About Stanley
Naturally Different: Stanley, Tasmania
A visit to Stanley will be a highlight of your Tasmanian holiday.
Nestled between sea and farmland on Tasmania’s wild north-west coast, Stanley is a place where time slows, and the past feels beautifully present. With its preserved heritage buildings, The Nut, and stunning coastal views, Stanley is pretty enough for a movie set – and has been used as one.
Settled in 1826 as the headquarters of the Van Diemen’s Land Company was granted 250,000 acres by Royal Charter from King George IV. Stanley remains a proud, authentic fishing village. Many fishing fleets, homes and farms have stayed in the same families for generations, creating a deep sense of continuity and community.
The town’s deep-water harbour is still busy with fishing boats coming and going, while galleries, restaurants, and cafés add vibrancy to the streetscape.
Spend your days exploring attractions, follow the heritage walking trail, visit historic Highfield House, climb the Nut, walk long beaches, dine on fresh local produce, or simply soak in the atmosphere. At night enjoy star gazing with some of the most spectacular skies overhead.
You can go fishing, play a round of golf, enjoy a conversation with locals in the historic pub, or relax in cosy accommodation with a book. And if you do choose to venture beyond town, you’ll find spectacular Tarkine and stories waiting in every direction.
Breathe the world’s cleanest air. Watch seabirds wheel overhead. Spot a penguin on its evening journey ashore. Stanley has transformed from an isolated settlement, once accessible only by sea into one of Tasmania’s most charming and welcoming destinations – easily reached by a stunning coastal drive.
Come and discover what makes Stanley naturally different.