Island of the tide (Nelson/Marlborough) Mapua, South Island, New Zealand
By wandering free on 22-Jul-06. Waypoint GCX8ZY

Yeah, didn't expect to get this one today but the tide was out and I had enough time, so left the bike in the bush, took the shoes off and walked over. There was still water to cross and mud where I went in deep but I enjoyed it. Once over I quickly found two bags but log was completely wet, photo attached. Sorry, would have brought a container and spare log but wasn't prepared to get here today.Loved it though.

Got it! Found together with my sons on a happy day of playing and cycling on Rabbit Island, tftc!

The tide was low but not super low. With a bit of hopping at the shallowest point we barely made it dry to the island. Cache found as described by previous finders. Paper beyond wet but no replacement on me unfortunately. Next one could bring a new container and paper if possible, thanks!

Found it based on photo from Who Nose. Thanks.

Found the contents of the cache scattered on the ground and absolutely saturated but no sign of the original container, as shown in photo.
Signed in as having found, and hid again as in second photo

Problems with this as described in my note

TFTC we loved finding it while on holiday at Mapua

Thank you x

TFTC!

Tregearp and I have looked across the water at this cache several times and said 'No Way'. Today however we had timed our visit specifically so it was an almost dry approach to the GZ. It took a while to find as we couldn't see any fir trees - pines and macrocarpas. The cache was found several metres away from a tree trunk hidden in some deadfall. All in excellent condition. Signed log and replaced as found. Thanks wandering free for the cache.

The hint did throw SJT_NZ and I off on this one so a lot of wander but no findie. After about 10 mins went back to GZ retrace the steps but just before we got there found the cache nicely covered with a pile of driftwood and some local camo. Thanks wandering free for the cache.

Found while waiting for the wonderful ferry to take us back to Mapua after our family bike ride on rabbit island.

A target cache today, we had researched low tide and plotted a time to be out here. Got this cache and another on the island within 15 minutes of low tide, so good planning on that front. I think the hint that it is close to the trunk is a bit off, it was easily found when we expanded the search. TFTC wandering free.

Today, Jo and I are in Nelson targeting anything that will allow us to go for a bike ride. We planned it a while ago as, because Jo works Saturdays, lately we haven’t had the chance to go caching together much.
But there was an elephant in the room - the weather. There was something like 19mm of rain scheduled for just a few hours in the afternoon today and not a lot else in the forecast to write home about either. Still, this didn’t put us off, and if it turned really bad we can just do some park and grabs, right?
So we got away early, got into Nelson and the weather had held off. It was much worse on the way over actually.
So, a few caches on Rough Island first, and still no rain. Optimistic, into Rabbit island we went and this is where it all turned a little bit King Lear Act III
Everything got soaked in the next few hours, and I remembered just how frustrating it can be using a phone (in a waterproof pouch) to go geocaching when the outside is so wet you simply cannot navigate the map on it and any raindrop is likely to send the map somewhere else. Add to this a couple of spills - the best one right over the handlebars when the front tire dug into some deep sand. The next best, a branch through the spokes.
Still, Jo could not be fazed and we soldiered on through it. Eventually we got a decent haul of 30 odd, had some fun and some character building as well. Hey, at least it wasn’t cold. Thanks all COs.

Feeling proud of my find. Planned it well, even got the feet muddy

Found it fairly easily, tho the close to trunk clue is a bit off. Cache all good, clean and dry

I had the tide pretty much spot-on when I arrived and headed across the small stream with just a little dip of shoe. Up the bank and started the search as per the hint - nope. Widened the search onto more stable land and the nicely sized cache was found. All good and replaced as found. Now onto the other on here. T F T C wandering free.

After my trip around Rough Island I moved the car outside the gates down by the bridge and set off on bike for a 4 hour trip around Rabbit Island with the hope of getting all I sought. Was mostly successful in this aim and had an enjoyable time, though the temperature fell rapidly around 5 PM as dark approached.
A long overdue trip over the hill with a bike was the aim for today and my intention was to make the most of a forecast sunny day, time on my hands to get out and about, and a plot to grab my remaining unfound caches on the Western side of Rabbit Island, as well as a 'few' others. All up was a successful day but started with a few too many DNFs; poor searching, poor GPS response, cache not there. All good and retained my Geocaching licence and some great scenery and caches today too. I was aiming to be at the Mapua end of Rabbit Island by low-tide to make a find there and as it was my timing was impeccable and I completed my loop in good time arriving back at the 'outside the gates' parked car just on 1729 (1 minute before Winter 'closing'). A great day and good to be back over this way again.

Lovely and nice music drifting across from Golden Bear. Just got back as water started coming in. TFTC

It was guarded by a weka but he went away TFTC

Real fun island to explore, kids loved it, although someone lost the pen in all the excitement, so couldn't sign the log. TFTC

Not very close to trunk but still is fun

We were surprised how easy it was to get to the island at low tide - managed there and back with dry feet.
+ a large marble, - nothing.

Heute sind wir nach Rabbit Island gefahren, um dort die Caches zu heben. Bei herrlichen Wetter haben wir uns auf die Suche begeben. Diesen konnten wir gut finden. Danke fürs Legen.

Today we drove to Rabbit Island to raise the caches there. In glorious weather, we went on the search. We could find this good. Thank you for laying

What's with Rabbit Island? I had this place ticked off, now it looks like nearly every cache I have found has been archived and it looks like I have hardly been here at all! Taybeedragon and I are here with out bikes for a fill in the gaps day.
Man, what a good name for this cache. We loucked on low tide (actually, we saw it was going out so picked caches at this end of Rabbit Island so as to get here when it's still easy going. so good management rather than good luck). Nice to see a gravel routet to the island - gravel = not muddy.
I like island caches. Don't know why, I have even walk to one through deep black mud. And they like, this, all earned favourites. Also dropped in an emerald and a path tag.

Found while waiting for the ferry

Found it!

With Christmas preparations well in hand there was some time in hand to take a little trip out to Rough Island for a bit of leisure time.

The kayaks were still out from the other day so I bundled mine on top of the car and while the rest of the clan took the dog for a walk and a swim, I had a paddle up towards this island which had eluded me to date.

A quick circumnavigation and I was up on the nearest beach to the cache a mere 25m from the GZ.

I then spent a while looking high and low before reading some older logs which suggested the feature that featured when the cache was placed was no longer in place.

Turning around to look for some alternatives I immediately spied the descent-sized container poking out.

I was nice to look back over the log book (original from 2006) and read some of the logs from when more than just caching names and dates became commonplace.

Happy Xmas all

Thanks
#1849

Logged using Cachly.

The Seagnoid has snagging solved puzzles and an odd multi on his radar for the weekend in Nelson. Zara was in the body shop Thursday so we are here early. Rabbit Island is on my radar today. So lets go! Leave Zara at the beach checking out the sights while I start walking.
The tide is out so only got my feet a little wet but wearing sandels so no worries. The hint here had me going right off track as there is now no fir tree. Finally snagged and tagged. Cheers

Found, but someone must of took the pen, so here is photo of log.

This was the original target of my visit today, but a chance meeting with a fellow cacher earlier meant that by the time I arrived here the tide was coming in a little too quickly for me to be confident of getting there and back safely.

Next time...

Just made it back to the mainland as the tide rushed in , a great place for a cache on this lovely island , deserves a favourite from us. TFTC.

This was my goal for today, it meant an early start to allow me time to walk here and cross to the island before the tide came in. I packed some spare shoes as I didn't think I wanted to walk back to the car with wet muddy shoes. It wasn't in the first place I looked so I just slowed down and looked around then spotted what I needed tftc

Found with Ducksarse Dave while out on a Sunday cycle - the tide was out and we were able to cross without getting our feet very wet at all, just a little muddy. Good to finally cross this cache off our to do list!

Out biking, tide was low was ticked this cache off the list without any drama today.

Nearly had us stumped.

All the stars aligned today for us to make the most of our free afternoon and get some caching done. Nice fine sunny day, no wind, tide was low at the right time, this cache that was teasing us was going to get found. Got to the island and a quick look had cache in hand. Seeing as it was a sizable container also dropped off a TB to start it journey.

With 13mins till the ferry i was sure i had time. Didnt read the description properly annd it was not until i heard the ferry coming iver i realised i was short of time. Boom there it was. Silly sausage that i am missed it. Found and logged. TFTC

Yay waiting for the ferry called for a cache thanks

We took the kayaks out to find a few caches. This was the first one we found. It was a pretty quick find.
TFTC

Hired bikes to start our cache on Rabbit Island. Found this at low tide

Tide was very low when we happened to be nearby with the bikes, so over we go. Nice quick find. TFTC

Found with NZDi. While all and sundry are in Christchurch at the NZ Mega Event, NZDi and I are having a little geocaching weekend of our own. Yesterday we travelled the length of the Awatere Valley up as far as the Molesworth Cobb Cottage and picked up all the caches we didn't already have with the exception of three of GH6710's caches up the Mt Altimarloch Road for NZDi. We even managed to score a F T F up the Medway which must 'annoy' Marchwood as he was up there the day before when it was listed.

Today we came over with our MTBs and rode around Rabbit Island picking off caches here and there with mixed success. We were fortunate with this cache that we arrived at dead low tide, this was definitely not part of the plan. Despite low tide, we were still going to get our feet wet if we walked across, so we decided to bike instead. We quickly found the hinted item, but not the cache. After expanding our search area the cache was quickly found in an area that matched the hint, just not the obvious one.

TFTC wandering free

Found with Kiwimykl, refer to his log for details.

TFTC wandering free

Arrived approximately two hours before low tide but still managed to get across in ankle deep water. Having read the previous logs I didn't think the hint would be accurate and sure enough, I was right. Still managed the find after some rummaging about. Lovely little island. Thanks wandering free!!

Looked for ages. Didn't find it. We wondered seriously if it's still there.

good adventure - need gum boots

Found it during my trip from south of South Island to north of South Island.
Thanks for this cache!:)
Greetings from Czech

6606. Out on another cycling outing today. Decided to make the trip to Rabbit Island from Tahuna. This was cache number twenty for the day. Found the cache after a bit of a walk and a short search. the last time we were up this way about five or six years ago we were on foot, it was very hot and the tide was high. Today we had biked, it was still very hot but the tide was at its lowest, so we carried on and did the deed. Thanks for the cache and the exercise. Rodney and Iris.

Doing a little geocaching while out kayaking

We had timed our visit very well and arrived at low tide. We first changed into sandals, then watched the ferry come from Mapua (with one solitary passenger and bike on board) then we walked along the beach to the island. En route I was startled by a growly bark - it was a little seal warning me not to come any closer. I wondered if it was a pup.
I managed to walk past the hiding place as my eyes were on another likely spot, but StreetWalker was on the ball and soon spotted the cache. Good to find a nice big cache so dropped off a TB. TFTC.

#8060. Our first caching venture in to a tidal area (one of many I am sure). This one was easy to get to; water was ankle deep. Great spot for a cache. TFTC.

We were a bit confused until we read the previous logs! Beautiful crisp day. tftc

Water only ankle deep, so shot across and bagged this one. Thanks

Today was the Valentines Day Event at Rabbit Island and after saying hi to a heap of fellow cachers I headed off to collect a few outstanding caches. Well lucky me, the low tide just happened to coincide with this event and so a trip back to the island was a must do. Having now read the logs I had a better idea of what and where to look and sure enough the cache was quickly in hand. The fir tree is certainly no more sadly. TFTC

A free night before Waitangi Day and so a trip to Rabbit Island before gates closed at 9 pm to clear up some caches in this area. Looked and looked but no success for me today and very conscious of gates closing so a bit rushed as wanted to ensure I got "Get Smart". On getting home and reading the logs I suspect I was focussed on the wrong b----y tree now. GPS had zeroed me out there so I'll blame that.

This entry was edited by MuzzaL53 on Wednesday, 05 February 2014 at 19:42:57 UTC.

Beautiful day for a bike ride from Richmond out to the end of Rabbit Island and back. Had no intention of getting this cache today as I expected us to arrive with the tide in. We arrived and it didnt look to deep so shoes off and hobbled over the sharp shells and across in knee deep water. Luckily the cache was found and signed quickly as it was a lot higher for the return trip. Water was exceptionally warm and would have been quite happy to swim over if I'd had a change of clothes and not carrying non waterproof cellphone and camera. TFTC

#1250

Makka pakka 2 went out to day for a ride along Rabbit island, the fairy to Mapua and to have an ice-cream.TFTC

Nearly gave up but just happened to spot it from the right angle

Without planning it I arrived in vicinity at low tide, so it was an easy wander over to claim the cache. My GPS was then trying to convince me to cross the channel and have another attempt at "MMM", but not today, there are easier ones to be found.

TFTC

This cache was our second target today, having checked the tide table to make sure we could walk across rather than wade. Cache was soon in hand and signed then back to 'the mainland' to change back into normal walking shoes for the trek back to the car. Gummies made the trip across so much easier given the very soft mud. It's the first time I've been right to this end of the island so thank you for giving me an excuse to visit, thank you for the cache too.

Many times this little island was eyed up and it was just a matter of right time and right place. Nothing beats king tides and today was the day. Two island caches were on the agenda today. A pleasant stroll with Holymu over the mud flats with gummies that weren't really needed taking a few small detours. The spreading fur tree is most definitely past its use-by date but the cache was soon in hand with coords that were spot on. Thanks for the excuse to get out there.

Tide was coming in as I waded across but thankfully it was a quick find. Very nice.

Timed it just right to get the cache.As said in another log clue is not much help now

Caching with Sidewaze and Mrs SoBad. By now thoroughly wet due to the rain, Ii spent some time making sure I was not going to get thoroughly muddy due to the, well, slipperiness of the mud! Managed to avoid that and the rock oyster shells and after getting Mrs SoBad to come across and join us in the hunt, we found the cache just as she arrived. If there is a next time, I will wear sandals that can go in the water - it was bit tricky in bare feet! TFTC

Walked all the way from the carpark on Saturday, thinking I would grab this one. Unfortunately the water was a tad deep by the time I arrived, and I didn't even get close. Lots more planning today, led to success. This one has been on my "nearby cache" list for so long it's good to be able to finally sign it off. Good one!!! TFTC

Nice trip to island with Virtual Allie. Can across geodatum, Virtual Allie picked up cache, tree is a little worse for wear these days. TFTC

#200! Bumped in to geodatum - nice to meet you were led slightly astray by gps, a little outside the box thinking led to what was obviously formerly a fine specimen - now looks quite different from the picture. Quick trot back to the ferry. TFTC

Found with Virtual Allie and NZlats. Nice to meet up with you and share your GPS after ours had lost power! Hint not very helpful now. TNLN TFTC

Found during our 2012 visit to New Zealand. TFTC
Searched for a while at a likely location at the direction of the GPS but eventually found nearby.
Logged Birthday Geocoin through.
Left Frog Finger Puppet

Found it after several minutes barking up the wrong tree! Thanks for the cache

Family decided a walk was needed so why not combine the two . Quick find. Junior memberfound a dug out canoe someone had left tiedup. The person had done a great job making it. Thanks.

Fairly long walk so wasn't going to let the water get in the way. Only thigh deep so really pretty good fun. Found cache after expanding search as it is a little away from hint item - maybe for better protection from high tides? SL TFTC

The tide was just starting to go out when we swam across, oysters catchers going mental and a stingray gliding across the shell fish beds TFTC

another spot we have been near many times not knowing. got noisy greeting from nesting oyster catchers, dry feet.

Timed my visit to perfection, walked across for Rabbit Island without getting my feet wet. TNLN SL TFTC

Found on nice sunny day out on MTB TFTC

An interesting walk with a different view that i have never seen of Mapua before. This cache is one of a few on Rabbit Island that we have been wanting to do for awhile. Thanks for placing the cache

As the its a tuesday and the tracks were closed we did the big wander round the end of the island picking up Hares Point cache on the way to this cache and legs were getting a little tired but the cache and visiting of a place we have not been before with views of Mapua and surrounds was worth the slog - thanks for the cache took nothing Stretch0 left travelbug

I've been waiting for the tide, time and weather to all coincide. Decided that was today and because it was so nice decided to walk to and from the cache along the beach. It was so lovely and saw views of mapua that I haven't seen before. Thanks for a neat afternoon. TFTC #1188

TNLN SL TFTC

The combination of weather, time and tide made for a good chance to go for this cache. I'd cycled past here once before when the tide was in. This morning no problems with watery obstacles and the cache was finally found. TFTC, Biggles.

Cool. I found the cache after I cycled in. TFTC MacBanger

Cool spot. Great fun. TFTC

Very cool spot. TFTC

Cool cache! A great spot for a family picnic, and the kids loved the island and the cache too. Awesome stuff - this is what it's all about. TFTC. Left Little Howler T/B to mark out his territory.

Wonderful spot, never been here before - Ankle deep paddle out & knee deep back! TFTC

Forgot all about checking the tide but having walked all the way to the crossing point, there was no way we were going back without logging our visit, so I elected to strip off (not a pretty sight) and swim across to the island, carrying a pen between my teeth, as you do, in case there wasn't one when I got there. Now that is dedication for you! Luckily we didn't have a camera with us so there are no photos to put anyone off their dinner. Anyway, it was a lovely walk and an unexpected but refreshing swim, so thanks for taking us here. Hasn't been visited for months but can report that it's all in dry and good condition. Great spot to bring out the naturist in you.

thanks

struck this exactly right no wet feet. quick easy find TFTC

Tide just right for a morning walk. A cooler morning which was a bonus as well. Only saw 1 fisherman, 2 swimmers (over from Mapua) and a family of quail on our walk to the site. The beach was busier by the time we returned to the car. TNLN TFTC

Only cache of the day today. We did it near high tide I conned my uncle into getting a little inflatable out and we launched from Grossi reserve across the channel and putted across, and had a short 50m walk to find the cache. Seemed more fun to do it at high tide. Nice spot, although as I'm usually based in Ruby Bay when I stay here, I know this part fairly well. Lovely afternoon for it, and we hung around at the local microbrewery (Golden Bear) afterwards and had some fish and chips nearby. A lovely late afternoon/evening. Cheers Gav [3414]

dropped coin for tracking

Out of 13 caches today, this one was our favourite We ignored the causeway, and it wasn't quite low tide, but a small amount of mud and and quick splash and we were there. Really beautiful spot, TFTC.

yes, we almost missed out on this but saw the tides being fairly low and gave it a go. I almost felt over in the mud, great fun. Loved the view of Mapua. TFTC

Feels good to finally get this cache. I planned to arrive at low tide on a cycle trip around the island and was able to cycle across the causeway (a bit exciting) and right to the cache! Added a big fishy TB that's nowhere near where it should be (a bit like the big Mako shark that was hauled ashore last week). Cheers.

An easy find on a hot day caching. Number 1 of 9 today!

Tide just right amazing spot. I think it is a pine tree not a fir tree. Had a great day on daisy the bicycle made for two this being 1 of 9 finds at Rabbitt island. A great way to spend a sunny spring day.

Our second trip out this way. Finding the tide was right it was time to whip across to the island. Great spot, thanks. I note that Yahoo maps says the water surrounding the island is Cook Strait! Oh well.
TNLNSL

Great spot for a cache-Well done.5th cache today done on my MTB so thanks for getting me off my but and making me go for a ride.Was nearly going to do this cache with my dingy a few months back but decided to combine it with a few others and do it with my bike while the rest of the family had a swim.There are some great caches on Rabbit Island but this would have to be one of the better ones.TFTC TNLNSL

Mr and Mrs Explorer headed out on their MTB's this morning, found this one and 2 others. Good to get back on our bikes after a long layoff. Thanks for putting this cache here to encourage us to get pedaling again, great cache location.

[This entry was edited by Kiwi_Explorer on Friday, January 25, 2008 at 1:19:44 PM.]

I thought I'd finally score this cache today whilst cycling round rabbit island but alas the tide was 3/4 in. Hmmmm I can swim that, I know there's gonna be a bit of a current... Got out to the middle and the current was much stronger than I expected. Swept me round the island and I had to make for the edge of Rabbit Island... Just made it.
Next time!

Goodness. Google Earth shows this as a bit more of an effort than it turned out to be. Arrived, completely coincidentally, at low tide and the few centimeters of water were no obstacle. Glad to report that apart from some randy Oyster Catchers we encountered on the walk in, there were no protective ones left to spoil our cache party, although we still caused quite a stir. Easy find, one of the better cache locations in the area - Mr B putting this one in the top 10. TNLNSL, Thanks for this cache, which was our 363rd in our first year of caching, with 3 days left to go... All we had to do now was walk back to the parked car in the hottest sun of the day... We made it! All credit to our 4 year old who walked the whole way. Some stirring songs got us through the last k and a half, and I must admit I no longer care how many humps Alice the camel had or how many bottles of beer lie smashed on the floor.