[2] The island is uninhabited, and lies close to the entrance to the lake's southern arm, 11 kilometres to the west of Manapouri township.

To its north, the island is separated from the mainland by the 500 metres (1,600 ft) wide Hurricane Passage.

Forested areas of Fiordland National Park generally are dominated by beech and podocarp species with understory of numerous ferns and shrubs; crown fern (Lomaria discolor) is an example of chief understory species.

Since the eradication of all introduced animal pests, the health of the island's flora and birdlife has increased noticeably.

Also to reintroduce, through natural and assisted means, birdlife native to Fiordland within the Southwest New Zealand World Heritage Area and provide a safe habitat for endangered and threatened birds to breed thereby increasing the populations of individual species, to monitor conservation activities and their impact on the island's biodiversity.