Skua Beach, Remote beach in Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Australia

Skua Beach sits on the eastern coast of Heard Island, stretching along the ocean shore. The Scarlet Hill rises steeply behind the beach, dominating the landscape with its 410-meter height.

American sealers used the name Launches Beach for this spot, as shown on an unpublished map of "Hurds Island" from the 1860s–70s. In 1948 scientists of the Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions surveyed Heard Island and gave the name Skua Beach, which is now established in usage.

The name Skua Beach was given by the Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions during their 1948 survey of Heard Island, replacing the earlier American sealer name Launches Beach, which appears on an unpublished sealer's map of "Hurds Island" from the 1860s–70s. The name refers to the skua, a seabird seen around the shore.

Skua Beach lies at the foot of Scarlet Hill on the east side of Heard Island, reached only by expedition ship from Australia, roughly two weeks' sailing from Fremantle. Landings are by small boat onto open sand and depend on swell and wind, so plans shift with the weather. The island is a subantarctic reserve managed by the Australian Antarctic Division; access needs a permit, and landings are arranged around wildlife and weather windows.

American sealers used the name Launches Beach for this spot, as shown on an unpublished map of "Hurds Island" from the 1860s–70s. The established name Skua Beach was given by ANARE during its 1948 survey of Heard Island.