The island is named for the ship Actaeon, which wrecked there in 1822.

[2] There is a navigation beacon on the highest point, 14 metres (46 ft) AHD.

[1][3] The Actaeon Island Group consists of: Recorded breeding seabird and wader species are the little penguin, short-tailed shearwater and sooty oystercatcher.

European rabbits occur on the island and seals occasionally haul-out there.

[1] The endangered orange-bellied parrot is historically from the Actaeon Island.