The Bay of Fires, a beautiful piece of wilderness coastline in the north-east corner of Tasmania, stretches from Eddystone Point in the north to Binalong Bay in the south. Characterised by stunning blue water, fishing lagoons, spotless white sandy beaches and orange lichen covered granite boulders, the area is often mentioned internationally in lists of the world's top beaches.

Binalong Bay

A place of tranquil beauty and one of Tasmania's most popular tourist destinations, this 29-kilometre ribbon of sea, surf and sand is renowned for its island beach culture, cosy cottages and nature walks, not to mention its natural beauty. The bay's unusual name was given to the area by Captain Tobias Furneaux, in 1773, when he saw the smoke from the fires of the local Kunnara Kuna tribe. This led him to believe that the country was densely populated. Abundant evidence of this occupation by Aboriginal people can be seen along the coast today.
The northern section of the Bay, from north of the outlet of Ansons Bay to Eddystone Point lies within the Mt. William National Park.
The middle section of the Bay of Fires lies in the vicinity of Ansons Bay. It can be accessed via Policemans Point or the northern shore of Ansons Bay, however be aware that it is not possible to cross the outlet of Ansons Bay.
The southern section of The Bay of Fires is in the Bay of Fires Conservation Area, situated along a 13 km stretch of coast between Binalong Bay and The Gardens.

St Helens: situated at the western extremity of George Bay, where the Tasman Highway reaches the east coast and turns south towards Hobart, St Helens is the service town for the Bay of Fires region. Probably the best-known and best-endowed small towns on the east coast, it is famous for its crayfish, scallops, abalone and flounder. George bay is a vast expanse of sheltered water, which makes it a drawcard for fishing, boating and aquatic sports. The entire bay has 50 km of shoreline. Such is the popularity of the area that it is estimated the population increases tenfold in summer. Good surf beaches on the open coast are within easy reach and the forest country in the mountains to the north and west is very beautiful. There is excellent trout fishing in the streams.
St Helens is a popular destination for fishing, and each March the St Helens Game Fishing Classic attracts an increasing number of interstate visitors. Take the one-hour return walk to St Helens Point where you will find the spectacular Peron Dunes and vast ocean beach. The waters around St Helens is known for its extensive kelp forests and underwater caves, which are popular with divers.
To the south of the town is a beautiful coastal reserve with heavily timbered sand dunes and beautiful clean beaches. Beyond the reserve, is the Scamander River, noted for its bream. When it comes to tourism, the town prides itself in its pleasant climate - the result of a micro-climate produced by surrounding hills and warm ocean currents. Consequently St Helens is warmer than Melbourne in winter and enjoys an average of 22°C in February - the weather is as close to perfect as one could expect to get in a temperate climate zone.
See also: St Helens

Binalong Bay: 10 minutes north of St Helens is the little community of Binalong Bay, which marks the beginning of the Bay of Fires. Noted for its rock and surf fishing, it is here that visitors first see the bay's large expanse of untouched coastline, lined with clean, white beaches punctuated by picturesque granite outcrops covered in orange lichen . With an array of accommodation, fishing and diving facilities, and a general store and cafe, Binalong Bay is an idyllic location for those seeking a 'holiday in heaven' and an ideal starting point for walks along the coastline.

The Gardens: this picturesque area was named by Lady Jane Franklin, the wife of Governor John Franklin, who spent some time in the region. If your visit to the area is a brief one, the drive along the coast to The Gardens from Binalong Bay is recommended. Along the way are Jenneret Beach, Swimcart Beach, Cosy Corner and Sloop Point, all of which give access to the beach; some have camping facilities. Cosy Corner and Sloop Point have some great photo opportunities.

Ansons Bay: this small fishing village has been famous since its beginning as a premier bream fishing resort. There are approximately 200 houses scattered along the shores of the Bay, built amongst the natural forest. Some people reside permanently in Ansons Bay but many more visit the community for holidays and weekends. There is only one shop in the area. Ansons Bay is the closest settlement to the historic Eddystone Point Lighthouse - circa 1889. Across the boundary, in Dorest Municipality, is the beautiful Mt. William National Park. Extreme care should be taken to avoid wildlife on the roads through the area, which are unsealed.

Mt. William National Park: accessed from Ansons Bay or Gladstone, Mt. William National Park was established in the 1970s, in part to provide a refuge for the Forester kangaroo, a Tasmanian subspecies of eastern grey kangaroo which was in grave danger of extinction at the time. Like so much of Tasmania's east coast, the geology of Mt. William is dominated by granite. Due to its high quartz content, granite breaks down into a very pure sand which has formed beautiful white beaches that are one of the features of the park.
There is a large population of marsupials - wombats, Forester kangaroos, Tasmanian pademelons and wallabies, particularly along Forester Drive. With a rich diversity of coastal vegetation boasting spring flowering, the park is an important area for the conservation of Tasmania's coastal heathlands and dry sclerophyll communities or plants. Heath is found on poorer soils, such as those here, which result from weathered granite and wind blown sand.

Eddystone Point: essentially, one huge midden - and there are over ninety middens, nearly sixty artefact sites and some burial places in Mt. William National Park, which surrounds the point. Called larapuna in the local Aboriginal language, Eddystone is part of the traditional territory of Tasmanian Aborigines. Aborigines have re-occupied Eddystone Point since 1999 when the Tasmanian Government agreed in principle to the return of Eddystone Point and Mt. William National Park.
The striking pink granite tower of the Eddystone Point lighthouse was built on a point that juts out into the sea in 1889 in response to many north bound ships being wrecked by coming in too close to the northeast coast of Tasmania. The light was serviced by sea and over the years the landing areas took a battering with jetties having to be rebuilt several times. The lighthouse is in the Mount William National Park. It can be reached by unsealed roads of a fair condition from St Helens or Gladstone (32 km).

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