Exploring the Shores of Ship Inn Stanley
Yesterday, we finally reached a corner of Tasmania that we had yet traveled; a town called Stanley on the north-west coast — home to the boutique stay, Ship Inn Stanley.
Having previously written about its transformation story for work, I felt as though I already knew a lot about Ship Inn, even before arriving. But it wasn’t until I found myself standing in front of the striking, mustard-coloured structure, that I truly could grasp its beguiling beauty.
Originally built in 1849, it’s not surprising to learn that this historic building comes with rich history; for the most part, trading as a seaside inn for 150 years, before a local family turned it into their private home, and now, returning back to its roots as an inn, befitting modern travelers.
With a range of rooms, suites, and apartments, each presenting contemporary comforts and curated details, though Ship Inn has been given a new lease of life, its very heartbeat has been borrowed from the past, thanks to its proud owners honouring all of its previous personas.
For the next two nights, we’ll be calling the Van Diemen’s Apartment home, where large, open living spaces feature big windows, spilling in so much natural light, and framing sweeping views of the nearby ocean and beyond.
It’s truly unbelievable the amount of love and detail that has gone into this entire place; from the varying private accommodation offerings, to the shared spaces, like the garden and the guest lounge.
It just goes to show the magic that can take place when age-old buildings and imaginative folks are lucky enough to find each other, with the stars certainly aligning when it came to Ship Inn Stanley.
Though it was Ship Inn Stanley that initially drew us to this town, what I didn't expect was for Stanley to pull me in with a charm of its own.
During a 3-hour drive north from Strahan, we were met by roads that tunneled through towering, encroaching forests. It was raining for most of the drive, but by happenstance, as we arrived in town, the sun beamed through the clouds, and the crystal blue waters of the bay were on full display.
It's the epitome of beautiful things coming in small packages. The main street is dripped in old-world charm; the beaches stretch out from either side of town, always seemingly in sight; and then, of course, there's the looming monolith, The Nut, keeping watch from above, offering sweeping views from its summit.
So here's my tip for any future Tasmanian roadtrip planners, drop a pin on this seaside hamlet, and you'll surely be as pleasantly surprised.
