Rabbit Island, New Zealand

Rabbit Island is the name of several different islands off the New Zealand coast.

The largest and best-known Rabbit Island lies across the southernmost part of Tasman Bay,^[1] at the top of New Zealand's South Island. The long narrow island runs east-west for 8 kilometres (5 mi), and covers
15 km² (5.8 sq mi).

It lies opposite the mouth of the Waimea River, 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) to the west of Richmond.

The island is a popular beach resort to the residents of Motueka, Wakefield, Brightwater, Richmond, Mapua, Stoke and Nelson itself. A medium-sized bridge spans a tidal area and joins the mainland to Rabbit Island itself. There is a large grassed area after this bridge and a Fire Hazard sign ("Keep it Green"). After this, the beach proper begins. Vast and mountainous sand dunes topped with masses of cone-bearing pines, with exposed roots, can be seen extending for impressive distances along the island.

Others islands with the same name

The other Rabbit Islands are smaller than 1 km² (0.386 sq mi) or 100 ha (250 acres). They are located (north to south):

1. inside Whangarei Habour, Northland Region ^[2]
2. just west of Great Barrier Island, Hauraki Gulf ^[3]
3. to the west of Kawau Island, north of Auckland ^[4]
4. off the east coast of the Coromandel Peninsula, in Opito Bay ^[5]
5. off the east coast of the Coromandel Peninsula, near Slipper Island ^[6]
6. officially known as Motuotau Island, north of Tauranga, off the beach east of Mount Maunganui ^[7]
7. inside the entrance to Blueskin Bay, north of Dunedin
8. south of Riverton, in Foveaux Strait
9. near the centre of Bluff Harbour, Southland Region ^[8]

See also

• List of islands of New Zealand
• New Zealand outlying islands

References