Also called Makua Beach, this golden beach is among the most popular spots on the north shore. To get to Tunnels Beach, make your way to Highway 560 until you reach the 8 mile marker for beach access with the best snorkeling opportunities.
People Also Ask
Tunnels is a mile down the beach on foot, and has no amenities. Lifeguards: Haena is guarded, but Tunnels is not.
You will need a parking permit reservation to get to Ke'e beach. You do not need a parking permit to get to Tunnels, but make sure that you only park in an area where it is permitted or you will risk getting ticketed / towed.
It's advised that novice snorkelers stay close to the shore in the inner reef; only advanced snorkelers should venture to the outer reef. There aren't bathroom facilities at Tunnels Beach, but there are some at the nearby Ha'ena Beach Park, which is a little more than a half-mile southwest.
Snorkeling Tunnels, also known as Makua Beach, used to be some of the best in Kauai, especially for seeing big coral formations. But snorkeling is now prohibited in the large inner reef area known as the Makua Lagoon.
Named one of the most romantic spots in Dunedin, Tunnel Beach is most recognisable by it's manmade tunnel built in the 1870s by John Cargill, the passage was created in order for his family to enjoy time at the beach away from onlookers at St Clair.
Ha'ena State Park starts at Lumahuli Gardens and goes to the end of the road to Ke'e Beach and the Kalalau Trail head. Ha'ena Beach Park is across from the Maniniholo Dry Cave and is a life guarded beach with camping.
It's said that Tunnels Beach has the best snorkeling on the island which means it is a perfect beach for the “in-between” family that has both older kids who want to experience sea life and underwater caverns and younger children who will be happier playing in the sand and shallow, docile waves.
Located on the north shore of the island, Turtle Cove is a pristine beach that is perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and simply taking in the stunning views. The water is crystal clear and the sand is soft and white. And best of all, there are almost always turtles swimming just offshore.
The wide sand beach offers the easiest entrance into the water. Don't attempt to enter the shallow areas where there are rocks and reef that come all the way up to the beach edge. Large and small Lava tubes form the many underwater caverns give Tunnels it's name as well as a magical underwater world to explore.