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Day 6 – Scenic Stanley

The far north west of Tasmania has one of the most pristine regions in the world and Stanley is a great premier tourist town for guided tours to the amazing attractions in this underrated yet fascinating part of the world. Beachside Retreat West Inlet is one that hosts nature tours for their guests. Chris Bishop, a retired doctor and the owner of Beachside Retreat, was our guide for a relaxing half-day tour to The Nut, Blue Hills Honey Farm, Dip Falls, the Big Tree and Rocky Cape National Park.

The Nut, the distinctive plateau that we saw as we were arriving in Stanley, is just a few mins away from our accommodation. The iconic feature of Stanley is the remains of an old volcanic plug that was at first compared to a huge Christmas cake by explorers Bass and Flinders.

A panoramic view of The Nut. (Scroll right-left for full image.)

Chris drove us with his 4WD to The Nut. There is a walking track for a 20 min hike up 150 metres to The Nut or you can take the easy way up via The Nut Chairlift.

A view of picture-perfect Stanley as seen from The Nut! (Scroll left-right for full image.)

Have you tried Blue Hills Honey before? This premium brand of honey has its place on the shelves in NTUC Fairprice supermarkets in Singapore.

The Charles family has been in the honey production since 1955. In fact, Blue Hills is the first in Australia to export its products to Japan in the 60s. The honey maker produces a broad range of honeys and specializes in Leatherwood Honey that is produced by bees foraging for leatherwood tree nectar from the heart of the pristine Tasmanian Tarkine wilderness, the largest tract of temperate rainforest wilderness in Australia.

Different source of nectar gives a different taste of honey. The Leatherwood honey has a deliciously distinctive flavour with a smooth finish. I’m loving it and bought a few bottles of fresh honey to bring home the taste of the Tasmanian wilderness!

Address of Blue Hills Honey: 1858 Mawbanna Rd, Mawbanna, Tasmania, Australia 7321.
Web: www.bluehillshoney.com

We hopped onto the 4WD and continued our day trip to the Dip River Forest Reserve that’s less than 20km down Mawbana Road to catch the Dip Falls.

At the viewing platform, you can appreciate the magnificent two-tier waterfalls descending down the cubic-basalt columns formed from the cooling of the volcanic rock.

A further kilometre into the wet eucalypst forest is the home to the Big Tree, a 400 years old eucalypt obliqua. The Big Tree is a survivor, telling us it has escaped death from lightning strike, insect and fungal attack, wildfire and even the axes. Time yourself and see how long you take to walk around this giant tree!

This trip is suitable for family and is as easy as balancing on a humongous fallen tree!

Rocky Cape National Park lies between the Nut at Stanley and Table Cape near Wynyard. Small but rich in Aboriginal history, Rocky Cape features an abundance of wild flowers, rock pools and intriguing rock formations. There are also picnic areas and opportunities for swimming and boating on the unpolluted waters rich in marine life. This smallest national park of Tasmania is definitely worth closer inspection.

(Scroll right-left for full image.)

The Rocky Cape Lighthouse. Colourful lichens are prevalent on the rocks.

Back in Stanley, we dined in Stanley Hotel Bistro. The award-winning bistro serves some of Tasmania’s most renowned produce and specializes in making great pub food with local fresh and famous flavour. Built in the early 1840’s, the Historic Cellar within the premises is the oldest on the coast and is worth a visit to make your wine selection. Dine in or alfresco on the sunny deck to enjoy the awesome outdoor views of charming Stanley.

Freshly baked oyster topped with cheese and salmon… succulent lobster with a generous serving of crisp chips… big juicy scallops and for the first time, I tried wallaby meat. It was like duck meat but with a stronger taste.

Address of Stanley Hotel Bistro: 21 Church Street, Stanley, TAS 7331
Web: http://www.stanleytasmania.com.au/stanleyhotelbistro.html

Next… We are going to breath in the cleanest air in the world!

Read previous post: Day 6 – I Heart Stanley

Win a 6 Days/ 4 Nights Tasmania self-drive journey and Tasmanian hampers!

- Simply follow me as I blog about my Tassie experience daily during the trip, and answer some questions at the end of my journey in Tasmania on the microsite. The one who can answer all the questions correctly will stand a chance to win a 6 Days/ 4 Nights self-drive package that’s worth S$3,500 by Chan Brothers Travel!

- 3 mini hampers will be given away to readers who JOIN Eunice’s Fanpage and SHARE on Facebook to promote the campaign (3 lucky winners will be selected).

- 2 mini hampers will be given away to readers who FOLLOW Eunice on Twitter and RETWEET to promote the campaign (2 lucky winners will be selected).

Pls refer to this microsite >> http://travelerfolio.com/devilishly-tasmania/ for more information.

Posted by eunice Posted in Tasmania Comments (4)

Day 6 – I Heart Stanley

Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park is such a beautiful paradise that even if you have forgotten your camera, you won’t forget the stunning sceneries that are already etched in your memories. Who wouldn’t want to stay longer in Cradle Mountain? Nonetheless, there is always another pristine region waiting for us to explore in Tasmania: Stanley, a quaint town of natural beauty in the far north-west – gateway to Cape Grim where you can take in some of the cleanest air in the world!

From Cradle region, it takes approximately 1.5 hours to arrive in Stanley. Anyway, it’s likely that you would never have a boring long ride in this compact island state of Australia; there are plenty of good food and interesting sights to stopover for.

Along the Bass Highway, we pulled off in Wynyard, a lovely laid-back town that lies 16 km west of Burnie. Along the sparkling stretch of Bass Strait coast, the sweeping view is dominated by Wynyard’s remarkable feature – Table Cape. The 180 metres high plateau that was once a volcanic lava lake has been transmuted into rich agricultural soil that is perfect for cultivating tulips. In the tulip blooming season in spring (September to October), you will see a vivid array of banded colours across the fields. No wonder it’s a photographer’s dream to capture that very picturesque scene.

Table Cape Tulip Farm is located at 363 Table Cape Road, Wynyard Tas 7325. Web: www.vdqbulbs.com.au

A short walk (30 mins return) from Table Cape Lookout will bring you to the iconic Table Cape Lighthouse (since 1888) that is located on the cliff top, offering a viewpoint for miles around.

Table Cape Lookout – an extensive view along the North West coast of Tasmania.

How about having lunch by the beachside while soaking in the breathtaking views of Bass Strait? We had a rejuvenating lunch at Jolly Rogers Restaurant at Boat Harbour Beach mid-way before we continued our journey to Stanley.

The restaurant serves a good selection of fine Tasmanian food (big portion!), savoury desserts, aromatic coffees, and of course, Tasmanian wines and beers.

After about an hour’s drive, when you see a distinctive flat-topped circular knoll looming on the horizon along the Bass Strait, you know you are arriving in Stanley. And the plateau is the famous landmark of Stanley – The Nut.

We checked in at Beachside Retreat West Inlet, an award-winning unique waterfront accommodation that offers contemporary-style eco-cabins and new luxury nature cabins tuck away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. With private access to a secluded beach at your doorstep, the first class accommodation is the perfect place to unwind, relax and rediscover the simple yet quality pleasures that the nature offers.

Photo features Chris and Janette, the passionate owners and committed hosts of our stay.  We are staying at Pelican Luxury Cabin for 2 nights. The self-contained environmentally designed eco-cabin overlooks the sea and is catered for couples. We gonna have a second honeymoon in this gorgeous beachfront eco-cabin!

The beautiful beach at our doorstep! Choose the Beach or the Nature Trail – the property itself is already a very  charming attraction!

Our hosts Chris and Janette told us that half a dozen of Sperm Whales were stranded along the coastline of their property over the past 10 years. A few years ago, a large sperm whale had to be towed out to the sea by a fishing trawler. Chris even has the photos of the stranded whale to share with us here.

Beachside Retreat West Inlet is a great base to visit the Nut, national parks, forestry reserves, and cruises. Burnie Airport is just 40 mins away from this relaxing hideaway. The property owners host nature tours for their resident guests and also take people out who are not staying in the property. The 4WD Land Rover is used for private hire and quotes are available. (Chris’s Email: tours@beachsideretreat.com)

Address of Beachside Retreat West Inlet: 253 Stanley Highway, Stanley 7331.
Web: www.beachsideretreat.com

Read next post: Day 6 – Scenic Stanley

Win a 6 Days/ 4 Nights Tasmania self-drive journey and Tasmanian hampers!

- Simply follow me as I blog about my Tassie experience daily during the trip, and answer some questions at the end of my journey in Tasmania on the microsite. The one who can answer all the questions correctly will stand a chance to win a 6 Days/ 4 Nights self-drive package that’s worth S$3,500 by Chan Brothers Travel!

- 3 mini hampers will be given away to readers who JOIN Eunice’s Fanpage and SHARE on Facebook to promote the campaign (3 lucky winners will be selected).

- 2 mini hampers will be given away to readers who FOLLOW Eunice on Twitter and RETWEET to promote the campaign (2 lucky winners will be selected).

Pls refer to this microsite >> http://travelerfolio.com/devilishly-tasmania/ for more information.

Posted by eunice Posted in Tasmania Comments (6)