Ordered interconnected gold nanoshells and nanotubes (see figure) are made by electroless plating in a macroporous polymer replicated from a non-close-packed silica colloidal crystal. The size of the gold nanoshells and nanotubes can be altered by varying the sintering and etching conditions for the silica template. A remarkable modulation in optical reflectivity resulting from surface plasmon excitation has been observed in the microstructure.