Nestled at the northern end of Lord Howe Island, Old Settlement Beach is a secluded crescent of white sand framed by weather-sculpted sandstone rocks and dramatic volcanic peaks. Its shallow, crystal-clear waters open onto a thriving coral reef teeming with fish, making it one of the island's finest snorkelling spots. Quieter than the more famous Ned's Beach, this tranquil cove rewards visitors with the chance to swim alongside green sea turtles, colourful kingfish, trevally, and rays just metres from shore. The backdrop of Mount Gower and Mount Lidgbird adds a breathtaking wilderness feel to this picture-perfect paradise.
Old Settlement Beach
IntermediateGO
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Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 0.1 mSwell Period 12 sWind Speed 1.2 knPrecipitation 0.1 mmTidal Phase slack
Last evaluated
© David StanleyThe spot
Community-maintained
Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
Know before you go
Logged by the community, confirmed by mods
Low risk: Long swim to reef
The best snorkelling requires swimming a fair distance out to the buoy marker. Less confident swimmers may find this challenging.
Low risk: Rocky shallows near shore
Turtles and rays are often sighted close to shore during mid to high tides, but the shallows near the beach can be rocky in places.
Low risk: Mild shore break
While generally gentle, soft rolling waves can occasionally create a mild shore break that may affect entry/exit.
Low risk: Limited shade
Sun exposure is significant on this open, north-facing beach with limited shade. Bring sun protection.
Wildlife Guide
No wildlife notes for this spot yet.
Gallery
1 photo from the community
Getting in
Shore entry
Entry
Old Settlement Beach is located at the northern end of Lord Howe Island. It's an easy 15-minute bike ride or walk from the main settlement along the island's single road. Bikes can be left at the beach entrance near the water tanks.
Parking & facilities
Bike parking near the entrance. No dedicated car parking — the island is best explored by bicycle or on foot.
toiletsparking
No entry fee. Snorkel gear can be rented from dive shops on the island.
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Gallery ┬╖ 1 photos
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About this data
- Conditions last evaluated
- Spot data last updated
- Data sources
- Open-Meteo (marine & weather conditions), tide predictions via UTide, community contributors (descriptions, hazards, marine life).
- License
- Spot content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. How's the Spot is open source.
Weather & swell ┬╖ Open-Meteo marine & weather APIs Tides ┬╖ UTide harmonic analysis Sea & safety ┬╖ community reports