Mapua Harbor and Rabbit Island

Sunday morning and just about on NZ time. Good evenings rest so we decided to take a drive to Mapau (pronounced, “Ma-Poe”) and see what the locals call, wharf jumping. Nice drive, only about 45 minutes and it wasn’t difficult to find.  

The village is mostly small gift shops, bicycle rentals and restaurants catering to tourists and weekenders.  We had heard that Mapua has a ferry that you can take to Rabbit Island, a but we thought we’d just drive and save the extra expense. Once we saw the ferry, that was an easy decision.

Not much happening at Mapua so we drove to Rabbit Island. This is a national park area that has good picnic sites and a huge beach that looks like it goes on forever. The island is for day use only so no camping, just biking, beach and tramping (again, not the Oakland kind). The Misses and I decided we’d just mosey along the beach and get in just far enough to say we’ve been in the Tasman Sea. Felt a little crowded, probably saw 4 or 5 other people on the beach. Time to leave.

Fat man who stole my hat!

Back to Mapua for a late lunch at the “Jellyfish Café & Bar”. Serving portions looked good size so we decided to split the fish & chips and have fresh baked bread with olives and oil as an appetizer. Of course Collette had to have a glass of wine so we ordered two, you know what they say about people who drink alone…..

Now for the moment we’ve all been waiting for…… Wharf Jumping!!!!  Back in the States this would be called a misdemeanor with a God awful fine.  Here, it’s called fun for the kids. It’s kind of a game where you have several kids, probably between 8 – 12yrs old, maybe older. You all line up on the edge of the wharf and someone decides to push their neighbor into the water below, about 15 feet. The rest is pure chaos. Kids jump, swim to the ladder or beach, climb back up onto the wharf and jump again. You can begin to see why in the States this is against the law. Those kids were having so much fun, and no one had to pay for it. How can that be allowed?

So enough watching the little ones have a good time. Back into the Kiwimobile and off to our abode.  Another good day in NZ, sun, beach, good food and fun. Kinda getting the feeling that’s how this trip is going to go……

Kia ora.