It was just after midnight on Thursday when Canberra photographer Ben Appleton arrived at the Lake George lookout - and almost pitch black.

A little light from trucks on the highway was bleeding into the sky, but there were just minutes to show time. Mr Appleton had joined about 25 other photographers to capture the Southern Hemisphere's most reliable meteor shower.

Each December, the Geminids shower lights up Australian skies in a spectacular end of year show.

But every year for the past four, the shooting stars have remained mostly trapped behind cloud and ruined the group's plans.

Not this year, Mr Appleton said.

"I have never seen the sky so active! Usually when I have gone meteor chasing, you're lucky to see a meteor 2-5 times per hour.

'[Last night] we were seeing anywhere from 3 - 10 per minute! What a night!"

Officially starting on Wednesday and running until the 16th, the Geminids shower is nearly 200 years old and gets stronger every year. Individual meteors are bright and can streak across the sky at rates as high as 120 meteors an hour, according to NASA.

This year, the asteroid that created the shower is making its closest approach to Earth since it was discovered.

While the group were focused on getting their shots, Mr Appleton said the atmosphere under the stars was incredible.

"At first you could hear people ooh and aah...[but] once the meteors became more frequent, people just sat back and watched the show," he said.

When it comes to crafting the perfect shot, Mr Appleton said his only real requirement was darkness.

"I usually just drive until I'm out of the city."

Running on only an hour's sleep at work this morning, Mr Appleton said capturing the shower had all been worth it.

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