BAY OF FIRES

Welcome to Bay of Fires

The Bay of Fires is where beach dreams come true. It has that perfect combination of clean white sand, clear azure seas and distinctive granite rocks splashed in orange lichen.

Campgrounds sit behind glorious beaches, and there are myriad ways to enjoy or explore the coast: stroll the shore on a beach walk; swim in protected bays; feel the cool ocean breeze on a coastal cruise; or simply recline on a beach towel, dig your toes into the coarse sand and listen for the cries of gulls cruising the shallows.

Lining Tasmania’s north-east coast, the Bay of Fires stretches from Binalong Bay in the south to Eddystone Point in the north. It was named by English navigator Tobias Furneaux in 1773 when he saw fires burning along the coast, lit by the palawa – the Tasmanian Aboriginal people. Aptly, the area of larapuna, which includes the Bay of Fires, is the setting for one of Tasmania’s first Aboriginal tourism ventures – the multi-day guided wukalina Walk.

From sunset ambles to refreshing swims and beachfront camping, laid-back coastal getaways don’t get much better than the Bay of Fires.

Beaches galore

Pick a beach, any beach. Wander the coast and explore the headlands, fossick in rock pools or laze on the sand. The beaches are undoubtedly the jewels in the Bay of Fires’ salty crown.

At the southern end of larapuna / the Bay of Fires area, the small shack community of Binalong Bay is fronted by a long, curved beach. Paddle and play, then grab a cool drink and tuck into local seafood or a pizza at the seaside hamlet’s only restaurant – in prime position behind the beach.

Heading north into the Bay of Fires Conservation Area along the Gardens Road, you’ll pass a string of white-sand beaches dotted with orange-flecked granite boulders and rocky outcrops misted by sea spray. Favourite beaches enroute include Swimcart Beach and Cosy Corner – idyllic spots to while away the hours on a warm sunny day. Here you can wake to brilliance by rolling out a tent, or parking up the van, right behind the beach at one of several free campgrounds.

At the northern end of larapuna / the Bay of Fires area, comb quiet inlets or throw in a line to catch bream and Australian Bass at Ansons Bay. Take time to wander up to Eddystone Point Lighthouse, built from coarse local granite and standing sentinel on a headland at the edge of Mount William National Park. This area is significant to the local palawa, the Tasmanian Aboriginal people. It is believed to have been an important gathering site, with over 90 shell middens and sixty artifact sites found in the area. The grounds surrounding the lighthouse have been leased to the palawa community by the Tasmanian Government.

wukalina / Mount William – 223w

Tucked into the northern edge of larapuna is the 216-metre-high wukalina / Mount William, which overlooks Tasmania’s far north-east coast and the Furneaux Islands offshore.

wukalina / Mount William is in Mount William National Park, which is significant for the conservation of the state’s coastal heathlands and dry sclerophyll plants. The gentle five-hour return walk to the summit starts at Stumpys Bay number four campground, climbing through the heath on a track shaded by banksias and she-oaks. Listen for the calls of the park’s abundant bird species, including honeyeaters, wrens, robins, finches and pardalotes. If five hours sounds too lengthy, there’s also a shorter, 90-minute route to the summit.

The clearings across the park’s plains fill with a diversity of wildlife, including Forester kangaroos, wombats, echidnas, Tasmanian devils, Bennett’s wallabies and pademelons. Plan a stroll for dawn or dusk to coincide with the locals’ grazing.

Luxury guided multi-day walks in the area include the Bay of Fires Lodge Walk and the Tasmanian Aboriginal-owned and operated wukalina Walk. Both tours depart Launceston and include meals, accommodation and interpretation.

As well as coastal walks, Mount William National Park is known for its fishing, swimming and diving. There’s also relaxed camping at six designated campgrounds. Like the rest of the Bay of Fires, this area is blessed by secluded squeaky-sand beaches, sapphire seas and lichen-covered boulders.

Accessibility

Binalong Bay, at the southern end of larapuna / the Bay of Fires area, is a two-hour-and-twenty-minute drive, or 175 kilometres, east of Launceston. From Hobart, it’s a three-hour-and-twenty-minute drive, or 263 kilometres, to the north-east.

Mount William National Park is a two-hour-and-fifteen-minute drive, or 165 kilometres, north-east of Launceston via Gladstone. Alternatively, the southern end of the park can be reached via gravel road from St Helens, the largest town in the area and the best place to pick up supplies, including groceries and fuel.

If beachside camping isn’t your thing, you’ll find plush beach houses and cosy holiday cottage accommodation in St Helens, Binalong Bay and Ansons Bay.

There are no public transport options in the Bay of Fires. For anyone travelling without a car, the best way to see the Bay of Fires is on a guided bus tour or cruise. There are a plethora of options available, ranging from single-day escapes departing Launceston, to multi-day discovery tours.

wukalina / Mount William is in Mount William National Park. A parks pass is required for entry to Tasmania’s national parks. Trained dog guides assisting people who are blind or have low vision are permitted in national parks. However, you will need to obtain a permit for them and carry identification with you. To obtain this permit or for enquiries relating to other assistance animals, please phone the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service or email parkfees@parks.tas.gov.au ahead of your visit.

If you are interested in participating in one of the Bay of Fires walking tours, please contact the operator directly to discuss any accessibility concerns and determine if this tour is appropriate for your individual circumstances.