Mount Maunganui surfer, who had a long swim back to shore from Rabbit Island, has been reunited with his missing surfboard.

Terrence Simmonds was forced to swim back from Motuotau Island, commonly known as Rabbit Island, after it went missing, marooning him on the island.

He had paddled to Rabbit Island on his surfboard to climb to the summit, but when he returned he found his surf board was gone, leaving him no choice but to swim ashore.

Terrence's plea 'could the gentlemen paddle boarder who returned from a paddle around Rabbit Island with an extra surfboard… please get in touch with me,” has paid off.

Terrence says the man who had the board, got in touch with him on Friday and dropped it off at one of his businesses yesterday.

'I collected it and went out for a surf yesterday, just in time for the end of the hot long weekend,” says Terrence.

He says he didn't go into why the man had taken the surf board.

'I was wrapped that he reached out,” says Terrence.

'He thought the board had just been washed up.

'He's a local and seems like a good guy.

'He was saying he often takes a rubbish bag out with him when he's paddle boarding and picks up rubbish from there. He seems like a good dude.”

Terrence will be hitting the beach on his surfboard again today.

'I'm super keen to get out there, being as hot as it is, I try and get out there every day just to try and cool off.” says Terrence.