Touring Tasmania: Bay of Fires

Touring Tassie: Bay of Fires

I thought the east coast of Tasmania was picturesque, however I had no idea what was in store for me once we arrived at the Bay of Fires coastline on the north eastern coast. Bay of Fires indeed! It was afire with some of the most spectacular beaches and orange lichen covered granite boulders I have seen anywhere in the world!!

The Bay of Fires, so called because explorers from the ship saw fires blazing lit by native Aborigines, when they passed these shores, extends from Binalong Bay to Eddystone Point. However we were only able to travel on sealed roads as far as The Gardens then the road is gravel to Eddystone Point.

Binalong Bay

A small coastal town and the starting point for the Bay of Fires region with a small population, mainly consisting of holiday homes and shacks. It is popular for all types of water activities including boating, fishing, swimming, snorkelling, scuba diving and sailing.

There isn’t much in the way of shops or eateries in Binalong Bay except for a general store and the Binalong Bay Cafe which boasts a large deck overlooking the bay. The nearest shops and services are at St Helens which is 25Km south of Binalong Bay.

Accommodation in Binalong Bay consists of holiday home rentals, but further north there are plenty of great free camping areas situated right on the beach.

The water clarity is crystal clear.

Bay of Fires Camping

There are free campsites north of Binalong Bay including:

• Grants Lagoon
• Jeanneret Beach
• Swimcart Beach
• Cosy Corner
• Sloop Reef
• Policemans Point
• Sloop Lagoon
• Big Lagoon

A short walk to the beach revealed these treasures:

The campsites at Bay Of Fires are pretty much as good as you will find, made all the more remarkable by virtue of the fact of this unbelievable location. You can stay for up to four weeks for free, but there are no facilities apart from pit toilets.

The granite rock formations are amazing.

This rock looks as though someone has painted it orange.

The Gardens

The drive further north towards The Gardens is one that I remember oohing and aahing as we followed the coastline along with the most stunning scenery I have ever seen unfolding before my eyes. It literally took my breath away!

The beach is long with the whitest sand I have ever seen, pure aqua waters with pale green coastal grasses flickering in the wind.

The Gardens has a smattering of gorgeous beach houses along the beachfront and then verdant green farmlands to the west.

There are rock pools like these everywhere.

And long white sanded stretches of beaches like these.

Bay of Fires is around 200Kms north of Hobart and 100Kms east of Launceston. Further north of the Bay of Fires coast is the Mt William National Park where there is even more scenic coastline with granite boulders and long sandy beaches.

This slice of absolute heaven was a big highlight of our Tassie trip and I am going to go out on a limb and say, forget Wineglass Bay or Whitehaven Beach, these beaches are the best I’ve seen in the world!