A luxury villa with an epic view: the perfect family base for exploring Stanley and Tassie’s North-West
“This house is fancy,” my eight-year-old exclaimed, eyes wide as we stepped inside the luxury two-storey Stanley villa that would be our home for two nights. “Is this how millionaires live?”
TasWeekend
Don't miss out on the headlines from TasWeekend. Followed categories will be added to My News.
‘This house is fancy,” my eight-year-old exclaimed, eyes wide as we stepped inside the luxury two-storey villa that would be our home for the next two nights.
“Is this how millionaires live?”
Maybe it was the spacious living areas, well-appointed kitchen and modern lines of the newly-built property that had made such a favourable first impression.
Maybe it was the Tasmanian timber furniture, the welcoming lounge with cosy furnishings, or the giant flatscreen TV on the wall.
Or maybe it was our sweeping view of The Nut, the picturesque landmark that the North-West township of Stanley is famous for.
Whatever it was, I can say with confidence that this spacious and sleek property – and its captivating and ever-changing view – made quite the impression on all four of us.
It had been more than five years since our previous family visit to Stanley – on an incredibly windy day – when we decided against taking the chairlift up The Nut, as my boys (now 10 and 8) were still quite young and were not enjoying the wild weather.
However, for this trip, they were older and far more adventurous – and Rose’s Villa proved to be the perfect base for us to properly explore the scenic and historic fishing village.
Not only did we enjoy the chairlift – walking the 2km loop track around the top of the iconic and ancient volcanic plug that rises 143m above the ocean and has helped cement Stanley as a tourist hotspot – but we also watched penguins waddle ashore at dusk, from the viewing platform at the end of Godfreys Beach, and walked the sandy shores of Tatlows Beach and hunted for crabs under rocks at low tide.
During our unhurried stay we also sat on the beach and dined on a picnic of delicious takewaway fish and chips from Hursey Seafoods as the sun set – streaking the sky in vibrant shades of pink, purple and orange (a toy library at the entrance to Godfreys Beach ensured the boys had plenty of balls and shovels to entertain themselves).
We also enjoyed browsing shops in the historic town’s main street (Providore 24, with its giftwares and assortment of lollies and chocolates was undoubtedly the boys’ favourite), ate more fish and chips – this time from Stanley Seafood in the town’s centre – and took silly family selfies from the scenic lookout.
But the boys were equally happy relaxing back in our villa, where we all appreciated the space – the boys shared a room downstairs, complete with their own TV, full bathroom, walk-in robe and outdoor patio area with a view.
Meanwhile my husband and I could enjoy peace and quiet upstairs – a master bedroom with a king bed and expansive views of The Nut and the Stanley township, a spacious ensuite bathroom and walk-in robe, a comfy and light-filled living area (again, with that impressive sweeping view) and a full kitchen complete with a coffee machine.
One of the things I appreciated about this property was the wealth of space and convenience – the carport allowed us to park right at the door (there’s also a downstairs garage that guests can use), the kitchen had everything we needed, all rooms had ample space and there were plenty of cupboards to put luggage and food away, allowing guests to enjoy an uncluttered stay.
Even the well-equipped laundry was hidden away so you didn’t have to think about housework unless you wanted to.
Rose’s Villa took a year to build and opened to guests in November last year. Operated by Stanley Accommodation Group – which also operates Stanley Seaview Inn, Horizon Deluxe Apartments, Rosebank Cottages and Hanlon Guest House – Rose’s Villa caters perfectly for families of four or two couples travelling together (the downstairs bedroom can be configured as a king bed or two singles).
Although it has only been open for about six months, I’m told the majority of the property’s guests have so far hailed from the eastern half of Tasmania, from interstate, and from overseas, primarily tourists from China.
There are plans to build three more villas alongside Rose’s Villa, with all properties able to take in the unobstructed views that the hillside position offers.
It’s not hard to see why this location was chosen for Rose’s Villa – I loved sitting quietly with a cup of tea, admiring the view from our upstairs balcony. It was amazing how different The Nut – and the surrounding township and beaches – looked at different times of the day and as different weather patterns rolled in, from moody grey skies and cloud shrouding The Nut to brilliant cloud-free blue skies and the impressive dances of bold colour visible from opposite ends of the property at sunrise and sunset.
It’s certainly a million-dollar view. But, for us, Rose’s Villa was also an ideal base for creating a bunch of new holiday memories – and that’s priceless.
The author was a guest of Rose’s Villa
MAKE A NOTE
Rose’s Villa is located at Stanley, in Tasmania’s North-West, about 400km from Hobart (a 4-hour and 45 minute drive). The spacious two-storey, two-bedroom luxury home is ideal for families or four, or two couples, with each bedroom having its own bathroom, walk-in robe and outdoor area with stunning views of The Nut. Prices start from $400 per night. There’s also an option to add breakfast inclusions (including freshly-baked bread, eggs, bacon, muesli, yoghurt and juice) for an additional fee. rosesvilla.com.au
Seafood institution carves up a stunning ceremonial feast
Four-course, hook-to-plate dinner is a toast to sustainable fishing and winemaking, as well as our Tasmanian way of life – all to coincide with a celebration of the Off Season – writes Alix Davis
The man who revived Tassie’s winter
Twenty years ago, Neil Cameron launched a festival to enliven Tassie’s winter. He never imagined just how much Festival of Voices would change his life and transform the state’s cultural landscape