Egmont National Park (N.Z.)

Egmont National Park (Māori: Te Papakura o Taranaki) is located south of New Plymouth, close to the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. The park covers three volcanic cones: Mount Taranaki and its slopes, Pouakai and Kaitake. The park was first created in 1881 as a forest reserve and went on to become New Zealand’s second national park, preceded by Tongariro National Park, in 1900. The forest reserve was created within a 6-mile (9.6-kilometre) radius around the cone of the dormant Mount Taranaki volcano. Areas encompassing the older volcanic remnants of Pouakai and Kaitake were later added to the reserve at the northwest side. The forest is surrounded on all sides by pasture, giving it a distinctly circular shape.