Our favorite new spot for 2009: The white sandy beaches, Bombay Sapphire sea, and near-uninhabited wilderness of the Bay of Fires – an 18-mile strip of coastline on the edge of Tasmania extending out from the old whaling town of St. Helens. This secret getaway, renowned by the Aboriginal community, is laid out like a pirate’s treasure map, with one clandestine cove after another, all fringed with forest. The area is just getting on the radar – so now’s the time to visit.
Sleep at the sleek and sustainable Bay of Fires Lodge at the edge of Mt. William National Park. You won’t see another building for miles. Or try Binalong Bay, the best base for bronzing and boarding, which has cute cottages and sensational lobster suppers at Angasi.
A killer way to “do the Bay” is on a guided four-day hike with the Bay of Fires Lodge, offered from October to April, where you can explore the fascinating beaches and the rich diversity of the nearby woodlands. Or go cheese tasting at the Pyengana Dairy and Holy Cow Café or see penguins at dusk on a Bicheno Penguin Tour.
We say: true communion with nature.
