The Complete 2024 Guide to Tunnels Beach, Kauai
On the north shore of Kauai, Tunnels Beach is a tropical paradise for diving and looks like it belongs in a picture book.
People who live in Makua call the beach “Tunnels Beach,” but divers who found the many lava tubes, caves, and tunnels in the reef here gave it that name.
Tunnels Beach on the island of Kauai is one of the most popular places to swim, scuba dive, and lay out in the sun during the summer. It is well worth the trouble to find parking at Tunnels Beach.
Landscape shooters love Tunnels Beach because it has such a beautiful setting. The beach was used to film the famous 1958 movie South Pacific.
Tunnels Beach has a long stretch of golden sand, with the beautiful Mount Makana (also called Bali Hai) and thick tropical plants on either side. The waters of Maniniholo Bay are a mix of blue and green.
Some tourists have trouble parking at Tunnels Beach, and the beach itself doesn’t have any services. However, most people who are going to Kauai want to visit this beautiful beach. It’s also a favorite in the area!
You can find a lot of information about things to do at Tunnels Beach on this page. We also tell you how to get to Tunnels Beach, where to park, and what to do while you’re there.
Start reading the full guide to going to Tunnels Beach right away!
Check out some of the best things to do in Kauai if you’re just starting to plan your trip there. Many of them are things you won’t want to miss!
Along with its stunning beauty, Tunnels Beach is known for its amazing underwater lava maze of caves, bridges, tunnels, and more. This makes it a fun and exciting place to explore and see beautiful tropical fish!
Also, Tunnels Beach is in a place that is historically important to Hawaiians. Makua, its Hawaiian name, means “parent,” which shows how much Hawaiians value the land as a caring force.
All the information you need to plan your trip to this beautiful beach is on this page about Tunnels Beach.
The beach at Haena Point is on Maniniholo Bay, not far from the town of Hanalei on the north shore of Kauai. Check out a map to see where Tunnels Beach is.
There are many ways to get to Tunnels Beach on Kauai. You can drive there from Hanalei or Princeville, Kapaa or Lihue, Koloa or Poipu, or even Waimea.
It can be hard to get to Tunnels Beach, so it’s best to look into your choices ahead of time. It depends on where you park your car at Tunnels Beach.
You can walk the few steps to the sand if you get there early and get a spot in one of the alleys by Tunnels. If those spots are taken, you’ll have to park at Haena Beach Park and walk along the beach for about 10 minutes to get to Tunnels.
In Hanalei, you can rent gear from shops, and there are places where you can eat before or after your trip to Tunnels Beach.
Tunnels Beach is a great place to swim in the summer and is close to other great things to do on Kauai’s north shore.
Want to know if Tunnels Beach is open? Many Kauai beaches are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. But sometimes, Tunnels Beach is closed to water sports, like when a shark has been seen, which happens very rarely.
You don’t need a ticket or a reservation to go to Tunnels Beach right now. Both Tunnels Beach and Haena Beach Park are right next to Haena State Park. Haena State Park does require bookings ahead of time, but Tunnels Beach does not.
There are no fees to enter or park at Tunnels Beach or Haena Beach Park, which is great news for people on a budget who want to visit Kauai.
Are you interested in what Tunnels Beach has to offer? There aren’t any! Also, there are no lifeguards at Tunnels Beach.
But there is a lifeguard at Haena Beach Park, which is right next door and has bathrooms and toilets. From Tunnels, it takes about 10 minutes to walk to Haena Beach Park.
This full guide lists all the best things to do at Tunnels Beach, such as swim, snorkel, lay out in the sun, watch the sunset (or morning! ), look at turtles and monk seals, surf, scuba dive, kayak, canoe, paddleboard, and do other things.
Best Things to Do at Tunnels Beach
1. Snorkel at Tunnels Beach
People go to Tunnels Beach even though it doesn’t have many services because they want to snorkel: One of the best places to swim on Kauai is at Tunnels Beach.
You can see Makua Reef from the air! It is so big and the water is so clear that Tunnels Beach is known as a great place to swim. Along the reef, there is a lot of different marine life that lives underwater.
There are two reefs: an inner reef close to the shore and an outer reef farther away.
Snorkelers love Tunnels Beach because it has so many different kinds of sea life. They can see coral reefs, groups of colorful tropical fish, rays, eels, crabs, octopuses, sea turtles, and even the rare Hawaiian monk seal.
Tunnels Beach is a great place for snorkelers of all skill levels because it has large coral reefs and lots of different, small tidepools.
In the shallow tidepools and close to the beach, beginners can look at the lava formations, coral reefs, and sea life.
Snorkelers with more experience can go further and deeper to see bigger tropical fish and other sea life as well as the interesting lava structures like natural arches and caves.
To get on and off the beach, look for the sandy places. This will help you avoid stepping on coral, which is alive, when the water is shallow. You can also cut your feet on coral.
2. Soak in the Beauty of Tunnels Beach
One of the best things to do at Tunnels Beach is, of course, just look at the beautiful scenery.
You don’t even have to go in the water to enjoy the beautiful scenery. This beach is often on the bucket list of landscape shooters who want to visit Kauai.
Mount Makana, also known as Bali Hai, stands tall in the background of Tunnels Beach, which is shaped like a crescent. The rich green mountain runs along the back of the beach and rises high above the western end.
At the back of the beach, there are ironwood trees and palm trees. In front of the soft, golden sand is Maniniholo Bay, which is blue.
The scene looks like a picture postcard, and it was used to film the 1958 musical South Pacific.
3. View Romantic Sunsets at Tunnels Beach
You have to stay at Tunnels Beach in the evening to see the sun go down!
An already beautiful place is made even more magical by the colorful skies that show just after the sun goes down.
4. Sunbathe and Relax on the Golden Sands
On grassy Tunnels Beach, there are lots of fun things to do when you’re not in the water.
Bring a blanket and have a lunch in this lovely place. Take it easy on the golden sand and enjoy the view. Lay out a towel or a small, light beach chair and lay out in the sun.
Find shells and small pieces of coral, but don’t take them home with you. Other people will want to enjoy them.
5. Admire Honu and Monk Seals on Tunnels Beach
Hawaiian green sea turtles (honu) and monk seals can often be seen on Kauai’s golden sands, as they can be on many other beaches.
Both of these animals are protected, so stay away from them and respect the orange cones that volunteers put around them.
6. Surf Tunnels Beach
As with other beaches on Kauai’s North Shore, the water at Tunnels Beach is usually calm in the summer but turns into rough waves in the winter that are too dangerous for swimming and snorkeling.
But that’s exactly what the surfers, windsurfers, and kiteboarders were waiting for: fun, big waves for exciting, heart-pounding water sports!
Winter waves at Tunnels Beach are only for experienced surfers, and you have to paddle out past the rocks to get to the break!
7. Explore the Lava Formations with a Scuba Dive or on a Sea Scooter
People also like to scuba dive at Tunnels Beach when the water is calm in the summer. The outer reef is where most divers like to go because it has more lava arches and holes to explore.
The dives are easy for beginners and run from 20 to 70 feet.
Not licensed to go scuba diving? Sea scooters are a great option that give you the same thrill!
The sea bikes can be rented in either Hanalei or Princeville.
8. Swim at Tunnels Beach
Tunnels is mostly known as a snorkeling beach, but when the waves are low, like in the summer, you can swim or walk here too.
If you care about safety, you should go to Haena Beach Park, which is right next to Tunnels Beach and has lifeguards.
Don’t go too far from the beach, even if you’re a strong and experienced swimmer. The North beach of Kauai is known for having a lot of rip currents and high tides, and Tunnels Beach is no different.
9. Kayak (or Canoe or Paddleboard)
The ocean is usually calm in the summer, which is great for kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding in the open ocean.
You can either look around on your own or with a tour guide.
You can rent something at either Hanalei or Princeville.
10. Enjoy sunrise at Tunnels Beach!
If you get up early, going to Tunnels Beach at sunrise will be an adventure you will never forget.
Early in the morning, the sun will be rising over the water between Hanalei and Princeville in the east. The sky will often be bright.
In the morning, Tunnels Beach is very quiet. The only sounds are the waves crashing on the shore and maybe the call of a seabird.
Most likely, you can park in one of the streets close to the beach, which is the best part!
