Once the site of an aquarium, the former Leisure Island has reverted back to its wild state, with a little help from the community, Environment BOP and the Tauranga District Council.
The tiny island, joined to the shore by a manmade walkway, offers a good track for those whose fitness levels are not that high. You can fish from the rocks above Shark Alley (not known for sharks, but good for other fish) and it is a good vantage point for those wishing to watch some of the many ocean-going events held there each summer, from the ocean jetboat racing to IRB championships.
The island has been redesigned as a natural and environmentally friendly picnic place, with plenty of areas to explore. If you sit by the rocks on the northern facing slopes long enough, you may be lucky enough to see giant black crabs tending their business between tidal changes.
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