It is part of the traditional boundary of the Canterbury and Otago regions, although, officially, the border has been moved southward to include the lake, as well as the entire northwestern portion of the Waitaki District in the Canterbury Region.

[2] The Otematata settlement situated on State Highway 83 is just west of the lake, and was built in 1958 as a base for the construction of the Aviemore and Benmore Dams.

Closer to the lake the old village Wharekuri which encompasses Aviemore was populous in the 1860s.

A story goes to say that stolen gold taken from the Wharekuri Hotel was hidden near Parsons Rock.

In both Lake Aviemore and Benmore, one can fish salmon and trout year round except in September.