The Bay of Fires: Orange Rocks, Turquoise Waters, White Sand

If you love nature’s contrasts, make sure to visit the Bay of Fires in Tasmania’s northeastern corner. You’ll find a dramatic landscape of nearly empty white-sand beaches, striking outcroppings of orange-lichen rock, and the seas shifting from vivid turquoise to deep navy blue.

This fifty-kilometer-long area, romantically named the Bay of Fires, has won multiple “most beautiful beaches” awards, both in Australia and internationally (I don’t know who has the job of choosing those winners, but I want it). We visited two spots this time around, starting with the north end of Cosy Corner.

The beach here is just a few short steps from the parking area, and the sand is soft and perfect …

… but the weather, even in summer, didn’t entice us to stay.

Instead, we clambered around on the rocks …

… and enjoyed the view out over the stormy ocean.

Sloop Rock Lookout: Windswept Views

We next drove up to the Sloop Rock Lookout. The parking area is about a five-to-ten minute walk downhill through brushy scrub to the rocks at the lookout point. From here, you can look out over the red rocks to Sloop Rock — named for its resemblance to a ship — in the distance.

You can access beaches from this point if you work for it, but it’s mostly rocks (and wind).

Despite the blustery chill, it would be tough to argue with this type of scenery!

Where to Stay: The Bay of Fires & St. Helens

For the easiest access to Bay of Fires, your best bet is to rent one of the many campsites along the shore. For a bit more comfort (and because we had no camping gear), we stayed in St. Helens. With a population of just 2,200, St. Helens is small, but it’s the perfect gateway to the Bay of Fires.

Lunch & Quirky Finds in St. Helens

We had an excellent brunch at The Lifebuoy Cafe (try the avocado toast!) and then popped into a few lovely shops before stopping outside the Visitor Information Centre. Here, we found a mural, an old steam engine, and a dragon!

The dragon, it turns out, is part of the Trail of the Tin Dragon, a set of markers that runs across northern Tasmania to honor the history of Chinese miners in the area.

Dinner & A Stroll by the Marina

After an afternoon back up at the Bay of Fires, we returned to St. Helens for an upscale dinner at Furneaux. These scallops were some of the best I’ve ever had.

We ended our evening with a short stroll by the marina (St. Helens is known both for game fishing and oyster harvesting).

We adored our sweet little Airbnb, which sat out under the trees at the edge of town.

Reflections on St. Helens and the Bay of Fires in Tasmania

I love the Bay of Fires — it’s not exactly convenient, but it keeps finding its way onto my Tasmania itineraries because it’s so incredibly striking. Even on a blustery, chilly, cloudy day, it was still remarkable, and we had the rocks and beaches nearly to ourselves. And St. Helens offers a lovely, small-town experience for eating and exploring.

If you need one more reason to visit (though I’ll grant this one might not be the most compelling), this guy stands on The Gardens Road between St. Helens and the Bay of Fires. He still makes me smile.

What to Know Before Visiting the Bay of Fires and St Helens

• Getting there: The Bay of Fires and St. Helens are about a 2 hour drive from Launceston and a 3 Hour drive from Hobart.
• Be prepared: Bring a raincoat or a windbreaker — it can get cold even on a summer’s day.
• Footwear: Wear good shoes; exploring the Bay of Fires requires walking on uneven and sometimes slippery rocks.
• Dining: In the height of summer, make dinner reservations in advance.

For More Adventures in Tasmania

• Find great Tasmanian hikes and walks in my post on Day Trips from Hobart: Tasmania’s Mount Field & Mount Wellington/kunanyi
• Explore more coastal beauty with 3 Short & Easy Freycinet Walks
• Take a road trip with this guide: Day Trip from Hobart: A Scenic Loop Around the Top of the Tasman Peninsula