The island covers an area of 15 hectares (37 acres), and is a publicly accessible recreation reserve.

In 1996 as part of the Ngāi Tahu Treaty of Waitangi settlement the name of Kamau Taurua,[1] meaning 'a place to set nets' was restored as part of the official name of Quarantine Island / Kamau Taurua.

During the First World War, soldiers who had venereal diseases (either diagnosed when they volunteered or acquired abroad) were treated on the island, then called the 'Port Chalmers Military Hospital'.

[5] After the quarantine station closed in 1924 the buildings were sold and island was leased.

The resident keeper welcomes visitors to St Martin Lodge, and oversees a wide range of ecological, educational, historical and cultural projects.