BEACHES AROUND THE CORNER

Our favourite beaches are Beer Barrel Beach and Maurouard Beach. Both beaches are about a 10 minute drive from the Beach House along St Helen’s Point Rd. Choose Maurouard if a long dramatic white sandy expanse is what you’re after. Excellent for long walks or runs and for surfing. Beer Barrel is a smaller more intimate beach, also great surfing with plenty of rock pools in amongst the red lichen covered granite rocks, and a secret ‘shelly beach’ just over the rocks at the far end of the beach.

On windy days you will find protection from the elements at Burns Bay on the bay side near the boat ramp at the end of St Helens Point Road. Park on the left before the boat ramps and look for the small bush pathways down to secluded coves.  These are great for paddling with small children too!

Binalong Bay and the Bay of Fires can be found on the other side of St George’s Bay about 20 minutes drive away. Binalong Bay is a stunning white sandy beach, keep your eye out for dolphins! Our favourite of the Bay of Fire beaches is Honeymoon Point. Drive along Gardens Rd until you find Honeymoon Point Rd, park at the very end of the cul-de-sac and look for the hidden bush path down to Honeymoon Point beach, with its stunningly blue (and cold!) waters.

Of course you can also walk down our private pathway to the bayside beach directly in front of the Beach House!

BAY OF FIRES

Turning the corner on the road from St Helens into Binalong Bay, the sight is simply jaw-dropping: the turquoise-coloured ocean breaks onto a breathtakingly white beach fringed with huge boulders draped with iconic orange lichen.

The Bay of Fires has been luring holiday makers for decades. Named by Lonely Planet in 2009 as the world’s hottest travel destination, the Bay of Fires has to be included on your Tasmanian holiday itinerary. Take in the view of beautiful Binalong Bay on the balcony of Moresco Restaurant while you dine on some fresh seafood and a local wine.

Spend peaceful hours snorkelling in the region’s crystal clear lagoons, inlets and bays. Place your footprints along the endless stretches of perfectly white sand. A fascinating aquatic world can be discovered with local guided diving and snorkelling tours. View scenic reefs, spectacular sponges and corals, underwater caves, and abundant marine life including weedy sea dragons, boarfish, abalone and wandering rock lobsters in excellent year-round visibility of up to 20 metres.

MOUNTAIN BIKING

The St Helens Mountain Bike Trails are some of the most scenic trails in the world – where else in the world can you ride Mountains to the Sea, ending your ride in one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, the Bay of Fires.

The St Helens Mountain Bike Trails are located in two unique locations; You will find a series of stacked loops just south of the St Helens Township as well as an epic 42km wilderness trail that starts sat the top of the Blue Tier and winds and wends all the way to Swimcart beach found in the internationally acclaimed Bay of Fires. That makes plenty of quality built trail for you and your family to enjoy!

 Whether you like to shred some serious downhill, enjoy some cross country flow or just want a fun day on the trails with the family, the St Helens Mountain Bike Trails have an experience for everyone. Not only that, but St Helens is the largest town on Tasmania’s east coast and as such offers plenty for you to see and do while you are taking a break from the trails.

See https://www.sthelensmtbtrails.com.au/ for more details.

FISHING

St Helens is known as the game fishing capital of Tasmania! Compete with the pelicans for a catch of flat-head or trevally in the bay directly in front of the Beach House or hire a game-fishing boat to try your luck out past the Barway. 

After you've caught your catch for the day, Kiss a Fish Cookery School is an ideal way to learn the fine art of preparing and cooking perfect seafood. A delightful way to spend your day with cookery school principal Roz MacAllan in her beach house with specially equipped outdoor kitchen overlooking the red lichen rocks of the Bay of Fires.

NEARBY WALKS

St Helens Point. Leave your car at the boat ramp at the end of St Helens Point and follow the track around the point to Beer Barrel Beach. Approximate walking time there and back is an hour or more.

Bayside walk to St Helens. Park your car at the playground at the start of St Helens Point Rd to enjoy the newly constructed gravel path all the way into town. Suitable for a gentle stroll, jog or bike ride.

St Columbus Falls and the Blue Tier. See folder in the house for details and maps.

Dora Point. A pleasant well-formed track from Binalong Bay.

INTO TOWN

St Helens town is back in the other direction. There's a local IGA for all your supplies. Indulge in a wide choice of restaurants. Check out the beautiful deck at Salty Seas where you can enjoy fresh oysters and a cleansing white or a fish meal down by Georges Bay.

If in need of a good coffee, head down to Coffee Away! Serving Ritual coffee, Coffee Away is one of those hidden gems you really hope you’ll find in your travels – lucky for you – you just found it. Also serving freshly made cakes, toasted sandwiches and the famous Muffin Of the Day! Don’t miss it, you’ll love it!

2 minutes down the road towards St Helen’s Point, you will find Hill Crest Caravan Park. You can pick up milk, bread and the paper etc. from here.

In the other direction you will find the Parkside Bar and Kitchen for a meal and play in the playground for the kiddies.

OTHER ATTRACTIONS

As restaurants and tourist attractions change regularly, we have not included details here. But we recommend you visit the Information Centre attached to the Library on Cecilia St in town, or look up the latest information and attractions at www.discovertasmania.com.au.

There are lots of great hikes/swimming spots/day outings nearby like Douglas Apsley National Park, Bicheno, Coles Bay and Wineglass Bay.  Go and explore!

Take to the links at the St Helens Golf Club. Go scuba diving, bike riding, chip and putt golfing, orienteering or bush walking. Delicious cherries are grown all around. Stop and grab a bag of fresh fruit in season. 

Take a walk at Ralph's or St Columba Falls, past the Pub in the Paddock (and its famous beer-swilling pet pig!) at Pyengana or explore the Trail of the Tin Dragon.