The Bay of Fires region hugs the northeastern coast of Tasmania for over 50 km so getting to the iconic region is relatively easy with driving and public transportation options available. If you're travelling from a different state in Australia you'll have to choose one of two options for the beginning leg of your journey to the Bay of Fires; flying or catching the Spirit of Tasmania (ferry service across the Bass Strait).
However, if you're travelling from somewhere else in Tasmania, driving is your quickest option. Unfortunately, there are no public transportation options available between locations such as Launceston to the Bay of Fires or Hobart to the Bay of Fires. There is a bus/shuttle service operating from Launceston to St Helens (the closest town to the Bay of Fires), however, it's pretty much impossible to get to the region itself without a car.
Flying to the Bay of Fires
Unfortunately, you can't fly straight to the Bay of Fires region as there are no commercial airports nearby, however, the Launceston Airport (LST) is only around 170km from the Bay of Fires and offers plenty of flights to and from Hobart, as well as to the other states of Australia. The airport is serviced by airlines such as Virgin Australia, Jetstar, and Qantas who all provide several daily flights and are relatively cheap depending on where you're flying from. See below for estimated flight times from each capital city to Launceston:
The flight between Melbourne and Launceston takes around 1 hour
The flight between Sydney and Launceston takes around 1 hour, 45 minutes
The flight between Adelaide and Launceston takes around 1 hour, 30 minutes
The flight between Perth and Launceston takes around 4 hours
The flight between Canberra and Launceston takes around 1 hour, 30 minutes
The flight between Brisbane and Launceston takes around 2 hours, 40 minutes
The flight between Darwin and Launceston takes around 6 hours
While fare prices are subject to change depending on the season, availability, and airline, you can purchase a ticket for as little as AUD$120 one way. Once at the airport, travelling to the Bay of Fires continues to be easy with several car rental options available from the airport. These companies include Avis, Budget, Europcar, and Hertz who all offer hire vehicles for an average of AUD$350 per day. As it is, hiring a car in Tasmania is quite expensive due to the demand so we recommend pre-booking a rental before you begin travelling to secure the best possible price.
Driving to the Bay of Fires
Driving to the Bay of Fires is extremely easy, regardless of where you're travelling from, thanks to the well-maintained and easy-to-navigate main roads in and out of the region. If you're driving from Launceston Airport to the southern end of the Bay of Fires region, your total travel time will be around 2 and a half hours with access through the small township of St Helens and onto Binalong Bay Road.
While 2 and a half hours might seem like a decent drive, there are plenty of scenic spots along the way, ensuring you'll always have something beautiful to look at on your journey. You shouldn't come into that much traffic or other disruptions, however, if you're travelling during the winter months, be prepared for extreme weather conditions such as flash flooding that could mess with your travel plans. Always keep up to date with weather warnings before you set off to avoid disappointment.
Also, be mindful of driving when the sun goes down as Tasmania's roads are often littered with nocturnal animals such as wallabies and possums and while they won't cause much damage to your vehicle, they can give you an awful fright if you happen to hit one.
Our tours in the Bay of Fires
Let's create an exclusive trip for your group.
Explore Tailor-Made trips