St Helens is a fishing and beach resort town on Georges Bay, on the north-east coast of the state of Tasmania. It is the largest coastal town in the region.

Did you know! This small beach town was the claimed birthplace of the sultry Hollywood screen siren of the 30s, Merle Oberon. She was actually born in Mumbai of a mixed race family, but persisted with the myth of her birthplace until her death, even though she never visited the town.

Get in

St Helens is on the Tasman Hwy, which tracks the eastern coast of Tasmania north of Hobart. It is around two hours drive from Launceston, which is also the closest airport.

See

Beach in St Helens, Tasmania

St Helens has pretty white sandy beaches, rocks covered with spectacular orange lichen and crystal clear water.

• St Helens History Room, 61 Cecilia St, ☏ +61 3 6376 1479, historyroom@bodc.tas.gov.au. 9AM–5PM. Regional museum with over 1000 artefacts on display. Adults $5, families $8, concession $3, children under 16 free. (updated Feb 2016)

Do

• Bay of Fires Eco Tours, Main Rd, Binalong Bay, ☏ +61 499 209 756, admin@bayoffiresecotours.com.au. Five-star boat and dining options from the town known as the seafood capital of Tasmania. 
• Michael Haley's Gone Fishing Charters, PO Box 149 St Helens Tasmania 7216, ☏ +61 3 6376 1553. Gone Fishing Charters is a fishing charter operation concentrating on fish on the East Coast of Tasmania. Half day estuary tour $350 for 5 people. 
• Ahoy! Boat Hire, Watersports Centre St Helens Tasmania 7216, ☏ +61 418 164 089. Ahoy! Boat Hire offers a range of watercraft for hire from a dinghy to a luxury pontoon. 
• East Coast Scuba Centre, 124 Binalong Bay Road St Helens Tasmania 7216. 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. 
• Tas 4x4 Tours, toll-free: 1300 827 494. (updated Feb 2016)
• Zulu Charterz, ☏ +61 487 351 408. (updated Feb 2016)

Eat

• Pyengana Cheeses, St Columba Falls Road, Pyengana (20 minutes from St Helens), ☏ +61 3 6373 6157, toll-free: +61 3 6373 6276, milk@pyenganadairy.com.au. Open 7 days 9AM to 5PM (10AM to 4PM in winter). Creators of award-winning traditional, cloth-bound cheddar cheese which is made using the methods of the pioneers. Apart from the cheeses, the dairy shop sells deliciously fresh milkshakes, cakes, handcrafted wood items, pottery and more. 
• Cerise Brook Orchard, 315 Medea Cove Road, St Helens, ☏ +61 3 6376 8397. Cherries and plums available for sale, along with coffee and tea. Also, 9-hole family golf course on site - clubs for hire. 

Drink

• Priory Ridge Wines Cellar Door, ☏ +61 3 6376 1916. (updated Feb 2016)

Sleep

• Homelea Accommodation Spa Cottage & Apartments., 16 - 18 Tasman Highway, St Helens, ☏ +61 3 6376 1601. Apartment and cottage accommodation. Standard apartment from $148 per night. 
• Panorama St.Helens, 1 Quail Street St Helens, ☏ +61 3 6376 1999. Resort with 60 guest rooms. Special package $275 includes 1 night in King Spa room plus cooked breakfast and 3-course dinner. 
• St Helens YHA, 5 Cameron St, St Helens Tasmania 7216, ☏ +61-3-63761661. This hostel is centrally located and offers beautiful views. Twin room fom $40. 
• BIG4 St Helens Holiday Park, St Helens, Tasmania, ☏ 1300 559 745 (local rate). From budget cabins to Valley View units. Villa Units from $130. 
• The French House, ☏ +61 3 6376 2602. (updated Feb 2016)
• Sweetwater Villas, ☏ +61 3 6376 1424. (updated Feb 2016)
• Queechy Cottages, ☏ +61 3 6376 1321. (updated Feb 2016)
• Bayside Inn, ☏ +61 3 6376 1466. (updated Feb 2016)
• Artnor Lodge, ☏ +61 3 6376 1234. (updated Feb 2016)
• Pelican Point Sanctuary, 170 Binalong Bay Road, ☏ +61 3 6376 8936. (updated Feb 2016)

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.