It’s a brisk afternoon, fierce wind lashing against the docks as a bright red boat cruises in, one tonne heavier than when it set off a week earlier.

That tonne is the result of long, wet and wild days and nights out at sea for Mark Hursey, his sons Steven and Grant and the crew all working to supply their seafood restaurant and takeaway that’s become a Tasmanian institution.

Watching the Tasmanian rock lobster being offloaded, weighed and packed into a truck before being driven down the street to the restaurant, you get a whole new appreciation for the local producers who work hard to put food on our plates.

While Stanley is a very hardworking fishing port behind the scenes, for the casual guest it’s the opposite.

The northwest Tasmanian town is somewhere you can slow down, breathe in some crisp ocean air and most excitingly, access some of the best and freshest local produce on the planet.

There’s also a real sense of ‘love thy neighbour’ here, and it’s evident in the partnership between Hursey Seafoods and the Ship Inn’s Kerry Houston, who quite literally dug up the Hursey family’s past and put it proudly on display in their recent revamp.

“With (the Hurseys’ redesign) we really leaned in to their family history and just knew there’d be so many treasures hidden in their shed … and we were right,” she said.

The restaurant’s new modern decor and paintwork complements pieces from the family’s fishing history, like timeworn wooden oars, old portholes, ship compasses and old fishing charts.

While a lot looks different here, what hasn’t changed is just how tasty the seafood is — from the famous crayfish to Tarkine oysters, octopus and scallops to wild abalone and striped trumpeter.

The Southern rock lobster — I chose mornay — is wonderfully fresh and delicious, and just like most Tassie establishments, local ingredients and a local wine list is king.

Just up the road from Hurseys, The Ship Inn has been a real labour of love for Kerry and husband Alastair.

The meticulous attention to detail is everywhere, with each of the suites having a distinct theme with a unique story to tell.

I stayed in the Wildwave suite on the first floor, immediately cosy as soon as you opened the door to soft furnishings with a window overlooking the gusty seas and sand below.

2022 was a stellar year for the Houstons, winning a gold and a silver in the Tasmanian Tourism Awards, which then translated to a silver at a national level in the Australian Tourism Awards, as well as being named the regional accommodation venue of the year in the Tasmanian Hospitality Awards for Excellence.

“This place went from no staff to 10 and they’re all locals, they’re all female and we’ve put some of them through vocational training,” Kerry said.

The popular inn feels like staying with family with a fancy upstairs guest room, with the added bonus of breakfast provisions in the in-suite kitchen and plenty of local knowledge to help you explore the town.

As for what’s next, Kerry hopes to renovate and open up a “secret room” nestled into the upper level of the guest lounge and convert it into a library where guests can enjoy a book with a view of Stanley’s famous landmark, The Nut.

Three years on from the very first Covid lockdown, Kerry says Tassie’s northwest is excited to be back in business.

“The accommodation in particular has bounced back well, as have the cafes and restaurants but it would be nice to see some new restaurants coming in filling the vacancies,” she said.

THE DETAILS

For stays from May 1 until August 31, Ship Inn Stanley is offering an Off Season offer: Guests who book direct via www.shipinnstanley.com.au can choose a ‘stay three, pay two special’, as well as a complimentary pair of snuggly mustard-coloured socks.

Each stay comes with daily breakfast provisions of fresh baked bread, Tasmanian jams and leatherwood honey, toasted muesli, rhubarb compote, poached apple, Greek yoghurt, milk, juice, and a selection of artisan Tasmanian teas and coffee pods. Located at 16 Alexander Terrace.

Hursey Seafoods is located a few doors down at 2 Alexander Terrace, open 7 days for lunch and dinner.