A Mount Maunganui man had a long swim back to shore from Rabbit Island after his surfboard was taken.

Now he wants his surfboard back.

Terrence Simmonds, who has a window cleaning business in the Mount, had finished work for the day and decided to go surfing.

But he says there wasn't much surf, so he decided to paddle out to the island on his surfboard.

Terrence says when he reached the beach, he put the surfboard out of harm's way up on the rocks.

'I folded the cord and put it in a neat pile on the middle of the board to make it look it's been deliberately put there so no one would take it,” says Terrence.

'I went up a little track that leads up to a lookout on the island.

'I've since been told I shouldn't be walking on the island, which I didn't know.

'When I came down the board was gone.

'I very quickly accepted my fate.

'I'm a pretty strong swimmer, built up courage and set off on the swim back.”

Terrence says he's not sure how long the swim took.

He wants anyone who has the surf board to get in touch with him.

'I'm not a guy who's confrontational. I'm not interested in getting in an argument with anyone over it.

'I just want my board back so I can get back out onto the waves.”