Stanley
Stanley is located in the northwestern part of Tasmania. According to the 2016 census, Stanley had a population of 553. It's perhaps best known for The Nut, a 143-metre-high volcanic plug by the coast that's viewable from almost every part of town.
Understand
[edit]Visitor information
[edit]- Stanley Visitor Centre, 23 Wharf Rd, ☏ 1300 138 229 (domestic), +61 3 6458 1330 (international), info@stanleyandtarkine.com.au. Daily 9AM–5PM.
Get in
[edit]
By car
[edit]The only way to get into Stanley is by car. The nearest major city is Burnie, and give yourself 3 hours to get to Stanley if you want to see the amazing beaches, capes and bluffs along Tasmania's north coast, also known as The Great Nature Trail. If you do not stop along the way, then the drive takes a little over an hour from Burnie via the Bass Highway (A2) and Stanley Highway (B21).
Get around
[edit]
See
[edit]- 1 The Nut State Reserve, The Nut Summit Cct. The main attraction of Stanley and a flat-top volcanic plug with views of the town and Rocky Cape National Park. The Nut can be viewed from all over Stanley.
- 2 Little Penguin Viewing Area, Harrison Tce. Northwest Tasmania is home to many little fairy penguins, and if you happen to be in Stanley just after dark, you may be able to spot them. They may be loud at night, hosting a penguin party, but they're often hidden beneath rocks. Remember, don't take flash photography or use a flashlight – it can blind their eyesight. If anything, use a red torch to avoid damaging their eyesight.
- 3 Trethewies Lookout, Stanley Hwy (B21). The entry point of Stanley makes a good photo spot of The Nut.
- 4 Highfield Historic Site, 143 Green Hills Rd, ☏ +61 3 6458 1100. Daily 9:30AM–4:30PM. A relic of colonial architecture from the Regency Period. All day tours are self-guided, and the signs in the site are fairly informative. $15 per adult (18+), $5 per child (5–17), $12 per concession holder, and $35 per family (2 adults + 3 children).
Do
[edit]Take a chairlift up to the Nut for stunning views of Stanley and its surroundings. Look out into the blue waters of the Bass Strait.
Once you're up the chairlife, The Nut Walk is a 4.6-kilometer circuit that takes about an hour to bushwalk. The walk includes various lookouts – each give different views at different points, whether it's the rocky cape of Rocky Cape NP, farmland, beaches, or woodland. If you want to bushwalk around The Nut without having to use the chairlift, access is via The Nut Zig Zag Track, which is steep to an extent, but not as steep as some of Tasmania's other popular bushwalks.
- Good base from which to explore the Tarkine Forests, and the Edge of the World coast-line.
Buy
[edit]Souvenirs are available in the visitor centre of The Nut.
Eat
[edit]The Sailor's Cove is a good place to eat after 5pm.
- 1 Stanley Dockside Cafe, 6/8 Wharf Rd, Stanley. Th-M 9:30AM–3:30PM. A small cafe with a nice open view of the ocean.
- 2 Post Sealers Cove Restaurant, 2 Main Rd. W-Su 5–8:30PM. A small restaurant shop serving Australian cuisine.
- 3 Stanley Hotel Bistro, 19/21 Church St (Cnr Victoria and Church), toll-free: 1800 222 397. 11:30AM–10PM. Wide variety of choices, probably the most popular in town. $.
Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]- 1 Abbey’s Cottages, 1 Marshall St, toll-free: 1800 222 397, info@stanleytasmania.com.au. Cottages.
- 2 The Beach Stanley, 3 Harrison Terrace, ☏ +61 418 119 165, stay@thebeach-stanley.com.au. Cottages.
- atVDL (@VDL), 16 Wharf Rd, info@vdlstanley.com.au. small hotel with 4 suites
- Cable Station Accommodation, 435 Green Hills Rd, stay@cablestationstanley.com.au. B&B with two guest units sleeping two or three
- Gardenia House, 44 Alexander Tce, bookings@gardeniahouse.com.au. ranch
- Hanlon House, 6 Marshall St, info@hanlonhouse.com.au. B&B
- Horizon Deluxe Apartments, 88 Dovecote Rd, info@horizonapartments.com.au. condominium
- 3 Noah’s, 3 Victoria St, ☏ +61 4 2169 5224, inquiries@thearkstanley.com.au. B&B
- On the Terrace, 8 Alexander Tce, info@ontheterracestanley.com.au. guest house
- Ship Inn Stanley, 16 Alexander Terrace, hello@shipinnstanley.com.au. guest house
- Stamps of Stanley, 11-13 Church St, lynda@craftyhands.com.au. villa
- Stanley Cabin & Tourist Park, 23a Wharf Rd, enquiries@stanleycabinpark.com.au. cabins
- Stanley Hotel, 19-21 Church St, hotel@stanleytasmania.com.au. historic pub with rooms
- Stanley Seaview Inn, 58 Dovecote Rd, info@stanleyseaviewinn.com.au. motel rooms and self-contained accommodation
- Stanley Village Waterfront Accommodation, 11 - 17 Wharf Rd, info@stanleyvillage.com.au. hotel
- The Ark, 18 Wharf Rd, inquiries@thearkstanley.com.au. small hotel with five individually styled rooms
- Touchwood Cottages, 31 Church St. cottages
Connect
[edit]Go next
[edit]| C214 jcn to Arthur River ← Smithton ← | W B21 (towards A2) E | → Rocky Cape National Park (via C227 jcn) → Burnie |