Nananu-i-Cake and Mabua (the islet located immediately to the southeast) islands are about 600 acres (242.81 hectares) in area.

[3] The main residence on the island was designed by the architecture firm of Murray Cockburn, based in Auckland.

In 1974, British businessman and politician Sir Harold Mitchell visited Fiji from the UK and purchased Nananu-i-Cake and Mabua as a retreat.

Because of Harold's position of Vice-Chairman of the Conservative Party under Sir Winston Churchill and his social and political standing, several high-profile dignitaries visited and stayed on the island.

The plan, which fell through, was widely mocked on social media and compared to the Fyre Festival.