Stanley was definitely a highlight of our trip to Tasmania about 6 years ago, and we were reminded just how good it was by our “Two Old Chooks” who passed through it during their travels and confirmed it as one of their favourite spots while travelling around Australia.
Welcome To Stanley, Tasmania
Stanley is a quaint little fishing village built around the base of what they call ‘The Nut’. The nut is an old volcanic plug known as isthmus and rises over 140 meters making it an unmissable landmark in the area.
‘The Nut’
Getting to the top of the Nut, is something you MUST do if you go to Stanley. The walk to the top is not for the faint hearted or the unfit, but you can take the reasonably-priced Chair Lift, (extra fun on windy days) which makes for some amazing views of the brilliant bays and the surrounding countryside.
The chair lift to the top of the Nut
Windy at the top
There is a two km walk around the top which is not too demanding and has several well-placed lookouts along the way. The Nut has been declared a State Reserve and is home to hundreds of migratory birds and the cute little wallabies (paddy-melons).
Cute Paddy-Melons
At the right time of year, the surroundings are green and lush, and you are surrounded by the crisp blue ocean of Bass Strait.
Views from the Nut
Stanley has a small population so it is never feels over-crowded. The whole town has a captivating, pioneer-village atmosphere, with many restored and historic cottages and buildings. You can easily spend the whole day meandering the streets and checking out the various small, boutique shops and the local cafes which serve a host of local produce.
Easy walking around town
For the “foodies,” in addition to the cafes, Stanley boasts a popular and well patronised hotel, three excellent, up-market restaurants where you can enjoy the superb, local Cape Grip beef or the locally caught crayfish and seafood. Or you can just take some home with you.
Fresh local crayfish. Yum!
The Wharf and fishing docks are a focal point of the town. The Wharf offers easy fishing and is the spot where our daughter caught her first-ever squid, which she managed to drop back in and yelled in fear when it squirted black ink all over her.
Camping @ The Wharf
A highlight of the, “Two Old Chooks” visit to Stanley, was being camped at the Wharf, when the mackerel were running. People were pulling in fish non-stop for some hours until the local seals arrived and put a stop to that. It is also a great location to see the unloading of beef cattle from King Island arriving for transport to the Smithton Abattoir.
The boat-builder who operates from the warehouse there also sells bait and fishing gear. He also runs fishing charters and has an interesting collection of historical photos, timber products and some slabs of Huon Pine for sale.
Around dusk, if you have a good torch, you can see the local fairy penguins coming back to their burrows from the sea after a hard days fishing.
Spot the Fairy Penguins @ Night
Apart from The Nut, there are plenty of other things to check out, including the local heritage walk and a visit to Highfield Historic Site dating back to the1830’s. For the more adventurous, there are the Stanley Seal cruises which leave from the wharf. They are well priced and make that claim that you Always get to see Australian Fur Seals. Stanley Seaquarium is another local attraction located at the Dock in an old Crayfish processing shed. It highlights the local marine life and local marine history.
Seal Cruises
Stanley is also a great place to base yourself to visit some of Tasmania’s most westerly towns. Smithton is only a short drive away and is the major service town for the area. Further west are the Marawah & Arthur River, both of which also offer their own unique Visitor experiences. The Tarkin is also within a half hour drive and is a massive expanse of towering eucalypt forest. It has beautiful drives which will keep you exploring for hours.
Places To Stay
Stanley offers a wide variety of camping & RV options depending on your preferences. From fully appointed caravan parks to Free Camps, there are a few options listed below.
Free camping at Godfrey’s Beach has now been withdrawn and is no longer available. There is a dump-point including potable water centrally located at the waterfront. It is near the caravan park, adjacent to good public toilet facilities.
Stanley Cabin and Tourist Park
Caravan Parks cater to a full range of accommodation options, from basic tent sites to a variety of RVs. It ranges from Campervans to Large Motorhomes, Caravans, and Big Rigs.
Stanley Recreation Grounds
Circular Head Council has set aside a site within the Stanley Recreation Grounds. The accommodation is for fully self-contained recreational vehicles.
Black River Campground
A riverside and beachside camping area that is very popular in Summer. Parks and Wildlife Tasmania manages the site.
Peggs Beach Campground
A beachside camping area that is very popular in summer and can become quite crowded.
The FRC team can definitely and highly recommend spending time in this beautiful little village.
Don’t know whether I’m showing my ignorance to the origin of Gulliver’s Travels and the author but growing up in Tassie I was always told that an Army Officer got the idea of the story line while on leave in Stanley.
Well! It sounds good and very fitting with the little homes at the base of the Nut 🙂