Welcome to St Helens and surrounds!
So that we can make sure you have an awesome time while staying in our area, we thought we would share with you some of the best spots to eat and drink, take the family and just relax.
And, as an added bonus, all the businesses we feature here are also Trail Ambassadors which means they are supporters of the trails and donate to the ongoing maintenance and development of the network every year.
The best places to stay
Whether you are looking for a boutique accommodation or family friendly camping, the St Helens area has it all.
Located in Scamander, known for its surf breaks and river fishing, Blue Seas offers self-contained accommodation a short stroll to Scamander River and Scamander Beach
They offer one, two and family accommodation options in a park like setting. All rooms are self-contained and fully appointed.
Other facilities include and indoor heated pool, free BBQ facilities, Secure parking and wifi.
Located in Scamander and offers a studio and one bedroom unit walking distance to the beach.
The managers have recently acquired a new property which is ideal for MTB families and they still have some vacancies available over summer.
As an added bonus, Carmen’s Inn have access to a personal chef who can be booked to come and cook for you!
The Bayside is located centrally in in St Helens and offers a range of accommodation options from Family rooms to King and Queen Ocean View rooms.
Situated across the road from the St Helens Foreshore, you can ride your bike from Bayside around Georges Bay and via the Townlink Trail all the way to the trail head and back.
Other facilities include a pool, bar, restaurant and gaming lounge.
One of the more recent development, the St Helens Holiday Park is located across the road from Georges Bay on St Helens Point Road.
The park prides itself in being family friendly and is very MTB friendly and has its own restaurant and playground.
Accommodation options include camping and caravan sites as well as self-contained units and due to its location, you can ride into St Helens or all the way to and from the Flagstaff Trailhead via the Townlink trail.
A great option if you are traveling as a family or a group, the Big 4 offers a range of accommodation from caravan and camping sites to self-contained units and the established a Mountain Bike Base.
The Base accommodation features purpose built bunk-houses, a communal outdoor kitchen and entertaining area with fire pit, bike lock-up, wash down bay and even their own shuttle service.
If you have the kids with you, they also have a playground on site.
Again, this accommodation option is riding and walking distance to the centre of the St Helens Township as well as riding distance to the Flagstaff Trail Head.
The best places to grab a bite or a bevvy
St Helens and surrounds has a range of great places to eat and sample our regions fresh produce. Here are some of our top picks.
Parkside Bar and Kitchen is located at the St Helens Holiday Park. This new and modern new restaurant overlooks Georges Bay and offers indoor and alfresco dining.
With a menu and wine list to suit all tastes one of their popular house specisals a menu to suit everyone.
House specials include their delectable pizzas which you can also get takeaway.
The only pub in St Helens, the Bayside has a public bar, gaming room and family bistro.
Their menu features all the classics including steak and fish and chips but they are well known locally for their epic parmies.
They do offer gluten free and vegetarian options and can cater to large bookings.
Located right in the heart of St Helens, the local Banjos bakery has all the classics we have come to know and love.
There is room to park your bike right out front and you can eat-in or take your pastries away and find a scenic spot on the bay to enjoy them.
The best Bevvies in town
Little Rivers produce some amazing beers and are based in Scottsdale.
Over the years they have been expanding their range and this year they received one gold and two bronze medals at the Independent Brewers Association Awards.
They also have a Trails range of beers named after some of the most popular trails in Derby.
There are a few places in St Helens that stock some of their range including the Providore and The Social. But, if you have some spare time we would certainly recommend you paying their cellar door a visit which is located at 22 Victoria Street, Scottsdale.
If cider is more your thing, then Willie Smiths should be your first choice.
Based in the beautiful Houn Valley, Willie Smiths is an organic apple grower that produces some of the best cider you will ever taste.
The orchard has been tended by four generations of Smith family farmers so they really know what they are doing and they have certainly perfected the art of making cider.
You can find Willie Smiths on the shelves of most bottle-os but if you have some spare time, a visit south to their cellar door is a must.
Need to Hire Bikes?
There are three hire bike options and they are all based in St Helens.
Vertigo MTB, Gravity Isle and Giant St Helens.
All three offer different packages and ranges from hard tail to dually to e-bike, they will have you on the trails in no time.
Both Vertigo MTB and Gravity Isle also offer shuttle services – see their websites for more information.
Family Fun, Attractions and Activities
There are SO MANY things to do while you are in our area.
Hitting the beach
Of course you will have your choice of beaches depending on what activities you are wanting to do, here are some suggestions:
Surfs Up – Scamander and Beaumaris Beaches, and if there’s no surf there you can head out to Four Mile Creek or Maurouard beach at Steiglitz.
Kayaking, Paddle boards and jetskis – Georges Bay offers some sheltered and flat water perfect for these activities. You can base yourself at one of the beach areas around the bay where you can find BBQs, playgrounds and seating.
Fishing – There are a number of jetties around Georges Bay that are popular fishing spots, you can also try off the rock wall at Blanches Point.
If you want to do some beach fishing, Scamander, Beaumaris and the Bay of Fires are good spots to try.
If river fishing is more your thing, the Scamander River is a popular bream fishing spot.
Walks and Waterfalls – There are a number of walks in our area suitable for a range of walkers that offer different experiences from waterfalls to history and heritage. Here are some of the top walking experiences:
- St Columba Falls
- Halls Falls
- The Blue Tier (There are a number of walks to access from here)
- Mount William National Park (There are a number of walks to access from here)
- Evercreech and the White Knights (featuring some of the tallest white gums in the world)
- Paddys Head (a Challenging walk that climbs 683m above sea level
- Anchor Stampers (a walk that leads to the long abandoned anchor stamper)
You can find more info on these walks and others on the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife website.
Activities for the whole family
Serpentarium Wildlife Park Tasmania is an indoor reptile exhibit, presenting exotic captive bred reptiles.
Poppas Boat Hire hires tinnys, kayaks, stand-up paddle boards that can be used in Georges Bay for a day of fishing or fun.
Secret River Tours offer kayak and fishing tours on the Scamander River as well as a unique gemstone fossicking tour where you are all but guaranteed to find sapphires and topaz.
St Helens History Room has a number of displays that tell the history of the region from our First Nations to settlers and the tale of the Tin Dragon.
Mainly Maritime featuring more than 10,000 catalogued items, the museum covers naval, maritime and space history from as far back as six centuries.
We have really just scratched the surface of the things on offer in our are so if you are still looking for things to do check out the East Coast Tasmania website or download their app from the Google or Apple Store.