How to Tour Oak Island, Nova Scotia
Canada Travel || Tags: Canada, Nova Scotia, South Shore ||Are you obsessed with The Curse of Oak Island like I am? Having grown up about an hour from the island, I always remember people talking about buried treasure and the mystery surrounding the money pit. Of course, as an adult, it was buried in the back of my mind until the History Channel started the show The Curse of Oak Island. I can’t wait every week to see what Rick & Marty Lagina and their team are up to.
Did You Know You Can Visit Oak Island?
The island is open for tours on certain dates during the summer! But first, let me tell you why you need to come here…
If you’re not familiar with the Oak Island story, let me give you a history lesson:
A small island between Mahone Bay and Chester on Nova Scotia’s south shore has been the centre of a treasure hunt for over 200 years. It was said that Daniel McGinnis saw a depression in the ground and started digging. They found oak planks every 10 feet, and a stone with strange markings on it, but the shaft had to be abandoned because the tunnel flooded. This became known as the money pit, and in the many years that have followed, countless people have tried to find the treasure, including US President Franklyn Delano Roosevelt. Six men have died trying to find the treasure, and legend has it that one more has to die before the treasure is found. The location of the original money pit was lost because of invasive digging, but it seems the Lagina brothers & team may have found it!
The McGinnis foundation – where their house once stood. It is an area protected by the province of Nova Scotia because it is culturally significant
Memorial to those who have died searching for the treasure
What’s Down There?!
As for what the treasure is, no one really knows. It’s speculated to be Captain Kidd’s treasure or treasure from the Knights Templar. Could it be the Ark of the Covenant, or the Holy Grail? Maybe Shakespeare’s lost manuscripts? We don’t know! So far, the latest treasure search has found many coins and pieces of pottery, human bones from Middle Eastern and European descent, and even a crude-looking lead cross. It seems the Lagina brothers and their team will stop at nothing to find answers, and I am right there with them every week, with every high and low!
So, Can You Visit Oak Island?
There are several ways to visit Osk Island and experience the mystery for yourself!
Oak Island Tour
The island is offering tours in 2026! Tours are offered on Saturdays and Sundays at 9am, 12:30pm, and 3:30pm from the beginning of May until the end of October, and only those with tickets will be permitted on the island. The tours include a guided tour of landmarks and stories integral to the Oak Island story. Additionally, the “Money Pit Express”, a covered tram, is available for those unable to walk the island.
Prices are currently $99+ tax per adult and $35+ tax per child 6 to 12 years old. 5 years old and under are free.
The War Room is directly over the causeway. It’s where the team meets to debrief and plan
What To Expect On The Tour
This was our experience in 2018, so it may be a bit different now!
It is a 2-2 ½ hour walking tour on Oak Island, visiting many of the locations that are central to the mystery, including The Money Pit, Borehole 10X, Smith’s Cove, and The McGinnis Foundation.
It was exciting to do the tour last time, as we got to see what they were up to (drilling in the money pit) before it was aired on TV, so it was like a sneak peek!
We’ve been lucky, and both times we’ve done the tour, we’ve gotten to meet Rick Lagina. Of course, it’s not guaranteed they will be there, but you never know! Rick spent lots of time with us discussing theories. You can tell how much he loves the mystery!
Keep in mind it’s summer in Nova Scotia, you will probably need sunscreen and a bottle of water, and you definitely will need bug spray!
If you need mobility assistance, there is a tram you can ride in, which you need to book in advance.
Island Historian Charles Barkhouse leading the tour
Looking down borehole 10X. The hole was dug by Dan Blankenship as a “back door” to the money pit
Us with Rick Lagina after the tour
Oak Island Interpretive Centre
The Oak Island Interpretive Centre is scheduled to reopen in 2026 after a six-year closure. The details haven’t been announced yet, but keep an eye on the Oak Island Legend website for the most up-to-date information.
Oak Island Boat Tour
If you’ve missed out on the walking tour, consider booking an Oak Island boat tour with Salty Dog Sea Tours. Boat tours are offered daily, and you’ll get a narrated tour while you boat around the island, which seems both bigger and smaller than you’d imagine. The tour is a great way to see the island and the Nova Scotia shoreline.
Oak Island Treasure Shop
While not a tour, anyone can visit the Oak Island Treasure Shop located on the mainland at 6992 Highway 3 in Martin’s Point, Nova Scotia. It is open daily and includes official merchandise, items made from Oak Island wood, books and much more.
How To Get To Oak Island
Oak Island is about an hour south of Halifax, taking Highway 103. Take Exit 9, and continue toward Gold River. If you’re coming from the South Shore, take exit 10 towards Mahone Bay/ Martins River. Take Crandall Point Road, which will lead you to the Oak Island Causeway. The parking lot is immediately across the causeway.
Where To Stay Near Oak Island
The Atlantica Oak Island is by far the closest place to stay, as it is less than 10 minutes from the island. The Atlantica Oak Island is a beautiful resort with a restaurant and spa. The next closest places to stay would be in Chester or Mahone Bay.
What To Do On The South Shore of Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia’s South Shore is a beautiful area. Chester is a scenic town with a golf course, shops, and restaurants (Kiwi Cafe is my favourite!). It is also where the TV show Haven was filmed.
Mahone Bay and Lunenburg are two of my favourite places in Nova Scotia. Lunenburg is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and you can see the Bluenose II boat. Both Mahone Bay and Lunenburg have the sweetest shops and lots of restaurants. I love spending the day here!
Looking for other things to do in Nova Scotia? Here are all my Nova Scotia articles!
Lunenburg Nova Scotia
Final Thoughts
So, what do you think is on Oak Island? Buried treasure? Nothing? Priceless artifacts? I don’t know, but it sure is fun to watch them find out!
Oak Island FAQs
Can anybody visit Oak Island?
As of 2025, you must have a tour ticket to visit Oak Island. Tours are offered on weekends until the end of October 2025.
Can you drive on Oak Island, Nova Scotia?
There is a causeway that you can drive from the mainland to Oak Island. The parking area for the tours is just on the other side of the causeway.
Can you stay on Oak Island, Nova Scotia?
No, there are currently no accommodations on Oak Island. However, there are nearby rental cottages, or you can stay at the famous Oak Island Resort and Conference Centre, a short drive away from the island.
6 responses to “How to Tour Oak Island, Nova Scotia”
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I’ve heard of the Curse of Oak Island, but have completely forgotten about it until now. Hopefully there would be no more (mysterious) deaths in the future as they continue to find out what’s in that pit! Probably no one is attempting these days anymore, right? Ha! Very informative post and definitely worth a share! 🙂
They are still digging currently! Hopefully they will solve the mystery!
What an interesting history/legend! It’s so crazy that 6 people have died trying to find the treasure. Everyone loves a good mystery.
yes! The Oak Island story was published in Readers Digest in 1965 so it’s captivated A LOT of people!
I’m a HUGE Oak Island fan! And I’d love to visit and take the tour, but wow, I had no idea it sells out so fast. Good to know! Oh, and I’m a little jelly that you met Rick!
Last year was the first year it sold out that fast! Probably because the TV show has gotten more popular. We went in 2014 and 2016. Hoping to go back this year too!