St Helens has gathered many nicknames over the years. The game fishing capital of
Tasmania. The jewel of Tasmania’s north-east. Gateway to the Bay of Fires.
All of those titles are accurate, but none of them quite do justice to this beautiful coastal
town overlooking Georges Bay. As the largest town on Tassie’s north-east coast, St
Helens has so much to offer – for foodies, families and fun-lovers alike.
Whether you’re visiting for the day as part of a road trip along the Great Eastern Drive,
or planning a longer stay to explore the area, use our guide to help you make the most of
your time in St Helens.
Eating and drinking in St Helens
St Helens has a lively café culture that means it’s hard to go wrong. Grab a table at any of
the friendly looking spots you chance upon as you stroll around the town, and you’ll
enjoy a decent barista-made coffee and some delicious sweet treats.
If you only have time to visit one, we’d recommend Lifebuoy Café, which has a sunny
indoor lounge and a bright, plant-filled courtyard. They specialise in all-day breakfasts,
lunch and homemade cakes – and the portions tend to be generous. Leave time for a
poke around in the adjacent shop, which sells lovely gifts and homeware.
If you’re willing to leave the sea views behind and take a 25-minute drive inland, it’s
worth paying a visit to Pyengana Dairy, where you can enjoy the ultimate paddock to
plate experience and relax with a tasting board or award-winning, hand-crafted
cheeses.
Unsurprisingly, given its prime coastal location, St Helens is well known for its fresh
seafood. Skippers and the Wharf are both good options if you’re looking to eat in, while
Lease 65 between St Helens and Binalong Bay is an oyster farm that does takeaway
only.
For a nice evening meal, Furneaux does great food and has excellent water views. They
serve up fresh Tasmanian produce with a French twist – make sure you leave room for
dessert because their lavender crème brûlée is a delight.
Walks in and around St Helens
St Helens is a lovely town for walking around. You can browse the many independently-
run shops and galleries, take regular coffee breaks at the town’s cafes and restaurants,
and pop into one of the small local museums to learn more about the area. The St Helens
History Room (co-located with the Visitor Information Centre) and Mainly Maritime
Museum are both with a visit.
Within the town itself there are also a couple of longer walks that might appeal if you’re
visiting with family or young children. There is a one-hour return trail to Peron Dunes,
which gives you a chance to enjoy some time on the beach; or there’s a foreshore trail
that runs from Golden Fleece Bridge to Lions Park.
Further afield, you’ll be spoiled for choice with longer walks, not least along some of the
beautiful long beaches that make up the Bay of Fires. With crystal clear water, granite
boulders covered in distinctive orange lichen, and pristine white sands, every stretch of
sand here is postcard-perfect.
Bushwalkers and hikers of all abilities should check out the All Trails website for
detailed information about the length and difficulty level of walking tracks around St
Helens.
Tours and Attractions in St Helens
Life in St Helens revolves around the water, so diving, surfing, swimming, fishing and
kayaking are all popular activities.
If you’re passionate about fishing, you can charter a game-fishing vessel from the town
and head out into deeper water in search of marlin or tuna. Many people simply hire a
smaller boat to fish in and around Georges Bay, or join the local families in dropping a
line off the town jetty.
For surfers, it’s less than a twenty-minute drive from St Helens to Scamander, where the
Scamander Rivermouth offers an exposed beach break that rarely gets crowded. If you
don’t have equipment with you, there are a few surf shops in St Helens where you can
hire gear and also have a go at sweet talking the staff into sharing their insider
knowledge.
And if kayaking is more your thing, how about securing a spot with Secret River Tours,
who run guided tours combining river kayaking with fossicking and gem hunting.
Advance bookings are essential, and details are on their website.
A few quieter activities, for people who like to keep their feet dry, include: a visit to St
Columba Falls, an easy 15-minute walk through shady rainforest and tree ferns to one of
Tasmania’s highest waterfalls; a day spotting wildlife in Mount William National Park; or
a leisurely morning discovering all the treasures on offer at The Shop in the Bush. This
friendly, family-owned antique store is one of Tasmania’s best and they specialise in
vintage jewellery, rare and collectable books, artworks, and a small selection of
Tasmanian souvenirs.
No guide to St Helens would be complete without mentioning that it boasts some of the
most scenic mountain bike trails in the state – perhaps even the world.
The St Helens Mountain Bike Trails are spread across two locations, and there are
Options to suit riders of every ability – from first-time families right through to
experienced pros.
Experienced riders will enjoy the opportunity to tackle the incredible Bay of Fires Trail
that runs from the mountains down to the sea – but it’s a 42km, 4.5-hour trail and
definitely not one for the fainthearted. The trailhead for the Bay of Fires Trail is serviced
by shuttle buses from St Helens and Derby.
For less experienced bikers, head to the Flagstaff Stacked Loops which can be accessed
from the St Helens Trailhead, a five-minute drive south of the town. There are ten trails
for a range of skill levels – encompassing downhill, cross country and family-friendly –
all in incredibly beautiful bush surroundings.
– Ruth Dawkins ( commissioned by Freycinet Resort)