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View of the Stanley Nut while standing on the sand at Godfreys beach.
The Nut at Stanley (photograph: Craig Vertigan)

The Nut State Reserve

Find out more

FeaturesExpand/Collapse

  • Access friendly
  • Cafe
  • Parking
  • Picnic facilities
  • Short walk
  • Toilets

ContactExpand/Collapse

  • Stanley Field Centre
    1 Browns Road
    Stanley, TAS, 7330
    Postal: PO Box 715
    Stanley TAS 7330
    Phone: 03 6458 1480

About

​The striking geological formation of The Nut in Stanley rises from Bass Strait and towers over the historic town in North-West Tasmania.

This iconic Tasmanian site is the core of a long-extinct volcano and its significance is protected as part of The Nut State Reserve. It is an integral part of the life and landscape of Stanley, and offers outstanding views over the town, across Bass Strait and towards Rocky Cape ​National Park.

This picturesque reserve is one of Stanley’s key attractions and is the ideal place for scenic viewing, walking, picnicking and nature study. Take the Zig Zag track to the summit of The Nut, or hop aboard the chairlift and enjoy the panoramic views. Atop the summit, explore the plateau on foot via the Nut Summit Circuit walk.

The Nut State Reserve protects a nationally endangered straw daisy and provides an important breeding site for short-tailed shearwaters, peregrine falcons, Australian kestrels and little penguins. It also protects significant Tasmanian Aboriginal and historic sites, which are of deep significance to the Aboriginal community, both present and past.

The area known as The Nut was called Circular Head by British explorers George Bass and Matthew Flinders in 1798. There is much speculation about the origins of the snappier nomenclature, The Nut. Some say it is a shortened version of its Aboriginal name, Moo-Nut-Re-Ker. Others say the side of the massif was “a hard nut to crack” when it refused to yield to explosives during construction of a breakwater. Regardless, it is an integral part of the life and landscape of Stanley, the historic town lying at its foot. 

The Nut stands at 143 metres and the summit can be reached by walking track or chairlift. The track to plateau is short and steep. 

The Nut Summit Circuit​ is a 2.7 km circuit track around the plateau is more moderate and takes about an hour to complete. The views of the rich agricultural hinterland, long expanse of rocky coastline and Bass Strait are breathtaking. Bring binoculars for birdwatching and to zoom in on Highfield Historic Site to the west. 

Godfrey’s Beach, located north-west of the township, contains a purpose built platform illuminated with red lighting, allowing visitors to learn about and watch the little penguins (Eudyptula minor) come ashore to their burrows at night. 

A 1.2m wide concrete pathway links ​​​Godfrey’s Beach to The Nut carpark. This 440m long track has seating along it to allow visitors to sit and enjoy the view over Godfreys Beach. 

A 51m all-access track links The Nut carpark to the sandstone obelisk at the base of the Zig Zag Track up The Nut.

There are all access toilets and a café at The Nut car park. Access to the picnic area with the electric barbeques​ and accessible toilet at Kings Park is off Green Hills R​oad.

​The Nut is classified as a State Geological Monument by the Geological Society of Australia ensuring this basalt sentinel protruding from an otherwise flat landscape attracts a curious audience.

The Nut State Reserve is virtually treeless except for remnant coastal white gum woodland which survives on steep scarps and cliff ledges. Trees were planted in the 1980s and more recently by the Stanley Peninsula Land and Coastcare Group. 

The reserve is valuable as a breeding site for thousands of short-tailed shearwaters, Australian kestrels, peregrine falcons and little penguins, who nest on the lower scree slopes on the seaward side of the reserve. 

The critically endangered orange-bellied parrot uses it as a staging point during its migration between Tasmania and Victoria each year. Two threatened snail species- the Stanley and Keeled snail - occur in the reserve. 

The Australian kestrel has traditionally bred on the western face of The Nut and the per​eg​rine falcon breeds on the northern and eastern cliffs. 

All three species of Tasmanian land snakes have been recorded in the area. Native mammals seen on the summit and the slopes of the reserve include the pademelon the Tasmanian devil, the eastern​ barred bandicoot​ the brushtail possum and th​e ringtail possum.

Rehabilitation and care for this site has been ongoing since 1980 when trees were planted by the local Stanley Landcare group. In recent years, maintenance of The Nut has continued though the work of weed contractors and the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service team.

For more information on our wildlife please see Tasmania's wildlife.

Visit our caring for wildlife page for more information on interacting with and protecting our native animals.

The Nut State Reserve protects significant Tasmanian Aboriginal and historic heritage sites.

Tasmanian Aboriginal people began to occupy the region around The Nut more than 8 ​000 years ago. The area provided plentiful and varied foods from the sea and the land.

Both the Nut and its Aboriginal sites are deeply significant to the Aboriginal community. 

The sites are mainly in the form of middens, quarries and artefact scatters. Stone arrangements can be seen along the coastline of the reserve. 

The Nut was part of the original 1825 Van Diemen’s Land Company land grant. It was also the site of the first microwave telecommunications experiments between Victoria and Tasmania and the first television transmission to Tasmania, bringing pictures of the 1956 Olympic Games.

Buy a map from TasMap

​​The Nut State Reserve is at Stanley approximately 80km west of Burnie and 22km east of Smithton. Take the Bass Highway (A2) and turn on to the B21. ​

Where possible, please avoid driving in our reserves at night. You are sharing the roads with our native wildlife, so take it slow and watch out for animals on the road.

All access ​​Toilets and café are located at the car park. 

Picnic tables, electric barbecues, and all access toilets are in Kings Pack, Godfrey Beach adjacent to nearby historic cemetery. 

​The chairlift is privately operated and runs seven days a week. Closure dates vary from late May to early September. ​ More information can be found at The Nut Chairlift website​ or phone 03 6458 1286.


More information

​Find out other essential information for visiting Tasmania's parks and reserves on our Know Before You Go web page.

The Zig Zag Track to the summit of The Nut is very steep and not suitable for most mobility-impaired people. A 15 minute return chairlift ride leads to spectacular views to and from the summit that may make this attraction accessible for some visitors. Enquiries phone 03 6458 1286 or visit The Nut Chairlift website​.

There is a picnic area with all-access toilets and electric barbeques at Kings Park, off Green Hills road.

A 440m long ramped pathway leads from Godfrey’s Beach to The Nut car park linking up to an all-access track links The Nut carpark to the sandstone obelisk at the base of the Zig Zag Track up The Nut.

The public all-access toilets are located beside the café/souvenir shop in front of The Nut carpark. 

Experiences in The Nut State Reserve

1 hour, 2.7km circuit, Grade 3

The Nut is a 143 metre high massif, rising from Bass Strait, that towers above the picturesque town of Stanley. You can reach the top by either walking track or chairlift.

The Nut State Reserve

The Nut Summit Circuit

The Nut is a 143 metre high massif, rising from Bass Strait, that towers above the picturesque town of Stanley. You can reach the top by either walking track or chairlift.

1 hour, 2.7km circuit, Grade 3
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