STANLEY FOOD AND DRINK

Welcome to Stanley

Visit the tiny, laidback fishing hamlet of Stanley on the north-west tip of Tassie and you might just be blown away – by the timeless charm of its picture-book cottages with their fragrant gardens, by the sheer physicality of its natural setting… and even by the boisterous winds. Known to seafarers as the ‘Roaring Forties’, these renowned wild westerlies whip clean briny air across the waters of Bass Strait.

Home to about 550 souls, historic Stanley sits on a slender tongue of land jutting into Bass Strait, in the shadow of a stupendous geological feature known as ‘the Nut’ – an ancient volcanic plug that rises 150 metres straight out of the water, dwarfing the tiny town at its base.

A five-minute chairlift ride (or a very steep 20-minute hike!) will get you up onto the Nut’s flat, grassy summit, with sweeping 360-degree panoramic views across rolling green farmland to distant coastal capes and headlands. Here you can gulp in lungfuls of the world’s freshest air, hear booming waves pounding the rocks far below, and feel the wind tussling your hair.

Like a gourmet picnic hamper, Stanley has plenty of goodies to unpack. There’s a compact streetscape to explore, heaps of fascinating history to delve into, and two long sandy beaches to wander – don’t be surprised if you work up a wicked appetite. Rest assured, with excellent dining establishments right on your doorstep, feeding your belly and stimulating your tastebuds is part of the adventure.

Touchwood Cafe

It’s brunch time at Touchwood Cafe in Stanley’s main street. Step into its warm, open wood-panelled interior and be greeted by the alluring aroma of Genovese coffee as the resident baristas work their magic. Rest assured; the promise of a quality caffeine fix is not far away!

Settle down at a wooden table by one of the large windows that open out to a view of the town. Bask in golden rays of sunshine that come streaming in, as you contemplate the revolving seasonal menu that draws heavily on the region’s fine produce, prepared fresh onsite.

If you skipped breakfast, you might be tempted by local free-range eggs cooked any which way with a side of sizzling crisp bacon – or perhaps a warm, house-baked savoury buttermilk muffin.

If it’s morning tea you fancy, try sipping a dainty cup of ‘Cleopatra’s Champagne’ or ‘Fruits of Eden’ tea as you contemplate tackling the cafe’s giant signature scones – aptly named ‘the Nut’ on account of their lofty size, served with local raspberry jam and whipped cream.

Or, if you want to slide into a light early lunch, consider diving into options such as homemade scallop pie or a bowl of creamy chowder.

Perhaps return in the afternoon for a sneaky slice of Key Lime Pie with house-made lemon curd and cream, or dreamy Persian Love Cake with cream, yoghurt and pistachio fairy floss. Compliment your sweet indulgence with a soothing chai latte or smooth hot chocolate… or, if you’re feeling highly spirited, an affogato coffee spiked with a shot of local whisky!

Stanley Hotel

On a corner of Church Street, painted cocoa-brown with creamy yellow window trims, a fine double-storey stone building stands proud, like a gorgeous big chocolate cake beckoning those in need of nourishment. Welcome to the historic Stanley Hotel, run by the local Jacobs family, who have lived in Stanley since 1829.

Stanley Hotel’s award-winning bistro is the perfect place for a spot of lunch. Cosy up by a crackling wood fire if the weather is wild and inclement, or chill out and soak up the relaxed vibe as you linger over long lunches in summer on the spacious outdoor deck.

With such deep historic connections to the local community, it’s no surprise that only fabulous local produce makes it onto the menu here, all freshly harvested from the pristine waterways and famously rich red volcanic soils of Tasmania’s north west. The enticing menu features grass-fed Cape Grim beef, paddock-reared Scottsdale pork from the Cuckoo Valley, free-range chickens from Sassafras and farm-fresh eggs from the poetically named Shakespeare Hills. A cornucopia of super-local seasonal seafood is hauled in from the local fishing boats and served up for your enjoyment, featuring the salty-sweet flavours of crayfish, scallops, octopus, abalone and Pacific oysters.

All the tasty vegetables and juicy berries that land on your plate are harvested from the rolling green hills nearby – including superb potatoes dug fresh daily, transformed into the creamiest mash and crisp, crunchy chips.

A fine selection of Tasmanian and mainland wines and spirits are also housed in the 1840s bluestone underground cellar, with craft beers on tap, so you definitely won’t go thirsty.

You’ll find all your favourite pub classics here, served up in generous portions. Dining here, you might just find yourself trading stories with some of the friendly suppliers and producers – possibly the best recommendation of all!

Stanley Wine Bar

Come 5pm, there’s no better place to unwind than the Stanley Wine Bar.

Back in 2014, movie producers turned Stanley’s vintage streetscape into a 1918 setting for a Hollywood blockbuster, The Light Between Oceans. However, stepping through the doors of the wine bar, into this wonderfully restored Victorian timber cottage, creates a sensation that you’ve slipped even further back in time, into an elegant speakeasy from the days of the Great Gatsby.

Inside the cottage’s genteel grey exterior, a series of small rooms glow with the romance of a bygone era, complete with a crackling open fire on wintry evenings.

Leadlight windows, crystal chandeliers and corner lamps with tassel-fringed shades cast an inviting glow over emerald-green walls, dark timber panelling, velvet drapes, carefully curated curios, and colourful rugs softening the gleaming wooden floorboards.

Beautifully upholstered lounges and armchairs invite conversation and lingering – and your friendly hosts are every bit as welcoming.

Being a wine bar, liquid libations are the specialty of the house, with an eclectic selection of fine wines, whiskies, gins and beers sourced locally and from abroad. Options abound - but the best way to choose is simply to ask Michael – the dashingly attired proprietor, sporting a waistcoat, fob watch and handle-bar moustache – to help match you with the consummate tipple to suit your mood and taste.

Perfect for grazing, the food menu is suitably relaxed, with snacks such as crunchy grissini and thin-crust home-cooked pizza for sharing. Artfully arranged cheese and charcuterie platters are also on offer, laden with Tasmanian soft and hard cheeses, salami, prosciutto, pâté, olives, fresh and dried fruit and locally baked bread.

In your own cosy corner, as unobtrusive music plays and relaxed patrons laugh and chat, it’s easy to be ensconced in your own pleasant bubble for an hour or three.

Accessibility

It’s a very pleasant and picturesque bus ride to Stanley from Launceston, with a break in Burnie. To do this, catch the X705 bus from Cornwall Square Transit Centre in Launceston and change to the X708 in Devonport. This will take you to Burnie, where the 768 bus leaves for Stanley. For detailed timetables and Redline Coaches ticketing information, visit transport.tas.gov.au.

The 225-kilometre drive from Launceston to Stanley is equally picturesque and takes about 2.5 hours. Alternatively, Stanley is a 78-kilometre drive north-west of Burnie and a 125-kilometre drive west of Devonport.

Stanley’s intimate and historic main street is perfect for exploring on foot. Take your time – life moves slowly in Stanley. Be guided by the sounds and smells of cafes, restaurants and bars that line quirky Church Street. In fact, you could spend all day in Church Street: brunch at Touchwood Cafe, lunch at Stanley Hotel and dinner and drinks at Stanley Wine Bar – all literally within a stone’s throw of each other, and all accessible for people travelling with dog guides. It’s best to check the opening hours in advance, as these vary throughout the year, with a decidedly slower pace in winter.

There are plenty of accommodation options available, from hotel rooms to cute cottages, as well as a caravan park. Consider bedding down for a night or two, so you can explore nearby attractions such as Highfield House up on the headland – or the historic precinct of Woolnorth, a 45-minute drive away on the far north-west tip of Tasmania.