Traveling up the Tasmanian east coast to St. Helens, a lovely town at the gate of Bay of Fires. The bay was given its name in 1773 by Captain Tobias Furneaux – an English navigator who accompanied James Cook – as he saw the fires of Aboriginal people on the beaches. It is known all over the world for its extraordinary clear blue seas, brilliant white beaches and striking orange lichen-cloaked boulders.

We arrived at St Helens late afternoon, right on time to spoil the kids with a proper hot shower, after a few days of free camping with no facilities at all. The following morning we immediately realised why this place is so popular. The huge boulders covered in fiery orange colours, the beautiful white sandy beaches, and the turquoise crystal-clear water, some of the best scenes you will ever see.

The tourist drive between the town of Binalong Bay and The Gardens at the very end of the sealed road offers plenty of stops with stunning views. We spent hours on the beaches, for long walks, picnic and ball games. In particular, the beach at Binalong Bay was extra special once we got a glimpse of sunshine.

Later on, on our way back to town, we took the diversion and drove across the peninsula, past Peron Dunes and all the way to St Helens Point at the very tip. It’s such a shame we have to rush a bit to catch our ferry back to mainland Australia in a few days, otherwise we would have extended our stay in this unique part of the world. We’re definitely coming back here some day, guarantied!