The island, which is privately owned, is 2.83 square kilometres (1.09 sq mi) in area.
The ancient pā of Horokino (Herekino) situated at Arapaoa Bay (Homestead Bay) was captured by the Tainui from the original inhabitants, the Ngāti Huarere, and was one of several dotted around the perimeter of the Coromandel Harbour, then known as the Waiau.
The historian A. V. Piesse made a study of the names and seems to have arrived at a suitable summary.
There was a good deal of shipbuilding activity in Timber (Woolshed) Bay[7] and this was of primary interest to Campbell so it was possible that he stayed there.
.The new owners abandoned their land and eventually the Crown bought all but two of the sections and helped the Settlers establish themselves in the mainland settlement of Kapanga (the new Coromandel Town ) Woolshed Bay on the protected southern shore is a popular overnight mooring spot for cruising from Auckland.