Expert writer Kate Gazzard shares where to go for the top lookouts, easy trails and famous walks in Tasmania’s world-class Bay of Fires region.
The northeastern coast of Tasmania isn’t a stranger when it comes to extraordinary landscapes and one of the easiest ways to explore it all is to lace up your hiking boots, fill up a reusable drink bottle, charge up the camera and head out on a Bay of Fires walking adventure.
From trekking through the bushy scenes of Mount William National Park to traversing the trails found in the Blue Tier National Reserve, these Bay of Fires walks deliver big time when it comes to impressive views. We can’t guarantee all of these walks will be easy – some will definitely challenge your calf and thigh muscles – but the effort and energy you exert putting one foot in front of the other will undoubtedly be worth it.
1. Goblin Forest Walk, Blue Tier National Reserve
- Difficulty: Easy
- Distance: 400-metre circuit
- Duration: 10 minutes
- Elevation: 2m
- Wheelchair accessible: Yes, assistance recommended
Like something from your favourite fairy tale or Lord of the Rings novel, the Goblin Forest Walk is easily one of the most captivating trails in the area. Adding up to a short 400-metre circuit, this walk will not only give you a glimpse into the region’s interesting ecology but also take you back to its mining past with informational displays set up along the track.
While the Goblin Forest Walk won’t take you that long to complete, you can still make a full day out of it with barbecue pits and picnic tables at the trailhead, so you can have lunch among the trees. The trail is even wheelchair friendly making this Bay of Fires walk suitable for everyone.
2. Halls Falls Track, Blue Tier National Reserve
- Difficulty: Easy
- Distance: 2.4km
- Duration: 50 minutes
- Elevation: 95m
- Wheelchair accessible: No
Look who’s walkin’……on the Halls Falls Track! Over in Blue Tier National Reserve, this easy but scenic walking track leads you straight to the main event – the powerful Halls Falls.
A great spot to spend a couple of hours, Halls Falls is a cascading waterfall that flows into the Groom River, providing the perfect environment for cooling off in the height of summer.
Read more: 6 great trails around Tasmania’s Cradle Mountain
3. Wukalina / Mount William Summit Track, Mt William National Park
- Difficulty: Moderately challenging
- Distance: 3.4km
- Duration: 1.5 hours
- Elevation: 138m
- Wheelchair accessible: No
Whether you’re hiking under the sun’s warm rays in summer or enjoying the cooling wind that winter brings, there’s never a bad time to walk the Wukalina Summit Track. If you read the word ‘summit’ and automatically think it’s not for you, think again.
While this walk is considered to be moderately challenging, it’s actually relatively easy for a summit walk with a fairly flat track that only becomes steep near the top and even that’s only for a short section.
Standing at a reserved 216 metres high, Wukalina (Mount William) offers up 360 views of the national park, including the nearby Cape Naturaliste and George Rocks Nature Reserve. To (sum)it up nicely, this walk promises a completely immersive experience in Mother Nature’s best work.
4. Moon Valley Rim Walk/ Mount Poimena Summit Walk, Blue Tier National Reserve
- Difficulty: Easy
- Distance: 3.5km
- Duration: 1 hour
- Elevation: 89m
- Wheelchair accessible: No
There are few walks in the Bay of Fires area that offer as much history and unique scenery as the Moon Valley Rim Walk and that’s thanks to the Blue Tier National Reserve’s mining past. Follow the guided signposts and take a journey through the tea tree and beech groves to reach the summit of Mt Poimena (around 20 minutes into the walk).
Breathe in the smell of fresh, salty air as you look out over Tasmania’s northeastern coast before making your way between granite boulders and valley terrain to the track’s final landmark, the historic Gough Battery Tin Mine. Mixing the very best of nature and times gone by, this Bay of Fires walk is not to be missed.
Read more: 7 best day walks in Tasmania’s Freycinet National Park
5. Binalong Bay Loop
- Difficulty: Hard
- Distance: 13km
- Duration: 4 hours
- Elevation: 444m
- Wheelchair accessible: No
If ‘challenge’ is your middle name, then the Binalong Bay Loop is the Bay of Fires walk for you. Coming in at a leg-burning 13km, this walk is perfect for those of us who like to switch off every once in a while and go for a little wander in the woods.
This trail is also known to be good for birdwatching and for views of the bay’s famous coastline.
6. Cosy Corner
- Difficulty: Medium
- Distance: 3.2km
- Duration: 1 hour
- Elevation: 139m
- Wheelchair accessible: No
We don’t know if we’d categorise this next Bay of Fires walking trail as cosy but it definitely comes out on top when it comes to ease and scenery. With wildflowers and other native plants, as well as the Swincart Lagoon and several other beach spots lining part of the 3.1km track, Cosy Corner presents the perfect place to spend a summer’s afternoon.
Arguably the best part of the trail is its 80-metre stretch of pure white sandy beach which is encased on either side by the famed orange-coloured rocks that the Bay of Fires region is known for.
Read more: Connecting to Country on Tasmania’s wukalina Walk
7. Jeanneret Beach via Binalong Bay Coastal Walk
- Difficulty: Easy-medium
- Distance: 4.2
- Duration: 1 hour
- Elevation: 83m
- Wheelchair accessible: No
Take to the coastline on the Jeanneret Beach via Binalong Bay Coastal Walk and get up close to the region’s famous lichen-covered rocks. Wander along the white sand shoreline, over a few boulders and along the parallel beach track for great views of the Bay of Fires coastline.
While the trail involves some rock scrambling and sand walking, you’ll be right next to the water when you need to cool off.
Leave the planning to an Intrepid local leader on a small group walking tour through Tasmania’s Bay of Fires.
