Stanley (Tasmania) - town in Tasmania, Australia
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
Visitor information
- Stanley Visitor Centre, 23 Wharf Rd, 1300 138 229 (domestic), +61 3 6458 1330 (international), info@stanleyandtarkine.com.au. Daily . 2023-02-12
Get in
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).
Get around
See
- The Nut State Reserve, The Nut Summit Cct, -40.763574°, 145.303151°. 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. 2022-01-16
- Little Penguin Viewing Area, Harrison Tce, -40.7593°, 145.2988°. 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. 2023-02-12
- Trethewies Lookout, Stanley Hwy (B21), -40.7747°, 145.2794°. The entry point of Stanley makes a good photo spot of The Nut. 2023-02-12
- Highfield Historic Site, 143 Green Hills Rd, -40.7481°, 145.2924°, +61 3 6458 1100. Daily . 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) 2023-02-14
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.
Buy
Souvenirs are available in the visitor centre of The Nut.
Eat
The Sailor's Cove is a good place to eat after 5pm.
- Stanley Dockside Cafe, 6/8 Wharf Rd, Stanley, -40.767807°, 145.30211°. Th-M 9:30AM–3:30PM. A small cafe with a nice open view of the ocean. 2022-01-16
- Post Sealers Cove Restaurant, 2 Main Rd, -40.760973°, 145.294745°. W-Su 5–8:30PM. A small restaurant shop serving Australian cuisine. 2022-01-16
Drink
Sleep
- Abbey’s Cottages, 1 Marshall St, -40.7598°, 145.2962°, info@stanleytasmania.com.au. Cottages. 2019-10-10
- The Beach Stanley, 3 Harrison Terrace, -40.7587°, 145.2965°, +61 418 119 165, stay@thebeach-stanley.com.au. Cottages. 2019-10-10
- atVDL (@VDL), 16 Wharf Rd, info@vdlstanley.com.au. small hotel with 4 suites 2019-10-10
- Cable Station Accommodation, 435 Green Hills Rd, stay@cablestationstanley.com.au. B&B with two guest units sleeping two or three 2019-10-10
- Gardenia House, 44 Alexander Tce, bookings@gardeniahouse.com.au. ranch 2019-10-10
- Hanlon House, 6 Marshall St, info@hanlonhouse.com.au. B&B 2019-10-10
- Horizon Deluxe Apartments, 88 Dovecote Rd, info@horizonapartments.com.au. condominium 2019-10-10
- Noah’s, 3 Victoria St, -40.76192°, 145.29567°, +61 4 2169 5224, inquiries@thearkstanley.com.au. B&B 2019-10-10
- On the Terrace, 8 Alexander Tce, info@ontheterracestanley.com.au. guest house 2019-10-10
- Ship Inn Stanley, 16 Alexander Terrace, hello@shipinnstanley.com.au. guest house 2019-10-10
- Stamps of Stanley, 11-13 Church St, lynda@craftyhands.com.au. villa 2019-10-10
- Stanley Cabin & Tourist Park, 23a Wharf Rd, enquiries@stanleycabinpark.com.au. cabins 2019-10-10
- Stanley Hotel, 19-21 Church St, hotel@stanleytasmania.com.au. historic pub with rooms 2019-10-10
- Stanley Seaview Inn, 58 Dovecote Rd, info@stanleyseaviewinn.com.au. motel rooms and self-contained accommodation 2019-10-10
- Stanley Village Waterfront Accommodation, 11 - 17 Wharf Rd, info@stanleyvillage.com.au. hotel 2019-10-10
- The Ark, 18 Wharf Rd, inquiries@thearkstanley.com.au. small hotel with five individually styled rooms 2019-10-10
- Touchwood Cottages, 31 Church St. cottages 2019-10-10