Devonport to Stanley.

Up at 5am after a VERY rough crossing. Disembarkation was from 6.30. Announcements called passengers according to the deck their car was on. After being the third car on, we were the second last off…

Our destination for breakfast was Penguin. We arrived just before 8 and the bakery looked like a good proposition.

During brekky we decided that Guide Falls at Ridgley would be a nice little detour on our way to Stanley. They are a twenty minute drive from Burnie with a ten minute walk to the falls. It was certainly worth it.

Arrived in Stanley about 11.00am. As 2.00 pm was the earliest we could check in to our accommodation, we decided on a chairlift ride to the top of The Nut and then lunch. The chair lift was closed for maintenance (one of the cables was dodgy!) and the walk to the top looked far too difficult.

After lunch at the Touchwood cafe (scallop pies are the speciality of Stanley) and a new scarf for Janette from their gift shop, we checked into our B&B, the Ark. Weather truly bleak so we spent time in our lovely warm rooms with sea views sorting and resting up before going to dinner at Hursey Seafoods.

Well … we headed off with great expectations of a crayfish/seafood dinner with a table by the window looking out to a sea view. Booked early, for 6.00pm and were surprised at how busy it was at that early time. Oh dear, Saputo were hosting a dinner for the local dairy farmers and our booking seems to have disappeared in the process.

Young staff handled it very well and we were well looked after - albeit in a makeshift private dining room. We were glad we were away from the noisy main restaurant. Seafood platters were great and the coffee brulee sensational. Even better was the fact that (probably due to some big hints from Trish and the presentation of the email booking confirmation) the bottle of Joseph Chromy Pinot Gris was on the house!Read more