Bay of Fires Tasmania: Ultimate Travel Guide (+ Map)

Important Things to Know About Visiting the Bay of Fires

• The Bay of Fires is located on the Northeast coast of Tasmania, stretching from Binalong Bay to Eddystone Point.
• The main access routes to the Bay of Fires are through St Helens, 165 km from Launceston or 252 km from Hobart. Binalong Bay Road (C850) or Reids Road (C849) lead to the best areas to visit.
• Make sure to stock up on supplies if you're staying overnight in St Helens, including food, water, and fuel.
• You can stay at the Bay of Fires in various accommodations from freedom camping near the beach to accommodations in Binalong Bay and The Gardens.
• Notable free sites include Swimcart Beach, Cozy Corner South, Dora Point, Sloop Reef, and Grants Lagoon.
• There are so many fun things to do in the region, from self-guided walks, multi-day lodge walks, swimming on beaches and in crystal-clear rock pools, surfing, and 10+ more ideas below.
• Wildlife: Be on the lookout for sea eagles, Tasmanian devils, black cockatoos, wallabies, and pademelons, especially early in the mornings!
• National Parks Pass: Not required for Bay of Fires but needed past Ansons Bridge if you're continuing up to Mount William National Park.

Where is the Bay of Fires in Tasmania?

Bay of Fires is located on Tasmania's Northeast coast. The name refers to the long, 50 km stretch of pristine coastline from Binalong Bay in the south, to Eddystone Point on the northern end.

However, in my opinion, the best place to visit in the Bay of Fires is the area between The Gardens and Binalong Bay for the most pristine beaches, clear-water rock pools and fun things to do.

How to Get to the Bay of Fires

To get to the Bay of Fires region, you'll need to head towards the town of St Helens, which is located approximately 165 kilometres from Launceston, or 252 kilometres from Hobart. St Helens is the main town on the east coast of Tasmania. This is a great place to stock up on food, get water, dump waste and book tours and activities in the Bay of Fires.

From St. Helens, you can get to the Bay of Fires by heading towards Binalong Bay, taking either Binalong Bay Road, C850 (sealed road) or Reids Road, C849 (unsealed road). When we visited, the main sealed road (C850) was closed due to flooding. So, we were forced to take the alternate unsealed road to access the coast– I recommend checking in advance on Services Tas.

Don't worry though, this road is fairly well-maintained and we had no trouble in our big van.

Binalong Bay is a small township within the Bay of Fires area. Most of the epic campsites, white sandy beaches, amazing rock pools and other attractions, activities, and things to do are found along the coast north of Binalong Bay, along Gardens Road (C848).

Booking a Bay of Fires Tour from Hobart

If you're planning a trip to Tasmania, consider this epic 5-day adventure from Hobart which is one of the most popular guided trips in Tasmania.

This trip combines the rugged highlights of the east coast including the Bay of Fires and Freycinet National Park (Wineglass Bay) as well as wild rainforest and alpine highlights on the west coast including Strahan and Cradle Mountain.

Bay of Fires Attractions Map

Below I've created a useful map with all of the highlights listed in this guide to the Bay of Fires. It includes the best red rock pools, beaches, camping spots and points of interest.

All of the pins are colour-coded to help you find the attraction you're looking for. Below I'll dive into each attraction and point of interest!

Travel Hack: Click on the map above and it will load on your Google Maps app. You can save it by clicking the grey star at the top, which will add it to "Your Places" on your Google Maps account. This way, you have a handy digital app on the go with all of the best things to do in the Bay of Fires– just refer back to this blog (or bookmark it) for the explanations & details!

1. The Bay of Fires Walks

Since the Bay of Fires coastline stretches over 50 kilometres, covering it all on foot would mean a multi-day hike.

Luckily, some reputable tour agencies operate in the area and lead walkers to the best spots on organised walking tours. Below I've linked to one of the best in the region but keep reading for some ideas on self-guided walks.

Self-Guided Walks in the Bay of Fires

If you'd prefer to take your own, self-guided walks around some of the Bay of Fires highlights, then I'd suggest having a car. This way, you can drive to most of the spots and enjoy walks along the coast.

Some of my favourite short Bay of Fires walks include:

1. Rock-hopping from Swimcart Beach to Sloop Reef
2. Walking the stretch of Taylors Beach to the Gardens
3. Bay of Fires Coastal Walk north of The Gardens

Most of these tracks aren't official "trails" and won't be found on maps or in tourist brochures. However, if you check out the points mentioned on the map, you'll easily find great walking routes along the coast.

2. Swim in Incredible Orange Rock Pools

If you've looked up photos of the Bay of Fires on social media, then you know that there are some very scenic, crystal-clear water rock pools in the area. There are loads of awesome spots to discover and all make for a great swim and fantastic photo opportunities.

I recommend just driving around the coastline stopping at the many pull-over points and accessing the beach and headlands. You'll quickly discover that there are hundreds of beautiful rock pools surrounded by orange-ochre boulders.

However, to help you find some of the best Bay of Fires rock pools, I've pinned them on the map found above. I've also included some photos of the spots below with GPS coordinates to make it easy for you.

Why are the rocks orange at the Bay of Fires?
The ochre boulders scattered along the Bay of Fires coastline are orange due to a combination of algae and fungus known as lichens. These lifeforms live together in a symbiotic relationship and create the orange colour you see on the boulders.

My Favourite: Cozy Corner North Rock Pools

After spending long days exploring the best of the Bay of Fires coastline, I think I found my favourite spot.

At the north of Cozy Corner (Cosy Corner), you'll find a secluded hidden beach with large lichen-covered orange rocks on both sides. If you continue north around the headland, you'll soon see a wide and hip-deep turquoise pool hidden behind the huge headland boulders.

However, you'll need to plan your visit here during high tide as the water disappears during low tide.

Suicide Beach Rock Pools

While not a very nice name, the south end of this beach near The Gardens has some of the best rock pools in the Bay of Fires. While not very deep, the boulders here are super orange. This creates a beautiful scene where you can swim or simply sit and enjoy the view for hours.

The (Fallen) Lone Tree Pools

The Lone Tree was an iconic tree located at the end of Binalong Bay. Unfortunately, this iconic tree fell down a couple of years ago. Prior, it was a highlight in itself (especially for photographers). However, this spot is still great if you're looking for some great rock pools where you can swim.

Unfortunately, the water isn't quite as blue in Binalong Bay as it is further up the coast. Still, it's a great spot and I recommend stopping by if you make it to the town.

Sloop Reef

Sloop Reef is one of the most scenic spots at the Bay of Fires. Here you'll find crystal-clear waters and amazing views of the coastline looking north.

This part of the coastline features a higher headland than the rest, where people often camp. The entire area around this headland has some great rock pools to swim in, as well as some secluded, white-sand beaches.

6. Experience Some of Australia's Best Sunsets

There are so many reasons why this region suits its name so well.

One of those is that the sky absolutely lights up every single night! I'm not sure what it is, or if we simply got lucky, but we found that the Bay of Fires offered us some of the best sunsets we've ever seen.

The best sunset locations in the Bay of Fires are:

• Binalong Bay: The iconic starting point of the Bay of Fires, offering expansive views where the sky and sea merge in a kaleidoscope of sunset colors, framed by vibrant orange rocks.
• The Gardens: A serene spot where the flat landscape meets the ocean, providing a panoramic backdrop for the setting sun, with the added allure of scattered boulders along the shore.
• Sloop Reef: Known for its elevated headland views, Sloop Reef delivers a unique vantage point to watch the sunset, with sweeping coastal vistas and tranquil waters.
• Cozy Corner North: Offers a secluded beach setting for sunset lovers, where the contrast of orange rocks and turquoise waters under the fading light creates a stunning visual spectacle.
• Swimcart Beach: A popular camping spot that transforms into a sunset paradise, offering unobstructed ocean views that capture the essence of the Bay of Fires' natural beauty at dusk.

Below are some sunset photos I've captured from the Bay of Fires.