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Bay of Fires Walks and Where to Camp

Bay of Fires Walks and Where to Camp

Bay Of Fires Walks

Ask most people what they picture when they think of Tasmania’s coastline and it’s probably this: white sand so bright it looks lit from underneath, water somewhere between turquoise and glass, and granite boulders smeared in vivid orange lichen. That’s the Bay of Fires, running 50km up the north-east coast from Binalong Bay to Eddystone Point. Almost none of it requires a serious hike — most of the best spots are short strolls from a free campground, which makes this one of the easiest regions in Tasmania to combine bushwalking with a few nights under canvas.

See also: Camping Bay of Fires

1. Binalong Bay Foreshore Walk — Bay of Fires

The classic first taste of the Bay of Fires, starting right from the Binalong Bay township and following the coast north past the famous orange-lichen boulders and clear water. Flat and easy the whole way, with the option to keep going further up the coast if you’re enjoying it.

Distance: 3.8km loop • Time: ~1 hour • Difficulty: Easy • Dogs: Permitted on lead (check local signage)

Nearest campground: Cosy Corner South Campground, a short drive north of Binalong Bay

2. Skeleton Bay Track & Dora Point Loop — Bay of Fires

A longer loop from Binalong Bay out to Skeleton Bay Lookout, taking in more of the coastal heath and granite headlands than the foreshore walk alone. A good option if you want a proper half-morning outing without needing a car shuffle.

Distance: ~8.4km loop • Time: 2.5–3 hours • Difficulty: Moderate • Dogs: Permitted on lead (check local signage)

Nearest campground: Cosy Corner South Campround

3. Cosy Corner Coastal Walk — Bay of Fires

An easy beach-hop from Swimcart Beach north past the twin coves of Cosy Corner to Sloop Reef, weaving between soft sand and firmer coastal footpads around the headlands. Good swimming spots along the way when conditions are calm, and it can be walked one-way with a vehicle shuffle or as a there-and-back.

Distance: 2.4km one-way • Time: ~1 hour one-way • Difficulty: Easy • Dogs: Permitted on lead

Nearest campground: Cosy Corner South Campground, right along the walk

4. Sloop Reef Walk (Sloop Rock Lookout) — Bay of Fires

A short, unmarked local’s track from the free Sloop Reef campground through coastal scrub and casuarina to a quiet granite lookout over the bay. No signage, so it pays to note landmarks on the way in, but it’s an easy walk and a good option for a quieter view than the busier spots further south.

Distance: 1–2km return • Time: 30–45 minutes • Difficulty: Easy • Dogs: Permitted on lead

Nearest campground: Sloop Reef Campgrund, right at the trailhead (fuel stove only, no facilities)

5. The Gardens Walk — Bay of Fires

At the end of the sealed road, The Gardens has no formal track — just giant orange granite boulders, white sand and rock pools to explore at your own pace. Widely considered one of the most photogenic corners of the whole Bay of Fires, and worth allowing at least an hour to properly wander.

Distance: ~1km self-guided (extend further along the coast if you like) • Time: 30–60 minutes • Difficulty: Easy, with some rock scrambling • Dogs: Permitted on lead

Nearest campground: Sloop Reef Campground, a short drive south on Gardens Road

6. Policeman’s Point to The Gardens — Bay of Fires

The big one for anyone with a full day up their sleeve: a long, wild beach walk linking Policeman’s Point near Ansons Bay south to The Gardens, tracing white sand and granite the whole way. Best done as a one-way walk with a car shuffle or a pickup arranged, and it’s a proper commitment compared to everything else on this list.

Distance: 13–14km one-way • Time: ~5 hours • Difficulty: Moderate (long, exposed, some soft-sand walking) • Dogs: Permitted on lead at Policeman’s Point; check signage further along, as the far side of the Ansons Bay opening sits within Mt William National Park

Nearest campground: Policemans Point Campground, at the northern end of the walk

Planning Your Trip

Most of the Bay of Fires sits within a conservation area rather than a national park, so there’s no park pass or entry fee required for any of the walks above — a nice change from the west and south of the state. Dogs on a lead are generally welcome on the walks and at most campgrounds (Jeanneret being the exception), but signage varies from beach to beach, so it’s worth a quick check before you set off, especially near the Mt William National Park boundary at the northern end. On the safety side, the granite headlands are the main hazard here — they look grippy but turn slick fast when wet or covered in sea spray, so take care scrambling around The Gardens or Sloop Rock Lookout. Most of the free campgrounds along Gardens Road (Cosy Corner, Sloop Reef, Grants Lagoon) have no drinking water, so bring your own, and note it’s a fuel-stove-only area in fire-risk periods.

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