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Bay View Guesthouse 16 – 20 Alexander Terrace Stanley Tasmania 7331 Tel: (03) 6458 1445 Email: enquiries@bayviewguesthouse.com |
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Our Complimentary Guide to StanleyAvailable in a number of formats to suit your preference/technology:
Also available to browse here:- 1. Please take the time to read the Bay View’s history, on our front verandah. In many ways its growth, decline, and rebirth encapsulate the essence of Stanley, a town that effortlessly reshapes itself to suit the changing times. Places to eat in Stanley … • Hursey Seafoods, (p2) Places to buy provisions … • Hursey Seafoods, live seafood Allow some time to walk around (You’re on holiday, remember?) • The first half of this walk, down to the “new” wharves and the foot of the Nut, takes about ½ hour as a round trip, non-stop • The second half, to Godfreys Beach, takes less than an hour for the round trip. Stroll, look, talk to locals, refer to this guide, touch, smell,
taste, and hear. Soak up the essence, the magic that is Stanley. 2. So let’s set off … Leave the Bay View Guesthouse and turn left, down the Terrace. Joe Lyons Cottage. 14 Alexander Terrace. Right next door to the Bay View. Birthplace (15.9.1879) of Joseph Lyons, Tasmania’s only Prime Minister of Australia to date, serving from 1932 to 1939, just before the Second World War. The cottage has been painstakingly restored and contains a wealth of memorabilia, both of Joe Lyons and early Stanley. Gold coin donation. Please support the volunteers who keep this piece of history open. They are a wealth of information about Stanley. Your donation really does make a difference! On a more personal note, Michael Lyons, Carter and Produce Merchant was the grandfather of Joe Lyons. He took up an acre from the Van Dieman’s Land Company sale in the early 1840s, and built the Shamrock Inn (which later became the Bay View Hotel ) on about ¾ of it. Poets Cottage. 6 Alexander Terrace. Built around
1840. At one time it served as a private school. It more recently
became known as Poets Cottage when retired teacher and farmer Lin
Eldridge lived there and courted Marguerite Close with volumes of
poetry. His poetry obviously had the desired effect, as they’ve
been married some time and live at Gull Cottage further along the
Terrace. A volume of Lin’s poetry, “Love in a Pot ‘o
Gold”, with Marguerite’s evocative photography of Stanley,
is available from many of the shops in town, also an earlier collaboration,
“Historic Stanley”, with verse by Lin and sketches by
Meg. Hursey’s Seafood Restaurant and takeaway. Under the Big Cray! The Hursey family make up a large part of Stanley’s fishing fleet. You’ll often see their boats at the Fishermen’s Wharf. Look for the big “H” painted on the bow. Cray, Abalone, Scallops, Squid, Shark and Octopus make up the most valuable catches, plus seasonal finfish. Stanley’s on the Bay Restaurant. In the
old bluestone Bond Store (1859) On the waterfront next to the slipways.
Bond Stores were where taxable items were held under bond until
excise was paid to the Government. Restaurant bookings recommended,
as it’s a very popular eatery. 3. Slipways and old wharf. The original landing spot in 1827, for the Van Diemans Land Company at settlement of Stanley. Sheltered from some of Bass Strait’s wild weather, but unable to serve larger vessels as it virtually dries out at low tide. As shipping increased and ships got larger, the “New Wharf” was constructed using rock blasted from the Nut, and concrete blocks as breakwaters. The slipways are privately owned by local fishermen. The old Highfield lighthouse. (Now in the parking lot, next to the VDL Store.) The old tower was originally erected up on the Highfield headland in 1924, and was only replaced by a fibreglass tower in 1981. The old jarrah timber tower was donated to Circular Head Council by the Federal Dept. of Transport. It was originally powered by acetylene gas generated by reacting Calcium Carbide with water in an acetylene generator. When the old light was decommissioned, the lenses were re-used in a new light at Bluff Hill Point, south of Marrawah. The acetylene generator was still in excellent enough condition to be recycled into one of the Dept’s seventy other acetylene powered lights still then in use around the nation. The Van Diemans Land Company Store. Now @VDL, a privately owned guesthouse. Built in 1843 as the major port facility for the Van Diemans Land Company. Over its long history, it has seen many uses, ranging from a fish factory to a place of detention. Rescued from dereliction in the 1990s by Mark Bishop and Toby Muir-Wilson as Stanley Artworks, which they established as their gallery. In 2003, the gallery relocated to the old De Jonge Store, in Church Street. Old Wiltshire Railway Station (now reception for the Stanley Village motel). Was moved from Wiltshire (4 to 5 km along Bass Highway, heading to Burnie ) when the railway closed.
Sally Collins Massage Therapy is just around the corner from Hurseys. Sally has restored what is known as “The Aunts Cottage”. (Joe Lyons’ Aunts - 1850) Stay on the main road and you’ll see Sally’s shingle hanging in front of the little red house. Stanley Cool Store. Big green, windowless tin
building on your left across the road as you approach the Fishermens
Dock. Originally built to cater for frozen freight sailing from
the New Wharf and from the Roll On/Roll Off (RO/RO) wharf. Now used
as overflow cool storage by McCain Foods, Smithton. 4. Stanley Seaquarium. Opposite the Cool Store, down on the wharf. Interesting displays of local marine life. Giant crabs (in season). Cray in holding tanks awaiting export. Small shark. Children will enjoy the handling tank, with a variety of interesting creatures, including eels, octopus and Roy, the enormous hermit crab, who regularly changes “house”. About $25 for a family entry. They also sell uncooked and frozen seafood including Stanley’s own Tasmanian Octopus Products, and souvenirs. Seal Cruises. Depart from the Fishermen’s Dock just across from the Seaquarium. Seals haul out and bask on Seal Rock, around from the Green Hills. Note how the seals and seabirds divide up the rock between them, and observe how much cleaner the seals’ end of the rock is! The seals really appreciate Darryl bringing tourists out to break the monotony of eating fish and sunbaking. They’ll swim right up to the boat to have a look. Cruises usually go twice a day, morning and afternoon, but please check, as seasons and weather conditions determine whether or not cruises are able to set out. Bookings are always recommended, as the cruises are very popular. About $40 pp. Fishermen’s Dock, just back from the RO/RO loader. You’ll often see loads of abalone, scallops, shark and crayfish coming ashore. Usually at least a couple of historic wooden boats moored there too. Often excellent fishing from the jetties on the ocean side of the dock, the wharf in front of the Cool Stores and the long wharf behind the breakwater - barracouta, mackerel, squid, trevally, flathead, whiting, depending upon the season. Stanley Seafood at the end of the dock. You are free to walk across the head of the dock in front of their building, but exercise caution if fishermen are unloading their catch. Early mornings you will sometimes see scallop shells coming out on the waste conveyor, being crushed and conveyed up into a disposal skip. At the end of the road is the “new”
wharf (now disused by shipping) and disused roll
on/roll off (RO/RO) loading ramp. Excellent fishing at times. Spectacular
wave break when strong Easterlies are blowing. A snippet of history…In
the 1920s when rock from the Nut blast was placed in the water to
reinforce the old breakwater, local newspaper, “The Chronicle”
waxed lyrical, claiming “A breakwater to last a hundred years”.
About a fortnight later, a ferocious Easterly storm all but destroyed
it! And even with the placement of hundreds of tonnes of engineer-designed
concrete blocks, you will observe that the end of the wharf is twisted
and buckled way out of level. During winter storms, this would have
been a miserable place to work. The wharfies of 70 or 80 years ago
didn’t have the good wet weather gear available today. Spare
a thought for them humping coal or potatoes in hundredweight sacks
(approx 50kg.). 5. The bluff face of the Nut looms above you at this point. In 1892 an attempt was made to blast rock from the vertical face, to be used to reinforce the breakwater. The day of the detonation drew a crowd who were disappointed to see nothing but a cloud of dust and smoke spurt from the drillings where literally tons of dynamite had been set. It was another twelve years before the rock finally fractured enough to shear off. Fortunately the fall occurred before work in the early morning, and no lives were lost. This story is told on the interpretive sign at the lookout directly above this point, up top of the Nut. Walk back to the Bay View Guesthouse and continue up Alexander Terrace. Alexander Terrace was a desirable address right from the first land releases by the Van Diemans Land Company in the 1840s, and many substantial houses were built along the Terrace. Some are still private homes, and others are B & Bs. Captain’s Cottage is about the oldest, built in 1835. Climbing up the Terrace, views open up across Tatlow’s Beach.
The Breakfast Bar. Serves breakfast from around 7.30am. Everything from toast and cereal to a full cooked breakfast. Excellent value. Be sure to tell Louise and John, your hosts, that you’re staying at the Bay View. Stanley Post Office, and attached “Stamps on Stanley” accommodation. Mick and Sue Gard run the Post Office the way a country town post office should be, as well as “Stamps of Stanley”, their B&B, right next door. Directly opposite the Post Office is the beginning of the Nut Walking Track. Allow ½ hr. from here to the top (unless you’re taking the chair lift), and about an hour to walk around the top. There are good interpretive boards, and you’ll enjoy the best views in the Northwest. (See more about the Nut on p8. ) Stanley Artworks. Unmistakeable “pumpkin yellow” store front with striped awnings. Formerly the De Jonge Store, now a splendid gallery. Working Directors Mark Bishop and Toby Muir-Wilson have been internationally acclaimed for their work. The gallery has been referred to as one of the best in Tasmania. Constantly changing exhibits. Have a look and see for yourself. Stanley Newsagency on the corner of Church and Victoria Streets. Also stocks a range of fruit and vegies, groceries and essentials. Turn left down Victoria St. then left across Main Road for the
Mini Mart. Groceries, deli, etc. 6. Cross Victoria Street to the Stanley Hotel. Dating back to 1847, the old pub has been significantly restored in recent years, and is a popular watering hole. Good value meals are available, and there’s a gift shop selling an extensive range of items. The historic convict-dug bottle shop cellar is worth a look, even if you’re not buying grog! It was originally called “The Emily Hotel” from 1849 to 1858, when it was then briefly licensed as the Freemasons Hotel. It became the Union Hotel in 1867. As the Bay View was called ‘The Stanley Hotel’ from 1888 until 1903, it was probably at that time that the Union changed names and became ‘The Stanley Hotel’. Across Church Street and Alexander Terrace at this point are a picturesque group of historic shops and the War Memorial.. Olde Chocolate Shoppe. If you have a sweet tooth, this is the place for you. Shelves of lollies in glass barrels, in a convincing replica of a turn-of-the-century sweet shop, plus a vast array of ice cream cone flavours to choose from. The Swingin’ Anchor Café adjoining is open for all day breakfast, morning and afternoon teas, and delicious lunches. The Stranded Whale Café. Renovated by a whale lover. Good, inexpensive food, and the open fire when the weather’s coolish make this a cosy place to eat. Lots of local whale memorabilia. Ellie’s “Just for You” Gift Shop. Beautiful gift items and souvenirs. Stanley Bait and Tackle shop. Remember, if you intend freshwater fishing, you need a license. The helpful staff at Ellie’s can help you with this. And if Bernard is in, he’s a fount of fishing knowledge. Hire fishing gear here. If Bernard’s not in, he’s probably running one of his tours … Wilderness and West Coast, Penguin or Platypus tours. Book at Ellie’s, the Swingin’ Anchor, or the Chocolate Shop - Bernie and Ellie run them all! Whilst you’re on this side of the road … The Town Hall. Art Deco building, begun in 1911, still used for community and cultural events. Has public toilets open during daylight hours. Two old banks at 12 and 14 Church St., the former
Commonwealth and ANZ banks. They are now both privately owned as
residences. They date from around the same time as the Town Hall,
although the National Bank of Tasmania bought the land in 1887,
and had a timber building there before 1905. 7. Across the road, the Craypot, Stanley’s Burger Bar. Stuart claims to have “the Best Burgers in the World”! Try one and judge for yourself. Great fish ‘n chips. Internet access if you are suffering withdrawal symptoms at being away from your computer. The Shingle Inn. Only open since Christmas ‘05, these are the new kids on the block, but well worth a visit. Stanley Olde Wares. A treasure-trove of interesting and unusual items, and collectables, including china, linen and toys. Paul and Louise are always happy to chat. (Closes during Winter) Touchwood Restaurant and Gallery. (Original cottage, ca. 1842) Great coffee and food. Ask Trevor and Kathy what their special of the day is. And the gallery is a treat for all the senses. Plough Inn (35 Church St.) Est. 1840. For many years, Stanley boasted four pubs. (Commercial, Plough, Stanley and Bay View.) The Plough Inn is now a private residence. Discovery Centre and Museum. A fascinating collection of memorabilia from Stanley’s history, maintained by an enthusiastic group of volunteers, some of whom are a living part of that history! Local genealogy information available. Note that the little building, the original Anglican Parish Hall, was unable to withstand the Bass Strait gales that howl up from the beach, and had to be braced externally with steel buttresses. $3 entry. Well worth it! Across from the Discovery Centre, Providore 24 (24 Church St). Beautifully presented. Some very interesting foods, local honey on the comb, body lotions and potions etc. Often fresh, home-baked bread. St.Paul’s Anglican Church. (1842.) Sit quietly inside and feel the peace within this beautiful wooden building, with its magnificent stained glass, or attend a Sunday service. If it’s closed, ask the staff at the Discovery Centre. They may have the key. Walk up Fletcher Street to St. James Presbyterian Church. (1854-5) Purchased in England as a prefabricated “kit” church for $290. Final cost on site and erected, about $800. Freight from UK to Launceston $100, Launceston to Stanley $25. Reportedly the oldest prefabricated building in Tasmania. Just a few steps further, at the bend in the road you’ll
see the memorial and headstone for Mary Bogue and her infant
son David, drowned just off the Nut in 1851 when their
small boat was capsized in a freak squall. Mary was a Tasmanian
aboriginal, married to David Bogue (Senior). More recent research
has shown such squalls are common just where Mary drowned. A tragic
combination of landscape and weather. 8. Opposite Pearce Street is the old Freemasons Lodge (1918), now “The Lodge”, tourist accommodation. Down Pearce St., on the corner of Pearce and Cripps Sts. is the old Rectory (1843). Two hundred metres down Pearce Street on your left, is the old Stanley School. Now a private residence. Back up on Church Street, diagonally across from the Discovery Centre and the Anglican Church is the old Commercial Hotel. The building was first built by the VDL Company in 1842, as accommodation. In 1849, it was licensed as an hotel. Now a private residence. Turn right into Marshall St. Hanlon House, the old Catholic manse.
(1904) Now a Drive up Browns Road to the Nut Rock Café and the
Nut Chair Lift. Watch for tour buses coming down! No visit
to Stanley is complete without going up the Nut. The walk is steep,
but well paved and has handrails. Or there’s the chair lift
for around $10 a person return. The walk around the top takes about
an hour. (Done clockwise, it’s an easier walk.) Fantastic
views of the Bass Strait islands and Stanley. Interesting interpretive
boards. Take the camera and plenty of film. Ice cream, souvenirs,
and cool drinks at the Café for a well-earned break after
the trek. Toilets at the café. Godfreys Beach, just down from the cemetery. Sometimes good surf. Often rips, so be sure to exercise caution when swimming. Spotless sandy beach with rocky headlands and rock pools. Cold water open air showers. Free electric barbecues. Playground, with swings, slides etc. Public toilets. Bernie Atkins, the town’s Penguin Protection Ranger conducts Penguin tours around the beach most evenings around dark. He and some of the local kids built stone penguin rookeries in the National Park, so when you do his tour, you’re certain to see penguins coming across the beach to roost. If you stand real still, they’ll walk within inches of you. (Over a guest’s foot, once!) Behind the sand dunes is Stanley’s sewage treatment plant!
(Just in case you were wondering what was in the big ponds) 9. Your bonus guide to driving around Stanley and District. Drive up to Highfield on the headland beyond Godfrey’s Beach. Historic HQ of the VDL Company. Small entry fee to aid ongoing restoration. Evening “ghost” tours by appointment. The old derelict convict barracks at the ‘elbow” at the top of the road make a great spot for photos. Drive on around Green Hills Road for the Old Cable Station, once the entry for the telecommunications cable across Bass Straight. Now a private guesthouse and restaurant. Wood-fired oven. Bookings advisable. Sadly, closed during Winter. Where the road to the Cable Station turns abruptly right a private road continues straight ahead to the Abalone Farm, an aquaculture venture. (Not open to the public) The beach at the bend in the road is a favourite spot for floundering by torchlight after dark. Black swans often congregate here in large numbers. Retrace up to Green Hills road and turn right for the Green Hills lookout, an elevated viewing platform. Great for photos on a clear day. Continue around the scenic drive and down Dovecote Road. The Dovecote Motel was originally the homestead for Dovecote Farm. The restaurant is very popular, so again, bookings are advisable. Turn right at the bottom of Dovecote Rd. back onto the Main Road. On the Main Road out of Stanley, about 2km out of town, Trethewie’s Lookout is great for afternoon photos of Stanley and the Nut, when they are in full sun. On top of the Green Hills, behind the lookout is the old Trethewie home and farm of about 330 acres. Carry on about another km out of town to East Inlet on your left. Beautiful safe swimming beach. Toilets and open air showers. East Inlet is a popular spot to spear flounder at night. Often good flathead fishing off the beach. Access to West Inlet is about 1km. further out of town on the right side. About 500m down an unmarked dirt track. Can be sloppy for 2WD vehicles after rain. Rocky beach, often good fishing. Stanley Roadhouse is at the intersection of Main Road and the Bass Hwy. This is the only fuel supply in Stanley. Fishing tackle and Roadhouse food. Meat and seafood pies cooked right there in the kitchen. Wild Wood Gallery. All the way back to the turn-off
at Bass Highway. Straight across up the Forest Road about a km on
the right. Timber gifts, souvenirs, or slabs and turning blanks,
etc. Many unusual Tassie timbers. 10. Driving East (toward Burnie) For more timber, Laurie Davis’ Timber Mill. Take the Bass Highway heading toward Burnie. About four or five km turn right down Mawbanna/ Dip Falls turnoff. The mill is a hundred metres on your right. Blackwood, Macrocarpa and Celery Top slabs and natural edge timber. Also display of turned artefacts. Laurie has milled in New Guinea, Queensland and Tassie, and is a wealth of information. Dip Falls and the Big Tree. Carry on down Mawbanna Road about 25 km. and you’ll see Dip Falls signposted. Spectacular falls over hexagonal basalt columns. Particularly impressive after significant rain. Wheelchair access to the top of the falls. Moderately steep walking track to the bottom of the falls. Toilets and free BBQ’s at the parking lot. The Big Tree is a good 2 km further on, although signposted as “1 km”, so driving is a good idea, unless you fancy the longer walk. The Big Tree is an incredible sight, and only a very short level walk from the parking lot. Wheelchair and stroller friendly. Whilst you’re there, look at the other Big Tree that has fallen and has a viewing platform across it, giving some idea of the size of these real “giants of the forest”. Rocky Cape, about 15 mins drive toward Burnie, is a National Park, and you need a permit to “visit” there. That said, you are allowed to drive in and look around, without a permit, as long as your car is not parked and unattended. Dirt roads. Shack settlement of around 30 shacks. Spectacular rocky headland views and ecosystem. Aboriginal cave shelter site. BBQ and toilets. No water. Tiny lighthouse up a steepish track. Excellent scuba and snorkel diving, said to rival the Barrier Reef for its species diversity and reef formations. Wreck site of the Southern Cross (lost 1889) is a popular dive site. Boat Harbour. About ½ hour drive toward
Burnie from Stanley, Boat Harbour has a beautiful beach. Only five
minutes off the highway, it has two motels, a couple of Lobster Haven at Flowerdale. Just past Boat Harbour, heading back toward Burnie, look for the signs pointing right to Lobster Haven. Don and Margaret Bramich’s lobster ponds are one of the very few places in the world you can see and handle (carefully!) giant Tasmanian freshwater lobsters, Astacopsis gouldi. Unique to Tasmania’s North, they are now a totally protected species. Refreshments and light lunches available. Table Cape. Take the scenic route turnoff to Wynyard.
The road curls around the top of the cliffs with spectacular views
of Bass Strait. In October, the tulip fields are truly amazing in
their sheer size and colour. Drive right up to the foot of the lighthouse.
Interesting beach walks. Alpaca farm where the animals can often
be seen grazing 11. Driving West Seven Mile Beach. Turn right onto Bass Hwy. at the Turnoff. Look for Seven Mile Beach sign on your right. About 2 km of all-weather dirt road. Parking and interpretive boards at the beach. Only foot and 4WD access to beach. Just open the gate (and close it behind you). Good fishing from the beach, or from beach-launched boats. Locals often camp just inside the entry to the inlet on the sheltered inner beach. When the tide is down, drive your 4WD onto the beach (as above), turn right toward the Nut and go about 3 km to the entry to West Inlet. Round the point and pick your spot along the safe inner beach. No facilities or water. Take everything you need (and remember to take all rubbish etc. away with you). Lake Mikany. Water supply for Stanley. Stocked with trout. Fishing allowed. Freshwater fishing licences are available from Bernie’s Bait & Tackle. Take Back Line Road on your left, about 5 km along the road to Smithton. Immediately fork right into Reservoir Road. Small, steep dirt ramp for dinghies. No internal combustion engines allowed. Electric trolling, oars, or sail only. Absolutely no facilities at all at the dam. Allendale Gardens. Loraine and Max Cross have poured almost three decades of love into these gardens. Six acres of landscaped gardens invite an easy stroll around the creek, and 65 acres of rainforest nurtures a longer walk. Don’t miss the Devonshire tea with Max’s homemade jam. Take the Irishtown turnoff at Gunns Timbers, just before Smithton. About 12 km along look for Blanche Road on the right. Well signposted. About 25 minutes drive from Stanley. Smithton. Shopping centre for Circular Head. 22 km from Stanley. Supermarkets, pharmacies, hairdressers, post office, ATMs. Public toilets are adjacent to the Council Chambers. Others behind the Courthouse/Library complex, and behind the IGA Supermarket, in the parking lot. Baby change facilities at the Rural Health Offices, next to the Pharmacy on Emmett St. Medical centre with emergency after-hours staffing in King Street, opposite Marthicks welding works. Top up fuel at Stanley or Smithton before heading off to Dismal Swamp. There are no more petrol stations beyond Smithton. Dismal Swamp is about an hour’s drive from Stanley. Head toward Smithton, then turn left just before Armour Hardware and follow the signs. Quiet drive through productive dairy country. Dismal Swamp. Forestry Tasmania have opened up
access to a seldom seen geological feature, a Blackwood sinkhole.
The café, gift shop and interpretive centre are at the top,
and walkways or a high-speed slide take you down to the swamp floor.
Home to rare burrowing crayfish (You can’t see them live.
Static display only ) The walkways are wheelchair and stroller friendly,
or take the buggy ride. Around $20 a head admission. 12.
Arthur River Cruises, Marrawah. These take you up into the unspoiled wilderness. Book by phone in advance as these tours are very popular. The guides are both passionate and knowledgeable about the Wilderness. A unique insight into North Western Tasmania. Woolnorth Pastoral and Wind farm. Check with the office in Smithton for times of tours, as these change with the seasons. About 55 minutes from Stanley. The only way to see the towers up close is on a tour, as there is no public access. Montagu Harbour. Remains of the old 150-year-old harbour that was once Montagu’s only connection with the outside world. Small boat ramp. Good fishing. Good interpretive boards. Camping sites. Drive out of Smithton on the Montagu road, over the Duck River, past the Bridge Hotel. Look for Old Port Rod on your right as you enter Montagu. About 45 minute drive from Stanley. Exercise care in or on the water here, as the channels can develop serious rips and cross currents. Local advice is valuable.
Bay View Guesthouse 16 – 20 Alexander Terrace Stanley 7331 Ph: (03) 6458 1445 email denisb@bayviewguesthouse.com visit our website at www.bayviewguesthouse.com Comfort, Charm & Affordability. © 2006 D & C Backhouse 13. Weekend Markets Tour This is pretty much a full day out. Penguin Markets open all weekend, every weekend through summer, and Sundays during winter. Wynyard boot sale market opens on the first Sunday of each month. Leave from the Bay View Guesthouse, and drive along the main road, back to “The Turnoff” from the Bass Hwy. Turn Left, toward Wynyard and Burnie. Drive for about a half-hour, and you’ll see signs for Boat Harbour pointing Left. Take the time to detour for ten minutes, as Boat Harbour is just the prettiest little beach along the coast! Jolly Rogers, right on the beach, is a super stop for morning tea. Take a few minutes to walk the beach, too. The rock formations at the Western end are well worth a look … and a great photo opportunity! Back up to the Bass Hwy. And Left again. Take the scenic route around Table Cape, only about fifteen minutes further on. October is Tulip Festival month, when the fields are a blaze of colour. If you’ve time, the lighthouse is a must-see, and the low-tide walks along Fossil Bluff (there ARE fossils in abundance!) are a unique experience. The views of Bass Strait from around the Cape are awesome. As you complete the scenic route, you’ll come into Wynyard “by the back door” Another cute little town. Fish ‘n chips on the wharf are excellent, especially in the Origami wrapping! If you are fortunate, you may catch a glimpse of “Winnie”, Wynyard’s resident seal. Some while ago, she bit some dopey fisherman who was cleaning fish right in front of her, and so Parks and Wildlife sedated her, and amid public outcry removed her to a “distant and secret location”. Within a few weeks, Winnie was back, begging for fish right outside the fish ‘n chip shop … And so far, nobody’s dared move her again!
14. The Boot Sale often has real bargains. You never know what will turn up there! Look on the left as you drive out of Wynyard. It’s on the riverbank, just past the swimming pool. Back on the road, Burnie, another fifteen minutes on, is the major shopping centre for the North-West. But not our destination for today. By-pass Burnie, and follow the signs to Penguin. Take the Sulphur Creek turn at the roundabout, and do the (scenic) coast road into Penguin. The Markets are up Arnold Street, more-or-less behind the pub, in the main Street, but you can’t mistake the foot traffic. Entry’s free, but you’ll have to search around for parking. There is a pay-to-park lot in the street down beside the pub, but it’s often full. Worth a try though. It’s run by volunteers for charity, so please be generous. At the markets, there’s live music and other entertainers. Great organic fruit and vegies. Deli., Butcher, wine sales and all the stalls you expect to find at a Country Market. Great coffee and nibblies. There’s a lunch bar at the Markets with a variety of ethnic foods, or “Wild” Café back on Main Street has gotten rave reviews in the press! The trip back to Stanley is about an hour and a quarter non-stop. 1118 |
| |
BVG |
History of |
Complimentary
Guide |
What our Guests |
Contact |