A 25 minute drive takes you from Nelson to the fantastic Rabbit Island (Moturoa) recreation reserve - one of the best beaches in Nelson and Tasman for a relaxed family day out.
The beach on Rabbit Island is huge, especially when it's not high tide - you can walk for miles before you reach the end. If you don't like crowded beaches, this is the beach for you! It's pretty safe for swimming around the main area, where showers and toilets are available. At the very ends of Rabbit Island, channels run into the Waimea Estuary and strong currents can be present, so swim near the main area.
Apart from swimmers you will meet kayakers, and even kite buggies when the conditions are right.
Rabbit Island has big grassed areas for leisure activities next to the wide, open sandy beach. Gas-fired BBQs under shade sails invite you to have a picnic or a get-together with family and friends.
A large part of the island is a commercial pine plantation, with publicly accessible tracks for walking and cycling. Rabbit Island is part of the New Zealand Cycle Trail (Tasman's Great Taste Trail [check: name]), and you can take a ferry from Rabbit Island across the channel to Mapua - foot passengers and bikes only.
When coming from Nelson, leave Nelson on State Highway 6 towards Richmond. Keep on driving and leave Richmond behind you until you get to a big roundabout. Take the third exit (right) towards Motueka on State Highway 60. Follow the road and 500m after you crossed the Waimea River turn right onto Redwood Road just after Seifrieds Vineyard. Then just follow the road.
