Partial closures 20 - 22 June
Some areas and roads will be closed to enable a Disc Golf Tournament to be held at Moturoa/Rabbit Island from Friday 20 June to Sunday 22 June. See the affected areas on the maps below or open a copy here [PDF, 498 KB].
Access is open.
Currently all reserve areas and tracks on Moturoa/Rabbit Island and Rough Island are open.
All gas barbecues are open for use.
Remember if you see smoke or any sign of fire please call 111 immediately.
Upland game bird hunts
Public access to the eastern half of Moturoa / Rabbit Island will be closed for three days this winter while an organised game bird hunt takes place. Please note that the closure will include all the beachfront at the eastern end. There will be no hunting on the beach or within 100 metres of the high tide mark.
Fish & Game organise the hunts, which are permitted under the Moturoa / Rabbit Island Reserve Management Plan. For more details contact Jacob Lucas at Nelson Marlborough Fish & Game on jlucas@fishandgame.org.nz.
The hunts will take place between 7.00 am – 2.00 pm on:
- Saturday 21 June (rain day Sunday 22 June)
- Saturday 19 July (rain day Sunday 20 July).
No firewood collection
There is no public firewood collection available on Moturoa/Rabbit or Rough Island. Health and safety requirements do not permit chainsaw use or access into the commercial forest areas.
Opening hours
Open during daylight hours only. The large signs at the gate and at the entrance to the reserve area indicates the time the gates will be locked each evening.
Help, I got locked in!
If you find yourself behind the gate after this time you will need to park in the reserve and call someone to pick you up. You can return the following day to collect your vehicle once the gate has been unlocked.
Map of Moturoa Rabbit Island front beach reserve
General information
- Visitors are asked to keep to the marked trails and obey all signage.
- Logging is in progress and trucks are in constant use.
- Please use caution, particularly at intersections.
- Dogs are not permitted on Moturoa / Rabbit Island. They are welcome on Rough Island.
- Moturoa Rabbit Island Reserve Management Plan 2016.pdf (pdf 2.7 MB)
Forest harvesting
Due to harvesting operations roads can close at any time. Please observe any operational signage and use alternative routes if necessary.
Dogs prohibited
Please note that dogs are prohibited on Moturoa / Rabbit Island.
Need help? Contact us
Phone 03 543 8400