6 Chimney Heights Road, Stieglitz
St Helens
Tasmania 7216
St Helens is the largest town on the north-east coast, with a population of about 2,000.
What’s special about St Helens?
- Known as the game-fishing capital of Tasmania.
- Overlooks scenic Georges Bay.
Take the one-hour return walk to St Helens Point where you will find the spectacular Peron Dunes and vast ocean beach. St Helens is a popular destination for fishing, and each March the St Helens Game Fishing Classic attracts an increasing number of interstate visitors. Beneath the surface St Helens is popular amongst divers for its extensive kelp forests and underwater caves.
From St Helens you can explore stunning Binalong Bay and the Bay of Fires, which extend to Eddystone Point. The Bay of Fires (named by British Captain Tobias Furneaux, who only saw the smoke from the fires of the local Kunnara Kuna tribe) is a coast of white sandy beaches dotted with giant granite boulders.
To learn about the fascinating history of this seaside town, head to the St Helens History Room and find out about the days of sealers and whalers.
The story of St Helens:
Captain Tobias Furneaux was the first European to explore St Helens and by the 1830s the coastal town was occupied by sealers and whalers. Official land grants were provided during this time and the town grew rapidly in 1874 when tin was discovered in the Blue Tier Mountains. The mines closed at the turn of the new century after more than 1000 Chinese miners spent time in the town. St Helens became an important fishing port during the following years. Today, the fishing industry and tourism are the lifeblood of this seaside town.
Travel directions:
St Helens is approximately two-hours’ drive east of Launceston (163 kilometres/101 miles) and 265 kilometres (165 miles) from Hobart.
