Drop anchor for a great beach break in St Helens, Tasmania

THE sparkling fishing town of St Helens is big on family fun and small on cost when staying at a beachside caravan park.

Binalong Bay

ST HELENS is a sparkling fishing town on the east coast of Tasmania also known for its beaches, sand dunes and surf shops. It's a couple of hours drive east from where the Spirit of Tasmania docks at Devonport, or three to four hours' drive from Hobart.

BIG4 St Helens Holiday Park is only a kilometre out of town and right near some of the state's best beaches Lonely Planet's No.1 beach, Bay of Fires, the eternal white sands of Binalong Bay and the mysterious surf hot spot Beer Barrel Beach.

Sleep talking
Pamper yourself with a stay in luxury or rough it a little and set up a tent. The park is large and caters for every sleeping option. There are Valley View Units and Family Villas for those who like a more luxurious style of camping. Then there are standard and budget cabins (I chose the latter), which included a separate bathroom and bedroom (with four bunk beds), along with kitchen and queen bed (pretty much in the same room). Perfect for a short stay; any longer and the floor might start to feel like the beach. There are powered and unpowered sites for caravans and campervans and a large camping ground for tents.

Things to do in the park
For the children it's a smorgasbord of fun including a games room, jumping pillow both big congregating areas for kids of all ages and a playground. There's a campers' kitchen towards the back of the park with great facilities and even a movie room for rainy days. Barbecue facilities are on-site and there's a modest lending library at reception.

Things to do outside
Where to start? The beaches are as good as anywhere, as much as northerners may find hard to comprehend for a place so far south. Binalong Bay, with the bluest of water, is ideal for swimming and Beer Barrel Beach is more suited to surfers. Most of the local retailers hire out fishing equipment and there are plenty of jetties from which to dangle a line. There are great walking tracks around the bay, too.

Cafes and restaurants line both sides of the summer-busy main street. The Binalong Cafe is worth a mention.
It's only a short drive to the St Columba Falls and also to the Pub in the Paddock at Pyengana, where you can feed well-known local identity, Priscilla the Pig, a pint of beer.

Unforgettable
A visit to Peron Dunes. With kilometres of rolling sand, take your boogie board, find the steepest hill and enjoy the ride of your life. It can get hot and windy so literally dress for the desert snug hats, sunglasses, sunscreen and drink bottles.

You'll leave with hilarious videos and pictures, and can cap your day off with a refreshing swim (if you can find the sea!)

Downers
The holiday park can feel like quite a stroll out of town if you have very young children.
The walking infrastructure for the first few hundred metres, while passable, has room for improvement.

The details
BIG4 St Helens Holiday Park, St Helens, Tasmania. Ph [phone]. Visit www.st-helens-caravan-park.tas.big4.com.au

The damage
Budget cabins will set you back about $120 a night (in summer) while the luxurious Valley View units, which also sleep six, are $200 a night. The other family and standard cabin costs lie somewhere in between. Unpowered sites are $36 or you can get an ensuite site to park your motorhome for $50.