It is one of the Palm Islands group, 1,189 km (739 mi) northwest of Brisbane, as is Pelorus Island 800 metres (2,600 ft) to the north; both are in the Shire of Hinchinbrook.

[1] The name "Orpheus" was given to the island in 1887 by Lieutenant G. E. Richards, referring to HMS Orpheus, a Royal Navy ship which was wrecked off the coast of New Zealand in 1863.

[1] A research station, operated by James Cook University, is located on the island.

The group published a research paper on findings from citizen scientists on a rare, large coral bommie at Orpheus Island in 2021[3] A citizen science database using iNaturalist has recorded over 700 observations of 334 species with the most observed species the Australian Green Tree Frog[4] There is also a luxury resort on the island, the Orpheus Island Great Barrier Reef Luxury Resort.

[5] Great Palm Island is the closest location with government facilities.