TOP TOURISM TOWN
A SEASIDE town with a very distinguishing natural landmark has taken out the readers’ choice award in the search for Tassie’s Top Tourism Town.
Tourism and business leaders hope the people who rated Stanley so highly are now encouraged to get in their cars or on buses and revisit the beautiful town under its famous Nut.
Stanley’s Nut chairlift reopens on September 3 and the region’s other tourism attractions, cafes and pubs need Tasmanians to fill the void while the state waits for its borders to be reopened to interstate and international visitors.
“We are over the moon and want to thank everybody who voted for us. Now is the time to come back and rediscover what makes Stanley so special,” Circular Head tourism manager Kim Bailey said.
The North-West town also picked up the silver medal in the judges’ award category.
Circular Head Tourism Association president Clint Walker said it was wonderful to hear that Stanley was held in such high regard by Mercury readers.
“We are seeing a decent amount of visitor activity on the weekends, but are still pretty quiet midweek,” Mr Walker said.
“There is plenty of potential for increased visitation and it would be wonderful if everyone who voted for us planned another trip before Christmas, when the borders are expected to reopen.
“We had a really good July school holiday period but there are four weeks until the September school break so although it is winter, now is a perfect time to come to Stanley.”
Visitors can climb or take the chairlift up the Nut, check out the working port, dine on fresh seafood, visit historic Highfield House, explore nearby Dip Falls and the Tarkine or travel further into the region to places such as Smithton and Cape Grim. helen.kempton@news.com.au
HELEN KEMPTON
TASMANIA’S top tourism towns are hoping the celebration of what they have to offer will convert to a domestic tourism boost as the state waits for its borders to reopen.
Voting in the Spirit of Tasmania search for Tassie’s first Top Tourism Town has concluded, with judges impressed by all 11 finalists.
St Helens, on the East Coast, won the gold award, Stanley in the North-West
BREAK O’DAY MAYOR MICK TUCKER
took out silver and Tasmania’s town of murals, Sheffield, took out bronze.
Stanley also won the Reader’s Choice category, as voted on www.themercury.com.au
“The recognition this win will bring should make us go off like a frog in a sock,” Break O’Day Mayor Mick Tucker, said of St Helens’ honour.
Tourism Industry Council Tasmania CEO Luke Martin said a lot of effort had been put in by the towns which entered and the coverage received would prove invaluable.
“St Helens has gone to another level as a destination in its own right with its investment in mountain biking and it is a fitting result for a town that has focused its energy and investment on
Martin said.
“Sheffield and Stanley are the most gorgeous two towns that seem to have stepped out of story books. They are towns that have embraced tourism and are proud of what they represent.”
Cr Tucker said St Helens and the broader municipality would be on a high on hearing the news it had been named Tassie’s Top Tourism Town.
St Helens entry was a collaboration between the Break tourism,”
Mr