If your ideal New Zealand trip includes a commune with nature and an exploration of native Maori culture, the carvings at Mine Bay, Lake Taupo are just what the travel agent ordered.

Located in the North Island, Lake Taupo is the largest lake (by surface area) in the country, draining into the Waikato River. It has a coastline of about 193 kilometres, a surface area of 616 square kilometres, and is 186 metres deep at its deepest point. Comparatively, the lake is approximately the size of Singapore.