertake one of his expeditions. The region itself stretches over an area of 7,258 km2 and has is home to an estimated population of 105,000. The biggest town is New Plymouth that services a wider rural community in the western part of the North Island. There are a number of easy, short walks to choose from within the National Park. In winter the slopes of the mountain are frequently used for skiing and snowboarding.