At the northern end of the lake, in between the Hopkins and Dobson rivers, lies the Naumann Range of mountains (with Mt Glenmary 2590m being the tallest).

Ngāi Tahu visited Lake Ōhau as part of their seasonal food gathering patterns.

In 2012, a 4300 square kilometre area was declared the Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve, the boundary of which follows the eastern shore of Lake Ōhau.

Eileen McMillan wrote a 508 page book entitled "Frugal Country and Hard on the Boots" that covers the history of Lake Ōhau including farming in the region.

[10] In 1857 the land south and east of Lake Ōhau, Benmore Station, was leased to brothers George and Edmund Hodgkinson and Ronald McMurdo.

These huge high country stations were eventually broken up (around 1916) into smaller holdings as the population was unhappy about a small number of people owning the majority of the land.

Fishing in the Dobson and Hopkins rivers which flow into Lake Ōhau are well known spots for catching trout.

The large weed-beds at the southern end of Lake Ōhau are easily fished with bait such as shrimp and prawn.

The Hopkins River mouth provides good fishing however very loose shingle can make wading potentially dangerous.

[16] Lake Ōhau is on the route of the Alps to Ocean Cycle Trail, which has been constructed in the years after approval in 2010.

The 45 km section traverses the lower slopes of the Ohau Range past Freehold Creek and climbs to the highest point of the Alps 2 Ocean, 900 metres above sea level, before a long descent with some rough and loose sections, finally arriving at a historic woolshed at the top of Quailburn Road.

From here, mountain bikers ride most of the remaining stage on quiet country roads before arriving at Omarama.

[23] The many options for tramping around Lake Ōhau range from short walks such as the Freehold Creek Track (6 km, 2–3 hours), to longer over night trips up the Hopkins and Huxley Valleys.

It is also possible to traverse from Brodrick Pass along the Main Divide in order to climb Mount McKenzie (2156 metres above sea level).

[27] The Dasler Pinnacles (2315 metres above sea level) is a moderate to advanced two day tramp that can be accessed from the top of Lake Ōhau.

The Dasler Bivvy does not have good views of the valley but these can be accessed by climbing a further 15 minutes up through subalpine scrub.

The climb requires good weather, a degree of skill to scramble over the rocks and a head for heights.

The Lake Tekapo to Lake Ōhau section is an easy but long 87 kilometres taking an average of two to three days walk,[28] The East Ahuriri stage (from Glen Mary Ski Club on Lake Ōhau road and ending at Birchwood Road Carpark in the Ahuriri Valley) is a 26.5 kilometre stage that takes on average one to two days walking.

It climbs Freehold Creek, passes the beautiful Dumb-bell Lake and then follows the East Ahuriri River.

The legends of Ngāi Tahu tell of Te Ruataniwha, who was an ancestor on the Ārai-te-uru waka that capsized near Shag Point on the Otago coastline.

A DOC ecologist has said that tussocks around the Ben Ohau range that were once as high as 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) have been reduced to ankle height by grazing tahr.

[35] The tussock slopes of Ben Ohau Range host a myriad of wildlife including moths, butterflies, lizards, grasshoppers, spiders and beetles.

Pinus contorta grow “probably five to 10 times faster” in the Mackenzie Country (and Lake Ōhau) than in their native North America.

Where they have becomes established and converted tussock grasslands to wilding pine forests, 25% to 30% less water reaches streams and lakes.

Shelter plantings were established for protection against harsh winds in places such as the Lake Ōhau Lodge in the 1950s.

[41] The spread of wilding pines, and high winds and a dry winter attributed to climate change set the scene for the fire.

[40][42][43] The Insurance Council of New Zealand processed around 200 claims totalling NZ$34.8 million, making it one of the most expensive fires in the country.

They said that the fire was as a result of a "a crossarm failure on a power pole that was part of a section of lines crossing conservation land approximately 2.5 kilometres north-west of Lake Ōhau village".

[47][48] Waitaki Network, who are responsible for the power lines, believe that Fire and Emergency NZ are incorrect in their conclusions.