NATIONAL PARK National Park does not qualify the criteria for review, but for growth reasons is in included. National Park is a second alpine town for consideration during the ski season. Accommodation, bars and hotels all available for the snow bound tourists and with a backpacker leaning. Originally the town was known as Waimarino (calm waters). In 1926 the New Zealand Railways renamed the railway station as National Park. This was to avoid confusion with other Waimarino entities and also the name had come into common usage from its location relative to the Tongariro National Park. The village has great views of Mt Tongariro, Mt Ngauruhoe (Mt Doom in the Lord of the Rings filming locations) and Mt Ruapehu. National Park is a small day to day community and is a recent growth town. The National park rail station is also a museum in action. National Park has two hotels. National Park also has a War Memorial on the main on highway one. If considering a mountain or ski trip National Park is an accommodation consideration