Tongariro National Park

Even before The Lord of the Rings put this national park, a 30-minute drive south of Taupo, on the map (much of the finale was filmed here), it was one of New Zealand's best known. The nearly 200,000 acre park comprises three active volcanoes, Ruapehu, Tongariro and Ngauruhoe the latter of which stood in for Mount Doom in Peter Jackson's films (it truly looks like the type of cone-shaped volcano a child might draw).

For avid hikers the park is renowned for its challenging, multi-day Tongariro Alpine Crossing hike, which can also be done in an abbreviated version in the course of a day (hikers should be very fit; there's a reason the word "alpine" is in the description). One of the highlight of this hike are the spectacular Emerald Lakes, which appear like visions of lush, green life in the middle of the barren volcanic landscapes. Travelers staying in Taupo should arrange for a transfer and pickup, as the trail does not loop; you can start out at Mangatepopo Hut, then walk the hike's most scenic 5-6 hours, including the Emerald Lakes and Blue Lake, and finishing back near Route 46, where you can get picked up.

Families with kids not up for the challenge should consider heading to Whakapapa ski area, where during the spring, summer and fall, you can take a chairlift into the eerie landscapes – black rocks, barren fields, seemingly endless expanses — and have an easier walk in the scenery that stood in for Mordor (and needed little CGI).