Lake Middleton is a high-country, rain fed lake which is located beside Lake Ohau, in the Mackenzie Basin. It's a lake that is away from the main tourist areas, which means it doesn't get as busy as its popular neighbours - Lake Pukaki, Lake Tekapo and Lake Ruataniwha.

The lake is clear but not blue like many others in the area and on a still day, the Southern Alps reflect in the lake, which makes it a picture-perfect spot to see the mirror like reflection.

If you're visiting Lake Ohau, Ohau Ski Field or Ohau Lodge, then you'll be passing by Lake Middleton, so it's always worth stopping by to see if a beautiful reflection is on display.

The lake is also home to the Australian Crested Grebes, which are a beautiful species that put on a really cool display when they are courting! They do synchronized swimming which is really cool to watch and this is during their breeding season from August to December but they are on the lake all year round. We have watched this courtship from the Southern Crested Grebes at Lake Alexandrina, near Tekapo.

Highlights of the lake in each season:

• Summer: Perfect for swimming, fishing and power boating.

• Autumn: The lake is lined with orange trees which is perfect for photographs. Pick a windless day and see the magic of the reflections!

• Winter: The mountains surrounding Lake Middleton are covered in snow and the weather is often milder in winter, which means less wind and stunning reflections of the snowy southern alps and trees lining the lake.

• Spring: The trees lining the lake are green and lush and there may even still be some snow on the tops of the mountains.

Things to know:

• Sandflies can be a pesky problem at Lake Ohau, which is next to Lake Middleton, so it might pay to bring some bug spray with you. In saying that, we had no issues at Lake Middleton in winter but we did see plenty at Lake Ohau but it's always best to be prepared! They are usually more active and looking for ankles to bite in the warmer months.

• There is a non-powered campsite with basic amenities on in the reserve, which is first in first serve, no bookings required.

• There are toilets to the right of the lake but these are closed in from the Easter holidays until 1st October due to the pipes freezing in the colder months.

• It's important to know that there is a complete fire ban in this area, all year round. The grass is incredibly dry and the town nearby suffered a huge fire in 2020.

Getting there: The Lake is situated in the Lake Middleton Reserve, along Lake Ohau Road and is along the western edge of Lake Ohau. For entry, look for the green and yellow Lake Middleton Recreation Reserve sign or further around towards Ohau is the Lake Middleton Campsite sign.

Parking: There is parking by both of these signs, although no official carparks.