Here's why slowing down in Stanley, Tasmania works
By the Out of Office Sisters- Jorja Leroy and Candace Gibb | THERE are some places you visit and immediately understand why everyone is talking about them. Stanley was one of those places.
Recently named Australia’s number one History and Heritage Town by Australian Traveller, Stanley sits beneath the unmistakable Nut on Tasmania’s north-west coast. And after a few days there, we completely understood the fuss.
For two corporate sisters used to rushing between meetings, Stanley gave us a very different kind of agenda: climb something, eat something delicious, drink something local, watch the penguins come home and, most importantly, slow down. And then there was the Bond Store.
The Bond Store
The Bond Store is the sort of accommodation that makes you notice every single detail. Set right on Stanley’s original wharf, the building dates back to the 1850s and has been beautifully restored, retaining its original bluestone walls and timber beams while adding all the little luxuries you didn't know you needed.
Fresh eggs waiting in the fridge. Local milk. Beautifully considered interiors and amenities. Gorgeous Tasmanian touches. A wood fire. A deep bath. And, as if that wasn't enough, a sauna tucked away in the courtyard.
It felt luxurious without being flashy. Everything had a purpose and everything had been thought about. Sitting right on the water, the views become part of the experience. We could wander back after exploring the town, pour ourselves a drink and simply watch the light change across the bay.
It was also incredibly quiet, which we quickly realised was exactly what we needed. At the Bond Store, we were quite happy to stay in, make breakfast, drink coffee and debate whether walking to the next café technically counted as an activity.
The Nut- when the chairlift says no
You can't go to Stanley without tackling The Nut. The enormous flat-topped volcanic plug rises 143 metres above the town and is its defining feature.
There is a chairlift for those who prefer to admire it without too much exertion, but unfortunately for us, the chairlift was closed. So, we walked.
The track is steep enough to get the heart rate going, particularly after a slow breakfast, but once at the top it is absolutely worth it. The summit circuit gives you sweeping views across Stanley, Bass Strait and the surrounding coastline.
The town began as an important centre for the Van Diemen's Land Company, established in 1824, and its historic buildings and fishing heritage remain central to its character. We came down feeling pleased with ourselves. We also decided that if the chairlift had been operating, we absolutely would have taken it.
Whisky at Angels Share
One of the things we loved about Stanley was how easy it was to turn an ordinary afternoon into something memorable. At Angels Share, we found ourselves looking out over the coastline with a local whisky in hand, chatting with the couple who owned and ran it. There are worse ways to spend an afternoon.
With big skies, rugged coastline, Bass Strait stretching out in front of you and The Nut looming behind, the landscape around Stanley is dramatic without trying too hard. With a Tasmanian whisky to taste and nowhere we needed to be, we finally settled into holiday mode.
Penguins at dusk
We had heard Stanley was a great place to see little penguins, but there is always a bit of scepticism when someone tells you wildlife will conveniently appear at a particular time. At dusk, we headed towards the waterfront and waited. And then they appeared.
Tiny little penguins making their way back from the water, waddling towards shore as the light faded. We stood quietly and watched, completely absorbed. It felt very Stanley: wildlife, water, history and a town that still feels like a real community rather than somewhere that exists purely for tourists.
Dinner, pool and meeting the locals
That night we headed to the Stanley Hotel for dinner. What we hadn't expected was to end up playing pool afterwards with some of the locals. The town has a wonderfully unpretentious feel. You can have a beautiful dinner, wander down the road, find yourself in a game of pool and suddenly you're chatting to people who actually live there.
For two sisters normally surrounded by corporate conversations, spreadsheets and meetings, talking rubbish over a pool table with locals was exactly the kind of evening we didn't know we needed.
Why Stanley?
Stanley was ranked 17th overall in Australian Traveller's 2026 list of Australia's 100 Best Towns and took out the number one spot in the History and Heritage category. But rankings don't really explain Stanley.
It has history without feeling like a museum, incredible scenery without the crowds, and beautiful accommodation and great food while still feeling relaxed and genuine. And the Bond Store somehow captures all of that.
We arrived in Stanley as two corporate sisters who had promised ourselves, we were going to slow down. We left having perfected the art.
Our out-of-office was on. Our walking shoes were dirty. We'd climbed The Nut, watched penguins, tasted whisky, played pool with locals and eaten very well.
And, for once, there was absolutely no rush to get back to the office.
Visit: https://stanleybondstore.com.au
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