If you’re staring at a map of Canada trying to figure out where is Oak Island Nova Scotia, you aren't the first person to get lost in the geography—or the mystery. Honestly, it looks like just another tiny, tree-covered bump in the ocean. But this 140-acre patch of dirt in Mahone Bay has eaten more money, time, and sanity than almost any other spot on Earth.
Most people know it from the hit TV show. You've seen the Rick and Marty Lagina highlights. You've heard about the "Money Pit" and the supposed curse. But finding the place in real life is a bit different than watching it on a screen from your couch.
The Exact Coordinates: Pinpointing the Mystery
Oak Island isn't hidden in some remote, unreachable arctic tundra. It’s actually pretty accessible, sitting on the South Shore of Nova Scotia. If you want the technical data for your GPS, the coordinates are 44°30′49″N and 64°17′38″W.
Basically, it's about 45 miles (72 kilometers) southwest of Halifax. That’s roughly an hour's drive if you aren't stopping for lobster rolls along the way. You’ll find it tucked into the eastern end of Lunenburg County.
The island is one of about 360 islands in Mahone Bay. It’s shaped like a peanut, or maybe a teardrop, depending on how much rum you’ve had. It sits only about 200 meters from the mainland. It’s so close you could practically throw a rock and hit the causeway—though I wouldn't recommend it, as the security there is tighter than a drum.
Getting There by Land and Sea
You don't need a boat to reach the island anymore. In the 1960s, a treasure hunter named Robert Dunfield built a massive causeway to bring in heavy machinery. Today, that causeway is the only way in or out by car.
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If you're coming from the U.S., say Maine, you can take The CAT high-speed ferry from Bar Harbor to Yarmouth. From Yarmouth, it’s a scenic two-and-a-half-hour drive up the coast. If you’re flying into Halifax Stanfield International Airport, you just hop on Highway 103 South and follow the signs toward Chester and Western Shore.
The nearest "big" town is Chester, but the community directly facing the island is called Western Shore. It’s a quiet, beautiful place where the locals have been watching treasure hunters fail for over 200 years.
Is the Island Open to the Public in 2026?
This is where things get tricky. You can’t just roll up to Oak Island, park your truck, and start digging for Templar gold. The island is privately owned by Oak Island Tours Inc., which is largely controlled by the Lagina brothers and their partners.
For a long time, the island was closed to everyone who wasn't on the film crew. But as of 2026, things have opened up a bit. You can book guided tram tours, which usually run from May through October. These aren't "walk wherever you want" tours. You stay on the tram, you listen to a guide, and you get to see the Money Pit area, Smith's Cove, and the Borehole 10-X from a safe distance.
- Tour Price: Usually around $99 for adults and $35 for kids.
- Booking: You have to book months in advance. These tickets sell out faster than concert seats.
- The Interpretive Centre: This is a small museum on the island filled with artifacts like the Lead Cross and old coins. It’s usually included in the tour.
If the island is closed (which happens during active filming or heavy construction), the next best thing is the Oak Island Resort & Conference Centre. It’s right across the water on the mainland. You can sit on their deck, grab a beer, and stare at the island through binoculars. Many fans of the show stay there hoping to catch a glimpse of Rick or Marty heading to work.
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Why This Specific Spot? The Geology of a "Trap"
When you ask where Oak Island is, you also have to ask what it is. Geologically, it’s a drumlin. That’s a fancy word for a hill formed by moving glaciers about 12,000 years ago.
The island is actually four of these drumlins joined together. This is important because the ground is made of till—a messy mix of clay, sand, and boulders. Underneath that is limestone and gypsum.
Why does this matter for a treasure hunt? Because gypsum is notorious for creating natural sinkholes and caverns. Skeptics, like some geologists from the Bedford Institute of Oceanography, have argued for years that the famous "Money Pit" might just be a natural sinkhole that swallowed some old trees.
However, the "believers" point to the coconut fiber. Massive amounts of coconut fiber were found in the 1800s at Smith's Cove, used as a filter for a "flood tunnel" booby trap. Coconuts don't grow in Nova Scotia. Not even close. That stuff had to be brought in from the Caribbean or further, which suggests someone did some serious engineering on this tiny island.
The Reality of the "Money Pit" Today
If you go to the spot where the Money Pit was first "discovered" in 1795 by Daniel McGinnis, you won't see a neat wooden shaft. You’ll see a chaotic mess of gravel, white PVC pipes, and massive steel caissons.
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The area has been dug up, bulldozed, and cratered so many times that the original location of the pit is actually a bit of a guess. The "Garden Shaft" is currently one of the most active areas. It’s a reconstructed shaft that allows the team to get underground safely, but even with 2026 technology, the Atlantic Ocean keeps trying to reclaim the island.
The water in the pits rises and falls with the tide. That’s the "curse" in a practical sense. Every time someone gets close to something valuable, the shafts flood. Whether that's a brilliant 18th-century booby trap or just the natural porousness of the limestone is the multi-million dollar question.
Nearby Stops You Can't Miss
If you’ve made the trek to see where Oak Island is, don't just leave after your tour. The surrounding area is part of the "South Shore" experience.
- Mahone Bay (The Town): Famous for its three side-by-side churches. It’s about 15 minutes from the island.
- Lunenburg: A UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s full of bright red buildings and the famous Bluenose II schooner.
- The Mug & Anchor Pub: Located in Mahone Bay. This is a known hangout for the cast and crew. If you want to hear the latest rumors that haven't aired on TV yet, this is the place to grab lunch.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Location
A common mistake is thinking Oak Island is a tropical place because of the coconut fiber. It’s not. It’s North Atlantic. The winters are brutal. If you’re planning a visit, don't come in January unless you like freezing rain and grey slush.
Also, people think it’s a public park. It’s not. If you try to boat onto the back side of the island (the "Lot 5" area or the swamp), you will be met by security. They take the "private property" thing very seriously, mostly because it’s an active industrial site with open holes that could swallow a person.
Actionable Tips for Your Oak Island Trip
If you're serious about visiting the coordinates 44.5136° N, 64.2939° W, here is how you do it without wasting your time:
- Monitor the Official Website: Check OakIslandLegend.com starting in January or February. That is usually when tour dates for the summer are announced.
- Stay in Western Shore: If you want the full experience, book a room at the Oak Island Resort. You’ll be within walking distance of the causeway gate.
- Bring Good Shoes: Even on the tram tour, you’ll be walking on uneven gravel. It’s a work site, not a theme park.
- Check the Weather: Nova Scotia weather changes every five minutes. Bring a waterproof jacket even if the sun is out when you leave Halifax.
- Visit the Shore Club: If you're there on a weekend, head to the nearby Hubbards Shore Club for a traditional lobster supper. It's about 25 minutes away and is the most "Nova Scotia" thing you can possibly do.
Finding where Oak Island is on a map is the easy part. Understanding what's actually happening under the soil—that's a mystery that 230 years of digging hasn't quite solved yet. Whether it's Shakespeare's manuscripts, Marie Antoinette's jewels, or just a very deep hole in the ground, the island remains the most stubborn piece of geography in the North Atlantic.