What started as a gentile climb had fast turned into the kind of steep ascent that turns your legs to jelly.

Perched in the left-hand corner of Tasmania, Stanley is one of the state's prettiest towns. 

Here, colonial cottages cling to the strip of land between the Nut and the water's edge.

There's no escaping the dominating presence of the Nut, an immense flat topped volcanic plug that rises 150 metres up from the water's edge.

Stanley rests in its shadow, and in the days we spent exploring, you'd never quite escape its presence.

A trip up the Nut is mandatory, and the views spectacular, but there's more to Stanley to warrant visiting this town.

Whisky and gin lovers will adore the Angel's Share, a haven packed full of bottle of Tasmania's finest spirits. 

Consider calling in for a tasting while out on an unmissable self-guided Heritage Walk around town.

Pick up a map from the Information Centre and spend an afternoon delving into the town's history, architecture and culture.

Wandering its streets it's easy to see how Stanley has become the backdrop for movies and television shows in recent years. 

The world may have changed but here something of a Tasmania of the past remains.