Good views of the taller mountains in Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park, 70 kilometres (43 mi) to the north can be had from the southern shore of the lake.

The current lake has an operating range of 13.8 metres (45 ft) (the level within which it can be artificially raised or lowered), giving it an energy storage capacity of 1,595 GWh.

In September 2012, Environment Canterbury approved a change in conditions of Meridian Energy's resource consent controlling the water levels and flows of Lake Pukaki.

[9]There was previously a seasonal Ngāi Tahu food-gathering settlement on the southern shore of Lake Pukaki called Punatahu.

The nearby Pukaki Scientific Reserve is home to the Nationally Endangered moth species Izatha psychra.

Numerous crashes have occurred here as drivers have come around a blind corner, seen Lake Pukaki and wanted to stop at an unsafe location to enjoy the view.

[18] Environmentalists believe that the spread of wilding pines in the Mackenzie District along with the dry conditions allowed the scrub fire to become so destructive.