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Bay of Fires: St Helens to The Gardens, Bay of Fires, Tasmania
Photo: Ccalovejj · CC BY-SA 4.0

Drives Tasmania, Australia The East Coast of Tasmania

Bay of Fires: St Helens to The Gardens

Binalong Bay Road, Gardens Road, C850 · St Helens → The Gardens

Sweeping10.8 mi20 min800 ft climbHigh point ≈ 200 ftOne way
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The drive

Binalong Bay Road (C850) and Gardens Road (C848) run north from St Helens to The Gardens at the northern end of the southern Bay of Fires. It is 17.4 km (10.8 mi), takes about 20 minutes, and is mostly gentle curves. Both roads are sealed.

Binalong Bay is a beachside township that marks the southern end of the Bay of Fires. Parks Tasmania describes the area's bays as having orange lichen on granite boulders against white sand and turquoise water. The drive bypasses the village on a short spur and carries on to The Gardens, where the campgrounds begin about 7 km along the road. The road ends at private land.

The northern section of the Bay of Fires is a different matter: the part from the Ansons River mouth to Eddystone Point lies inside Mount William National Park.

Along the way

  1. St Helens (Binalong Bay Road)
  2. The Gardens (Gardens Road)
Elevation
800 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 200 ft
St HelensThe Gardens
Curves
Mostly gentle curves
St HelensThe Gardens
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • A parks pass is required for the northern section in Mount William National Park, not for the southern Bay of Fires reached by this drive.
  • Swimming is hazardous: beaches have steep drop-offs into deep water and rips.
  • St Helens, about 30 minutes away, is the place to stock up on food and fuel.
  • Wildlife is active on the roads at dusk and at night, so drive slowly.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check Parks Tasmania: Bay of Fires Conservation Area.

Questions about this drive

How long does the drive from St Helens to The Gardens take?

Binalong Bay Road and Gardens Road from St Helens to The Gardens are 10.8 miles (17.4 km) and take about 20 minutes.

Do I need a parks pass for the Bay of Fires?

A pass is required for the northern section, from the Ansons River mouth to Eddystone Point, which is within Mount William National Park. The southern Bay of Fires, from Binalong Bay to The Gardens, is a conservation area, and Parks Tasmania lists the pass for the north only.

Is the road to The Gardens sealed?

Yes. Parks Tasmania describes the C848 to The Gardens as sealed, and Binalong Bay Road (C850) is sealed from St Helens.

Is it safe to swim at the Bay of Fires?

Parks Tasmania warns that swimming is hazardous at the Bay of Fires, with steep drop-offs into deep water and rips.

What you get in the app

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Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of Bay of Fires: St Helens to The Gardens, from St Helens to The Gardens