Walk the Bay of Fires, Tasmania: A Four-Day Journey Along the World’s Most Beautiful Coast
The Bay of Fires Walk is the finest guided multi-day walk in Australia, and one of the finest in the world. The four-day experience runs along 25 kilometres of Tasmania’s northeast coast, from Eddystone Point south to Binalong Bay, through country that combines deserted beaches, vivid orange lichen-covered granite boulders, crystal-clear lagoons, and heath and coastal scrub that in spring is dense with wildflowers. The name comes from the fires that Aboriginal Tasmanians lit along this coast, which European explorers observed from their ships in the late 18th century; the orange lichen that covers the granite boulders is now the image most associated with the name.
What separates the Bay of Fires Lodge Walk from other guided walks is the accommodation. Each night is spent at a permanent camp — two nights at a remote tented camp directly on the dunes above the beach, one night at the Bay of Fires Lodge, a sustainably designed permanent structure that is one of the most architecturally distinctive lodges in Australia. The food throughout is exceptional: Tasmanian seafood, local wines, and the kind of meal that requires a moment of silence before eating. You walk during the day, eat and drink well in the evenings, and sleep to the sound of the Southern Ocean.
This is not a budget experience — the walk operates exclusively through Tasmanian Walking Company and costs approximately AUD $3,500 per person for the four days, covering accommodation, all meals, guiding, and transfers. It is, without qualification, worth it.
📋 TL;DR — the quick version
- 🚶 4 days, 25 km, moderate difficulty: Daily walking distances of 5–10 km at a relaxed pace. Some beach and headland terrain is uneven; overall fitness required but no technical hiking experience needed.
- 🧡 The orange lichen boulders are the signature image: The massive granite boulders, stained vivid orange by lichen and scattered across white beaches, are unlike anything else in Australia.
- 🏨 Accommodation is exceptional: Two nights at a remote tented camp (surprisingly comfortable), one night at Bay of Fires Lodge (genuinely outstanding).
- 🐟 The food is a highlight: Tasmanian seafood, local produce, and excellent Tasmanian wine served each evening.
- 📅 October to April only: The walk doesn’t operate in winter. Peak season is November to March; spring (October–November) and autumn (March–April) are the best conditions.
- 🎫 Book 12+ months ahead: Limited group sizes (typically 10 walkers) and high demand mean peak dates sell out a year in advance.
🚶 The walk: day by day
Day 1: Eddystone Point to Forester Camp
The walk begins at Eddystone Point, home of one of the world’s most exposed granite boulder fields and a historic lighthouse visible for 37 kilometres offshore. The first day’s walking (about 8 km) introduces the two landscapes that define the walk: the white-sand beaches with the distinctive orange-lichen granite boulders, and the low coastal heath. The orange lichen (Caloplaca and related species) thrives on the salt-spray environment and the exposed granite surfaces, creating a colour contrast against the white sand and blue water that is immediately, vividly distinctive. The first camp — Forester Camp — is in the dunes above the beach, with views back over the coast just walked.
Days 2 and 3: The core Bay of Fires beaches
The middle days cover the heart of the Bay of Fires — long beach sections with the best boulder formations, the clearest water, and some of the most deserted coastline in Tasmania. The walk moves between beach sections and headland crossings, with frequent opportunities to swim. The water temperature is cool (17–21°C in summer) but the beaches are sheltered enough from ocean swell to be safe swimming. The second camp is also a beach camp; the third night is at Bay of Fires Lodge.
You might also enjoy reading about Best Hikes in Tasmania and How Many Days in Tasmania.
Day 4: Bay of Fires Lodge to Binalong Bay
The final day follows the southern end of the bay to Binalong Bay — a small community that marks the southern end of the Bay of Fires. The terrain is gentler on this day, with time to swim at the famous red-boulder beaches around Binalong Bay before the transfer back to Launceston. Most walkers describe this last morning as bittersweet: the landscape is still extraordinary, but the walk is ending.
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🏨 Bay of Fires Lodge
The Bay of Fires Lodge is one of the most awarded eco-lodges in Australia. The two-storey timber and glass structure sits on a ridge above the coast with views over the bay, designed by architect Circa Morris-Nunn to have minimal impact on the surrounding environment. All power is solar; all waste is managed off-site. The lodge sleeps up to 16 guests in eight rooms, all with ocean views. The ground-floor dining and lounge area is where the walk’s best meals are served — local crayfish, oysters, abalone, and seasonal Tasmanian produce, accompanied by wines from the Tamar Valley and Huon Valley.
📍 Booking and logistics
The Bay of Fires Lodge Walk is operated exclusively by Tasmanian Walking Company (tasmanianwalkingcompany.com.au). The walk runs from October through April; prices start at around AUD $3,400 per person twin-share. The walk begins and ends in the northeast of Tasmania; transfers from Launceston are included. Fly to Launceston from Sydney (2 hours), Melbourne (1 hour), or connect via Hobart.
If you’re planning further afield, our guides to Eco Friendly Lodges Tasmania are well worth a look.
👉 Explore Tasmania’s best walks and experiences on GetYourGuide →
The Bay of Fires Walk is the definitive argument for Tasmania as Australia’s greatest destination for those who want wild beauty, exceptional food, and genuine remoteness combined in a single experience. The coast itself would be enough. The accommodation and food make it extraordinary.
Looking for more hiking adventures in Australia, read our guides to the best beaches in Tasmania, things to do in Tasmania, luxury lodges Tasmania, things to do in Tasmania, extreme surfing Australia, and freediving Australia.
