The Keep

Part of the St Helens MTB network, this is an adventure trail like no other! Starting high up on the Blue Tier in sub-alpine terrain you are instantly treated to endless vistas of the surrounding mountain ranges and stunning coastline. Before you know it you’ll be ducking through majestic myrtle trees and whizzing by huge tree ferns. Giant Ash trees will tower over you before you drop in to an eye watering descent shaped in to perfect dirt. A traverse along a forestry road allows you to gather your thoughts before you are taken in to a totally new style of environment. The wide open and untouched terrain after Ansons Bay Rd is a stark contrast to where this journey began. It’s hard to keep your eyes on the trail as you contour and climb through monolith granite boulders and suddenly catch glimpses of the world renowned Bay of Fires. The final descent darts across endless ridge lines before delivering you to the pure white sands of Swimcart beach.

Halls Falls is a small but beautiful waterfall in Tasmania’s northeast corner. This may not possess the well-known reputation of waterfalls like Russell Falls, however, the locals will tell you this hidden gem is a must-see when in northeast Tasmania. The calm beauty, peaceful and lush forest surroundings and lack of crowds make Halls Falls a memorable attraction. Visiting Hall Falls doesn’t require much of a detour if you’re touring the state’s northeast region. It is near to Pyengana and its famous cheese factory, the beer-drinking pig at Pub in the Paddock, as well as the popular St Columba Falls. It’s also not far off the major route that runs between St Helens and Scottsdale, connecting the inland of northwest Tasmania to the east coast. The Halls Falls walking track is accessed from Anchor Road, which runs off the Tasman Highway in Pyengana (northeast Tasmania). Drive about one kilometre north on Anchor Road and lookout for a small sign.

The historic Weldborough Hotel is located on the Tasman highway in the northeast of Tasmania. Offering a spacious campground (camping is by donation, with the proceeds being used to maintain the grounds) out the back of the pub which is stocked with many varieties of beers/wines/ciders and delicious food and friendly staff. The hotel is in close proximity to the world-famous Blue Tier and Blue Derby mountain bike trails with bike shuttles available from the hotel car park. The Blue Tier trailhead also is shared with the Bay of Fires MTB trailhead. Weldborough is an important part of the tin dragon trail that runs from Launceston to St Helens and the hotel displays historic items related to the Chinese tin mining days when the town population was over 1,000 mainly Chinese miners. The area is also known for its sapphires with the largest sapphire in Tasmania found in the Weld River and fossickers frequent the area. Other attractions include Mount Paris Dam, The Big Tree on The Blue Tier, the Weldbourough Pass Myrtle Forest walks, trout fishing in local rivers and golf at Moorina golf course. Only 45 minutes from St Helens and The Bay of Fires and 20 minutes from Derby.