SLEEPY FISHING HAMLET flanked by sweeping green hillsides and known for its wild seascapes, Stanley was crowned Tassie’s Top Tourism Town for 2021. Its heritage streetscape with chocolate-box weatherboards looks straight out of a movie set (and in fact it is: the town was transformed into a). The three-hour scenic drive to get here from Launceston cuts through countryside and follows the coast road along the shores of Bass Strait before reaching the far northwest; don’t resist the temptation to pitstop in equally delightful towns like Penguin. And once you’ve dropped anchor in Stanley, set like a tiny jewel beneath the remains of an ancient volcanic plug, it’s time to slow right down. Stroll the streets and breathe in the spike of sea salt in the air; check into heritage digs like Ship Inn Stanley (for a boutique stay) or Stanley Hotel (for a classic pub stay); walk or take the chairlift to the top of The Nut; explore the region’s history at Joe Lyons Cottage or Highfield Historic Site; and discover the takayna/Tarkine wilderness on the town’s doorstep.
