| Situated on Georges Bay, St Helens is the largest town on the north-east coast of Tasmania. A popular resort for fishing, swimming and other aquatic activities, its position makes St Helens a good base from which to explore the whole north-east corner of Tasmania.
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Georges Bay
Where is it?: Tasmania: North East. St Helens is centrally located to the many natural attractions of north-eastern Tasmania. The town is 256 km north east of Hobart via Midland, Esky and Tasman Highways, and 160 km east of Launceston via Tasman Highway (via Scottdale) or Eask and Midland Highways (via Conara)
Things to see and do:
A short journey north from St Helens along and coast brings you to Binalong Bay and Bay of Fires and Eddystone Point beyond. Bay of Fires is world renowned for its giant granite boulders covered in orange lichen and white sandy beaches (they are often named among the best beaches in the world). This whole coast is popular with divers because of its kelp forests and underwater caves.
St Helens Point is an area of low sand dunes; its ocean beach a short drive from the town. St Helens Point is popular for surfing, fishing, beach walks, boating, bird-watching and camping.
Lookouts: St Helens Point is an elevated headland from which magnificent views of the coast can be obtained.
Events: St Helens Game Fishing Classic (every March)
Surrounding area:
St Columba Falls, the largest waterfall in Tasmania's north-east, is 39 km east via Pyengana. This small village is known for its quirky cheese factory. Surrounding the falls is an amazing forest of huge 'Man Ferns' (Dicksonia antartica). Here the track crosses a little creek where the rocks and logs are completely covered in mosses and little ferns.
Mt William National Park: North of Binalong Bay along a very corrugated dirt road into the Mt William National Park to Eddystone Point, where there is a lighthouse and the oldest standing lighthouse keeper residences remaining in Tasmania. Inland from Eddystone Point is Little Blue Lake, the brightest and prettiest blue colour you'll ever see. The lake has been formed due to early tin mining and the exposed white clay reflects the sky, giving the water it's colour.
Fingal, 57km to the south west on the South Esk Highway, is situated in the the heart of the lovely Fingal valley. Opium poppies are grown around Fingal for use in the Pharmaceutical industry. Tasmania is the only place in the southern hemisphere where this is legal.
Ben Lomond National Park: On Fingal's doorstep is Ben Lomond National Park, Douglas Apsley National Park, Mathinna Falls and Evercreech Forest Reserve. Deep in this forest lives the tallest white gum in the world, standing tall at 91 meters, known as White Knights. Over the years, these trees (Eucalyptus Viminalis) has surprised scientists from all over the world, many who whom believed that this species could reach such a height. There are four specimens that were saved from logging due to their unbelievable size. They are believed to be over 300 years old.
Scamander: To the south of St Helens is the town of Scamander, a popular holiday destination because of its wide, sandy beaches and views of the ocean. Recreational activities include swimming and fishing for bream in the river. Scamander Beach is Tasmania's premium east-coast surfing beach.
Trivia: St Helens has the appeal of a seaside town, but it's actually on Georges Bay.
About St Helens
St Helens has a population of 2049, and in the early 2000s it was one of the fastest growing areas of Tasmania. The locality usually includes the surrounding areas of Binalong Bay and Stieglitz. The town's economy is based largely on tourism, fishing and timber. The town developed out of a whaling base on Georges Bay in the early 19th century.
When tin was discovered in the Blue Tier mountains in the 1870s, St Helens became the shipping port for the mines. This was the first time a coach service had been introduced to the town; previous access had only been by sea. The town was named after St Helens, Isle of Wight.
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Climate: for the visitor, St Helens' climate is one of its greatest assets. The town has a mild temperate climate, with four distinct seasons. Summers are warm and sunny and winters are quite cool. Rainfall throughout the year is very consistent, with an average of 54.2mm in February and 76.2mm in June. Being on the East Coast, St Helens' winter temperatures are warmer than most parts of Tasmania. Summer temperatures however are not as warm as inland areas, although they are still warmer than Tasmania's capital, Hobart.
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