High on the central plateua of the North Island is the Tongariro National Park. The National Park consists of three major peaks Mount Tongariro, Mount Nqauruhoe, Mount Ruapehu, given to the country by Horonuku Te Heuheu Tukino and chief of the Ngati Tuwhretoa people in 1887 - New Zealand’s first national park. In the winter the attraction is the skiing in the summer the walking, or tramping. I stayed in the National Park Village and the National Park Backpackers, a hostel with New Zealands highest climbing wall, (from sea level). Spent the first evening at the hostel climbing around on the indoor walls, the first time I have climbed and really enjoyed it. On an indoor wall the holds are all marked really clearly, but allows you to gain strength and technique in a very safe
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