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Fishing
Capital of Tasmania
Whatever kind of holiday you are looking for in the north east of Tasmania you will find it. St Helens is in a fortunate geographical location where the surrounding hills and the warm ocean currents have produced a micro climate of plenty warmth and sunniness. With the friendly people and lots of nearby attractions to explore in your rental car (from car hire hobart), this is as good a place as any to spend a few delays relaxing and rejuvenating.
Driving through the countryside the most striking thing you will notice is the depth and the variation of color- in the sky, in the vegetation and in the soil itself. Vineyards and farmlands merge into tall green forests in the countryside, and when you near the coast the deep blue of the ocean will spread out before you, bordered by stunning white beaches, and red rocky headlands.
To the north of St Helens lies one of the most popular tourist regions in Tasmania, the Bay of Fires. The town of Binalong Bay, ten minutes drive north, is the gateway to the Bay, and is home to a pristine beach of its own. The Bay too is characterized by extremely white sands (a result of the large presence of granite in the ground), azure water and large red boulders.
Just a little further north of this bay is Mt William National Park, a place that constantly fascinates and delights. Teeming with animals and birdlife, the park is a haven for marsupials including the Forester Kangaroo, the second largest marsupial in the world. The beautiful beaches of the park complement its rugged interior, where you can find the 216 meter high Mt William. Another spot worth visiting is Eddystone Point, primarily because of its large granite lighthouse. The three houses at the station are the oldest surviving lighthouse quarters in Australia, and in the secluded bases close at hand there are numerous crayfish and abalone.
Built on the shores of St Georges Bay, the town is sheltered by the long headland of St Helens Point, a large portion of which is a public conservation area. The headland is popular amongst bushwalkers, as are many of the nearlying regions. St Helens has a resident population of about 200 people, making it the largest town on the north east coast. Its reached by a scenic coastal drive from Hobart (250 kilometers), or an 150 kilometer drive east from Launceston. It was a fishing port initially established as a whaling base in the 19th Century, and ironically today it is still large marine creatures that attract people here. Across the sand bar the waters are rife with game fish such as Albacore Tuna and Yellow fin Tuna, and the town is recognized as the game fishing capital of Tasmania, a title cemented by its hosting of the 'St Helens Classic', a deep sea fishing competition that draws over 100 boats every March. St Helens is essentially a fishing port, with fishing being its chief source of income alongside tourism.
Whatever kind of holiday you are looking for in the north east of Tasmania you will find it. St Helens is in a fortunate geographical location where the surrounding hills and the warm ocean currents have produced a micro climate of plenty warmth and sunniness. With the friendly people and lots of nearby attractions to explore in your rental car (from car hire hobart), this is as good a place as any to spend a few delays relaxing and rejuvenating.
Driving through the countryside the most striking thing you will notice is the depth and the variation of color- in the sky, in the vegetation and in the soil itself. Vineyards and farmlands merge into tall green forests in the countryside, and when you near the coast the deep blue of the ocean will spread out before you, bordered by stunning white beaches, and red rocky headlands.
To the north of St Helens lies one of the most popular tourist regions in Tasmania, the Bay of Fires. The town of Binalong Bay, ten minutes drive north, is the gateway to the Bay, and is home to a pristine beach of its own. The Bay too is characterized by extremely white sands (a result of the large presence of granite in the ground), azure water and large red boulders.
Just a little further north of this bay is Mt William National Park, a place that constantly fascinates and delights. Teeming with animals and birdlife, the park is a haven for marsupials including the Forester Kangaroo, the second largest marsupial in the world. The beautiful beaches of the park complement its rugged interior, where you can find the 216 meter high Mt William. Another spot worth visiting is Eddystone Point, primarily because of its large granite lighthouse. The three houses at the station are the oldest surviving lighthouse quarters in Australia, and in the secluded bases close at hand there are numerous crayfish and abalone.
Built on the shores of St Georges Bay, the town is sheltered by the long headland of St Helens Point, a large portion of which is a public conservation area. The headland is popular amongst bushwalkers, as are many of the nearlying regions. St Helens has a resident population of about 200 people, making it the largest town on the north east coast. Its reached by a scenic coastal drive from Hobart (250 kilometers), or an 150 kilometer drive east from Launceston. It was a fishing port initially established as a whaling base in the 19th Century, and ironically today it is still large marine creatures that attract people here. Across the sand bar the waters are rife with game fish such as Albacore Tuna and Yellow fin Tuna, and the town is recognized as the game fishing capital of Tasmania, a title cemented by its hosting of the 'St Helens Classic', a deep sea fishing competition that draws over 100 boats every March. St Helens is essentially a fishing port, with fishing being its chief source of income alongside tourism.