Stanley

Understand

Visitor information Stanley Visitor Centre, 23 Wharf Rd, ☏ 1300 138 229 (domestic)Country code missing, +61 3 6458 1330 (international), [email protected]. Daily 9AM–5PM. (updated Feb 2023)

Getting there

By car 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).

See

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. (updated Jan 2022) 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. (updated Feb 2023) 3 Trethewies Lookout, Stanley Hwy (B21). The entry point of Stanley makes a good photo spot of The Nut. (updated Feb 2023) 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). (updated Feb 2023)

Do

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

Souvenirs are available in the visitor centre of The Nut.

Eat

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. (updated Jan 2022) 2 Post Sealers Cove Restaurant, 2 Main Rd. W-Su 5–8:30PM. A small restaurant shop serving Australian cuisine. (updated Jan 2022) 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. $. (updated Mar 2022)

Sleep

1 Abbey’s Cottages, 1 Marshall St, toll-free: 1800 222 397, [email protected]. Cottages. (updated Oct 2019) 2 The Beach Stanley, 3 Harrison Terrace, ☏ +61 418 119 165, [email protected]. Cottages. (updated Oct 2019) atVDL (@VDL), 16 Wharf Rd, [email protected]. small hotel with 4 suites (updated Oct 2019) Cable Station Accommodation, 435 Green Hills Rd, [email protected]. B&B with two guest units sleeping two or three (updated Oct 2019) Gardenia House, 44 Alexander Tce, [email protected]. ranch (updated Oct 2019) Hanlon House, 6 Marshall St, [email protected]. B&B (updated Oct 2019) Horizon Deluxe Apartments, 88 Dovecote Rd, [email protected]. condominium (updated Oct 2019) 3 Noah’s, 3 Victoria St, ☏ +61 4 2169 5224, [email protected]. B&B (updated Oct 2019) On the Terrace, 8 Alexander Tce, [email protected]. guest house (updated Oct 2019) Ship Inn Stanley, 16 Alexander Terrace, [email protected]. guest house (updated Oct 2019) Stamps of Stanley, 11-13 Church St, [email protected]. villa (updated Oct 2019) Stanley Cabin & Tourist Park, 23a Wharf Rd, [email protected]. cabins (updated Oct 2019) Stanley Hotel, 19-21 Church St, [email protected]. historic pub with rooms (updated Oct 2019) Stanley Seaview Inn, 58 Dovecote Rd, [email protected]. motel rooms and self-contained accommodation (updated Oct 2019) Stanley Village Waterfront Accommodation, 11 - 17 Wharf Rd, [email protected]. hotel (updated Oct 2019) The Ark, 18 Wharf Rd, [email protected]. small hotel with five individually styled rooms (updated Oct 2019) Touchwood Cottages, 31 Church St. cottages (updated Oct 2019)