St Helens offers different ways to plan your trip: trails along the shore of Georges Bay, architecture and local history. Mountain bike trails are also nearby. And if you want to extend your plans beyond the town, the northern section of the Bay of Fires Conservation Area is accessible from St Helens via Ansons Bay Road (C843) via Priory.
Trails along Georges Bay
Two trail descriptions help you find your way. The Georges Bay Multi-User Track connects the centre of St Helens to Lions Park via a car-free route. A shared walking and cycling path runs along the shore of Georges Bay from the turn-off to St Helens Point to the town centre. Along the way, it passes Beauty Bay. The routes therefore provide different points of reference: the connection from the centre to the park and the shoreline route into town.
Beauty Bay has a sheltered grassy area, a barbecue area, a fishing jetty, toilets and an outdoor shower. The various facilities make it a practical stopping point along the shore path: as well as the grassy area, amenities and the fishing jetty are available. This makes Beauty Bay identifiable not only by its name along the route, but also by its facilities.
A 3.8 km shared two-way path is accessible from Lions Park. This provides a specific distance to help with planning. As trail conditions can change, check them before setting out.
Architecture and local history
St Paul's Anglican Church is permanently listed as a heritage site. The building features brick construction, sandstone cornices and sandstone lintels. It also has decorative timber bargeboards and a sandstone bellcote. These materials and architectural features offer several details for architecture enthusiasts to look out for: the brickwork, the sandstone and the decorative timber elements.
The St Helens History Room displays more than 1,000 artefacts. Its collections are organised by theme according to the different phases of settlement in St Helens. A visit therefore combines a large number of objects on display with a thematic overview of the town's history. It is listed as open seven days a week; check current opening hours before your visit.
Fair Lea was built in 1897 and is considered one of the district's most elegant buildings. The year it was built provides a specific historical reference point, while its architectural distinction offers a different perspective from the thematically organised collections in the History Room. Together, these places appeal to two different interests: architectural design and the history of settlement.
Mountain biking nearby
The nearby St Helens Mountain Bike Trails offer downhill and cross-country riding, as well as family-friendly experiences. The trail system also includes several loop tracks south of the St Helens town area. The type of riding and the location are different points of reference: downhill and cross-country describe the types of riding on offer, while the loops' location provides a spatial link to the town. Family-friendly experiences are another part of what's on offer, without implying that every trail is the same.
A destination in the wider travel region
The northern section of the Bay of Fires Conservation Area is accessible from St Helens via Ansons Bay Road (C843) via Priory. This means you can include a destination in the wider travel region in your plans, alongside the town's trails and cultural sites. The route leads to this regional area; it is a separate option from the trails and attractions in and near St Helens described above.
If you are looking for hotels in St Helens, you can start by considering whether your trip will focus mainly on trails by the water and local history, or also include the mountain bike trails and a side trip to the wider region.
Discover more destinations: Promised Land, Glaziers Bay, Grove, Cygnet, Fitzgerald, Moina, Cranbrook, Bridgewater
For the broader travel overview: Tasmania.
