Guide to the Larapuna / Bay of Fires area
Beach dreams begin here.
Lining Tasmania’s north-east coast, the Larapuna / Bay of Fires area is that perfect combination of squeaky white-sand beaches, clear azure seas and granite rocks splashed with orange lichen.
Campgrounds sit behind glorious beaches, and there are myriad ways to enjoy or explore the coast: walk, mountain bike, cruise or simply recline on a beach towel.
The Bay of Fires was named by English navigator Tobias Furneaux in 1773 when he saw fires burning along the coast, lit by Tasmanian Aboriginal people. Aptly, the Larapuna area, which includes the Bay of Fires, is the setting for one of Tasmania’s first Aboriginal tourism ventures.
What is the Larapuna / Bay of Fires area known for?
- Stroll the white sands of a Bay of Fires Conservation Area beach – 'Australia's Best Beach' in 2025.
- Mix culture and nature on the Palawa-led wukalina Walk.
- Camp behind one of the white-sand beaches then watch the sunrise on the horizon.
Seaton Cove, Bay of Fires Conservation Area
Sean Fennessy
Swim, snorkel and paddle the crystal-clear waters
Sean Scott
Enjoy the beaches and coastal charm of the Larapuna / Bay of Fires area
Sean Scott
Sunrise at Taylors Beach
Geoff Murray
Tourism Tasmania & Scott Sporleder, Matador
Top things to do in the Larapuna / Bay of Fires area
Beach hop, or beach stop
Pick a beach, any beach. Stroll the sands and explore the headlands, which are smothered in orange lichen. Or simply roll out a beach towel and laze on the sand. Favourite beaches include Jeanneret, Cosy Corner and Binalong Bay.
wukalina Walk
Discover the long and deep connections of the Palawa (Tasmanian Aboriginal) people to Larapuna – an area that includes the Bay of Fires – on the four-day guided wukalina Walk, bringing together natural beauty, storytelling, culture and bush tucker.
Bay of Fires Lodge Walk
Hike the coast in ultimate comfort on the guided Bay of Fires Lodge Walk, stepping from beach to beach and spending nights in an exclusive lodge set 40m above the sea, with hot showers, a soothing spa and fine food.
Join the Palawa (Tasmanian Aboriginal) owned and led wukalina Walk credit: Jillian Mundy
Jillian Mundy
wukalina Walk - architecturally designed camp
Jillian Mundy
Bay of Fires Lodge Walk - accommodation
Rob Burnett
Bay of Fires Lodge - Spa
Supplied Courtesy of Tasmanian Walking Company
Tourism Australia
Mount William National Park
Tucked into the northern edge of Larapuna, Mount William National Park offers a sweeping coastline fringed with squeaky white-sand beaches lapped by crystal-clear waters. It's also home to Tasmania's most easterly point, at Eddystone Point. Inland, you'll find 216m-high Wukalina / Mount William, which has views as far as the Furneaux Islands, while the clearings across the park's plains fill with Forester kangaroos, wallabies and wombats at dawn and dusk. A Tasmanian parks pass is needed to visit this park.
Bay of Fires Trail
Descending from the top of the Blue Tier mountains to the sands of Swimcart Beach, this 42km mountain bike trail is the ultimate adventurous arrival into the Bay of Fires Conservation Area. Part of the St Helens Mountain Bike Trails network, it’s a roller-coaster ride from mountain rainforest to sparkling coast. Tours and shuttle services to and from the trail operate out of St Helens (and Derby). Casual cruisers can hire bikes in St Helens and opt for one of the shorter and easier bike trails,
WHILE YOU'RE IN THE AREA
Stu Gibson
Stu Gibson
Tourism Australia
Forester kangaroos at dawn, wukalina Walk
Rob Burnett
Plan your trip to the Larapuna / Bay of Fires area
Where to stay in the Bay of Fires
Set up camp or park up the van behind the beach in one of the eight free campgrounds in Bay of Fires Conservation Area, or find six designated campgrounds in ​Mount William National Park (parks pass and camping fees apply). There is a constellation of family-sized beach houses, luxe retreats and dog-friendly shacks strung along the coast between Binalong Bay and The Gardens. For something a bit different, go glamping in a stylish bell tent at Bay of Fires Bush Retreat, try a tiny home or Japanese-inspired stone cottage.
What to eat and drink in the Bay of Fires
Head to The Hub in Binalong Bay for seaside pizza, pick up gourmet picnic provisions in St Helens at the East Coast Village Providore or enjoy Easy Tiger for pub meals, local brews, live music and even a boutique cinema. As the island’s game-fishing hub, St Helens is known for its deep-sea fish and southern rock lobster. Swing by Priory Ridge Wines, with its cellar door in a 1920s shearing shed, to taste a local drop.
Sunrise at Cosy Corner campground
Sean Scott Photography
Glamping at Bay of Fires Bush Retreat
Adam Gibson
Ros Wharton
Fish and chips by the shore in St Helens
Stu Gibson
Priory Ridge wines cellar door
Rob Burnett
How to get to the Bay of Fires
Binalong Bay, at the southern end of the Bay of Fires Conservation Area, is a 2hr 20min drive (175km) east of Launceston via St Helens, and a 3hr 20min drive (263km) north-east of Hobart. To the north, Ansons Bay is the nearest town to access Mount William National Park, and is a 40min drive north of St Helens (gravel road).
The national park can also be accessed from the east via Bridport or Scottsdale, then by unsealed back roads from Gladstone. Plan your route and read our road safety tips before you drive.
How to get around in the Bay of Fires
The easiest and most flexible way to explore the Larapuna / Bay of Fires area is by car. While there are bus services to St Helens from Launceston or from Hobart, no local buses operate around the area. If you’re tackling the St Helens mountain biking trails, a shuttle service can drop you at the trailhead. Some guided walking tours include transfers.
