Bay of Fires

The Bay of Fires is a 50-kilometre arc of white sand and turquoise water running from St Helens up to Eddystone Point — boulders of pale granite stained vivid orange by lichen, and water so clear it looks tropical. It is one of the most photographed stretches of coast in Australia, and on a sunny day the colour saturation looks fake even in real life.

The southern section (Binalong Bay, Swimcart, Cosy Corner) is the most accessible — sealed road, free national-park campsites, plenty of beach. The northern section beyond Ansons Bay is wilder, accessible only by 4WD or on foot, and often deserted. Bring shade and water; there are no shops past Binalong Bay.

things to do sight beaches
A story
The bay was named in 1773 by Captain Tobias Furneaux, who saw a string of Aboriginal fires along the shore as he sailed past — not, as is often assumed, for the orange lichen that paints the granite boulders. The lichen is *Caloplaca marina*, and it gets that colour from the salt-spray and bird droppings it lives on.