National Park is a small town on the North Island Central Plateau in New Zealand. Also known as National Park Village, it is the highest urban township in New Zealand, at 825 metres. Its name derives from its location just outside the boundary of Tongariro National Park, New Zealand's first national park, created in 1887. The village has great views of Mount Tongariro, Mount Ngauruhoe and Mount Ruapehu. I spotted this display sign welcoming visitors as we drove into National Park along state highway 47. The parking opportunities along here are limited but with care you can get a vehicle mostly off the highway and avoid the ditches. Be prepared to wade through water or snow to reach the sign. I wore gumboots and it was a good move. The sign is protected by a moat! For safety reasons, I would keep the kids in the car. It is a state highway.