Mt Taranaki, Egmont National Park

Taranaki is a sacred place for the Māori, who used to bury their chiefs there and pray to the souls of their ancestors. In their mythology, Taranaki—also known as Mt Egmont—once lived peacefully with the other volcanoes in the centre of the island. They were all men, except for Pihanga, a mountain clothed in green forests. They all desired her as a wife, and consequently, a fierce battle for her favour broke out. In the end, Tongariro defeated his rivals and forced them to leave. Taranaki wandered west towards the sea. On a magical journey by night, he carved out the Whanganui River. Legends say that when his summit is shrouded in clouds, he is weeping. One of the best panoramas can be found from nearby Lake Mangamahoe with its subtropical vegetation.