These are found along coastal eastern Australia from Victoria up to northern Queensland and nearby islands, New Guinea, New Caledonia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. The species has largely disappeared from the south-eastern part of its former range and is now rarely recorded on ocean beaches in New South Wales. In Queensland the beach stone-curlew is listed as Vulnerable under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 (Qld).
They are less strictly nocturnal than most stone-curlews and can sometimes be seen foraging by daylight, moving slowly and deliberately, with occasional short runs.
They live on undisturbed open beaches, exposed reefs, tidal sand or mudflats and among mangroves where they feed on crabs and other marine invertebrates.
Males and females are alike and a single egg is laid just above the high tide line on the open beach, a second may be laid if the first is lost. Both parents care for the hatchling, which remains dependant on them for 7 to 12 months.