St Helens (Tasmania)

St Helens is a fishing and beach resort town on picturesque Georges Bay, on the north-east coast of the state of Tasmania. It is the largest coastal town in the region. It is renowned for its world-class mountain bike trails, and for being the gateway to the magnificent Bay of Fires. Its temperate climate makes it a great holiday spot all year round.

Get in

St Helens is on the Tasman Hwy, which tracks the eastern coast of Tasmania north of Hobart.

By car

St Helens can be easily reached from other Tasmanian towns and cities by car. It is around two hours drive from Launceston, which is also the closest airport, and a little over three hours from Tasmania's capital city Hobart.

By bus

A twice-daily service runs from Launceston to St Helens on weekdays, with one service per day on weekends. A daily service runs from Hobart to St Helens 7-days per week. See website

Get around

  • 🌍 Gravity Isle, 69 Cecilia St, ☏ +61 474 371 365, . Get the most out of your visit to the St Helens MTB trails with Gravity MTB Shuttles. Whether you need to access the epic Blue Tier to Bay of Fires trail or the gravity trails at The Flagstaff Trail NEtwork, Gravity MTB have you covered! (updated Jul 2023)

See
  • 🌍 St Helens History Room, 61 Cecilia St (next to visitor centre), ☏ +61 3 6376 1479, . M–F 9AM–4PM; Sa Su 9AM–3:30PM. Regional museum with over 1000 artefacts on display. Adults $5, families $8, concession $3, children under 16 free. (updated Feb 2016)
  • 🌍 Mainly Maritime, 13 Pendrigh Place, ☏ +61 439 581 701, . Daily 10AM–5PM. A maritime museum incorporating the Warship & Marine Corps Museum that exhibits a vast collection of original artefacts from around the world spanning six centuries collected over 60 years. Adults $10, Concession $8, Children 7-17 $7, Under 7 Free. (updated Jun 2023)
  • 🌍 Creations on the Bay, 1 Bowen Street, ☏ +61 448 080 105, . A showcase of art and crafts, handcrafted by artisans from the local and broader Tasmanian community. Check their Facebook page for details of upcoming events such as art classes. (updated Jun 2023)
  • 🌍 Easy Tiger St Helens, 7 Pendrigh Place, ☏ +61 3 6204 9516, . Vibes on Tasmania's East Coast - Cinema, Eatery, Bar and Micro Brewery. (updated Jun 2023)
  • 🌍 Binalong Bay (Beach), Binalong Bay Road, Binalong Bay. Relax, play or fish on the world-famous beach, renowned for its white sand and azure waters. For those more active there are numerous kayaking, hiking or mountain biking opportunities. (updated Jun 2023)

Do
  • Michael Haley's Gone Fishing Charters, PO Box 149, ☏ +61 3 6376 1553, . Gone Fishing Charters is a fishing charter operation concentrating on fish on the East Coast of Tasmania. Offering full and half day charters, bay trips, trophy bream trips and trout fishing. Half day estuary tour from $80 per person. 
  • Ahoy! Boat Hire, Watersports Centre St, ☏ +61 418 164 089. A range of watercraft for hire from a dinghy to a pontoon. 
  • East Coast Scuba Centre, 124 Binalong Bay Road. Offers diving and snorkelling equipment for hire on Tasmania’s east coast. 
  • Keen Angler Fishing Charters, ☏ +61 3 6376 3119. All year round. Join skippers Lionel and Kai-lee for a full or half day fishing adventure, big game or reef fishing, for up to 4 people. 
  • 🌍 Serpentarium Wildlife Park, 5 West St, ☏ +61 3 6376 1015. A heated indoor reptile exhibit and museum displaying exotic captive breed reptiles, unique indigenous artefacts with gem and crystal displays. Featuring the Green Anaconda, Reticulated Python and Indian Star Tortoises. (updated Jun 2023)
  • 🌍 St Helens Mountain Bike Trails, ☏ +61 3 63 767 900, . The St Helens Mountain Bike Trails are some of the most scenic trails in the world – where else in the world can you ride Mountains to the Sea, ending your ride in one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, the Bay of Fires. (updated Jun 2023)
  • 🌍 Secret River Gem Hunting & Kayaking Tours, George's Bay, ☏ +61 435 914 869, . Secret River Gem Hunting Tours gives you the opportunity to explore North East Tasmania's tin mining history while hunting for precious gems in rugged rainforest covered mountains, which yield sapphire, topaz, zircon, spinel, ruby, tin and other crystallised minerals. Kayaking and/or Fishing tours are also available, using Hobie kayaks. (updated Jun 2023)
  • Poppa's Boat Hire, ☏ +61 474 892 956, . Hire a boat, kayak or stand-up paddleboard (SUP) to explore the waters of George's Bay or Scamander River. (updated Jun 2023)
  • Peron Dunes. A classified Vehicle Recreation Area. Rated difficult, for experienced four-wheel drive and motorbike users only. Deep bogs, steep slopes, soft sand are likely to be encountered. (updated Jun 2023)
  • 🌍 42 South Surf School, Scamander, ☏ +61 419 120 704, . Private surfing lessons. (updated Jun 2023)
  • 🌍 Georges Bay Foreshore Trail. Walk or cycle this 10km-return foreshore trail around the glistening waters of Georges Bay. (updated Jul 2023)

Buy

Eat

Drink
  • 🌍 Priory Ridge Wines Cellar Door, 280 Ansons Bay Road, ☏ +61 3 6376 1916. Priory Ridge is a boutique vineyard on 20 hectares with ideal north facing slopes which maximise sunlight. The soil is Devonian granite rich in mineral content, transferring a unique “terroir” to the wine. (updated Feb 2016)
  • 🌍 The Social Tasmania, 32 Quail Street, . Beer garden serving street food & tapas, local wines, craft beer & cool vibes. (updated Jun 2023)
  • 🌍 The Kazzbah, 5/34 Quail Street, ☏ +61 419 659 549. Karaoke Bar. (updated Jun 2023)
  • 🌍 Coffee Away, 37 Cecilia Street, ☏ +61 467 221 117. Caffeine and convenience in a cup, with a side of delicious treats. (updated Jun 2023)

Sleep

Go next

A short drive north is Binalong Bay, gateway to the beautiful beaches of the Bay of Fires. Please note there are no shops north of St Helens and no water available, so stock up on fuel and bring your own water supplies.

Visit St Columba Falls, situated about 30 minutes from St Helens and 12 kilometres from the township of Pyengana. The Falls, which plunge 90 metres from the Mt Victoria foothills, can either be viewed from the car park or from a viewing platform at the end of an easy 15-20 minute rainforest walk.

Routes via St Helens (Tasmania)
Launceston ← Weldborough ← NW A3 S  → Scamander → Hobart
Gladstone ← Mount William National Park ← NNW C843 S  → END



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