The locality is about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) south of the town of Brighton.

The 2016 census recorded a population of 554 for the state suburb of Otago.

[2] The area takes its name from the iron barque Otago, the only command of the author Joseph Conrad, which was dismantled at a shipbreaking establishment that operated at the bay (formerly known simply as part of Old Beach) between the 1920s and 1960s.

The waters of the River Derwent form the western and southern boundaries.

[3] Route B32 (East Derwent Highway) passes through from north-west to south-east.