They are located some 20 kilometres (12 mi) to the northwest of Tākaka in the southeast of Golden Bay close to Abel Tasman Point, and are contained within Abel Tasman National Park.

[3] The waters around the islands are a significant fish nursery, and are also popular with kayakers.

[3] There is some evidence of pre-European Māori settlement on Ngawhiti Island, and its native flora may have been burnt back to allow for cultivation.

Vegetation on Motu island is more diverse, suggesting that there was no similar burn-off there.

[3] The islands have historically provided deep water shelter for large ships visiting the Golden Bay area, the only site in the bay capable of providing such shelter.