The "Uluru of the Sea" — Tasmania, a Dreamlike and Secluded Island of Desolation and Silence

Text and Photos /Xiao Sheng

The Nut, a 152-meter-high volcanic rock formation rising abruptly from the sea, bears a striking resemblance at first glance to Australia’s famous red rock Uluru. As a result, some also call Tasmania’s The Nut the "Uluru of the Sea."

The Nut is located in Stanley, a small town in northern Tasmania, Australia. Stanley is a village with a population of less than 1,000. This otherwise ordinary little fishing village features peculiar volcanic rocks standing within it, which has attracted travelers to visit. Originally, I had planned to go to Uluru to explore the giant red rock, but I later decided to travel in the South Pacific and had to give up on that plan. That’s why I eventually came to Stanley to see this spectacular "Uluru of the Sea." Although the size of this massive rock can’t compare at all to the real Uluru.

It only takes 20 minutes to climb up this 152-meter-high volcanic rock, but for those who are mobility-impaired or unable to climb, you can take a cable car for a small fee. However, during our ascent and descent, we saw quite a few people hiking up the mountain, but no one taking the cable car. Twenty minutes of climbing isn’t really that long, and treating this hike as a bit of exercise isn’t a bad idea.

The Nut volcanic rock is actually 13 million years old, and the towering rock offers an excellent vantage point from which to overlook the small fishing village of Stanley and the entire bay. It’s not hard to see that Stanley is truly a small village, with a population of just 600 people.

Enjoying the views of Stanley and the bay from different angles, Tasmania’s coastline is really very clean, with water so clear it’s almost crystalline. It’s just a pity that the sky was a bit too cloudy that day and it seemed to be low tide — otherwise, this bay would have looked even more stunning.

After reaching the summit, you’ll find yourself in The Nut Conservation Area. There’s a walking trail in the reserve that circles the entire "Uluru of the Sea," and it’s only 2 kilometers to walk all the way around The Nut. Along the way, you might also make some unexpected discoveries.

Another angle to admire the scenery of the bay and the harbor. The gradient blue waters of the sea have always been what captivates me the most. Although it’s not the most beautiful coast I’ve seen, it’s still more than enough to soothe the soul. And Stanley also has another specialty — this fishing village is famous for its lobster fishing. Although I’ve never been a big fan of lobster, my friends absolutely love it, and that’s one of the reasons that drew us here.

While walking along the mountain path, we unexpectedly spotted some elegant forest dwellers — The Nut’s native inhabitants, kangaroos. Moreover, there were quite a few of them. We saw quite a number of kangaroos close to us, while others stayed far away, observing us.

But when we got closer to these kangaroos, they would turn their backsides to us and hop away as we tried to follow. But after all, we are outsiders to them, so it’s better not to disturb them too much.

The landscape atop The Nut is also rather like an endless wilderness, exuding a unique beauty of desolation.

After walking the trail, we made our way back down the same path. Although the mountain road is fairly steep, the beautiful scenery along the way made us forget the fatigue almost instantly.

After descending, my friend drove straight to the largest lobster specialty store in town to indulge. You can recognize the shop just by the lobster sign above the storefront. The lobsters here are sold by weight, and upon entering the store, there are many lobster tanks where customers can pick their own lobsters.

My friend picked out a super huge lobster, and I think it only cost around 50–70 Australian dollars. I’m not sure if that price is expensive, but my friend said it was actually pretty cheap, and the lobster was incredibly fresh and springy — she really loved it. But for someone like me who doesn’t like lobster, I didn’t try any.

After returning to the foot of the mountain, no matter where you drive or walk around the town of Stanley, you can clearly see the "Uluru of the Sea" from different angles. Moreover, because the nearby terrain is quite flat, you can even spot the "Uluru of the Sea" even before you arrive in town.

Tasmania boasts a wealth of pristine natural scenery that always attracts travelers to explore, and this towering volcanic rock at The Nut is one of them. Of course, the "Uluru of the Sea" is what us tourists have nicknamed it. The actual name of this giant rock is The Nut. Though the shape may be similar, the scale is vastly different. Still, climbing this rock gives you breathtaking views of the surrounding wilderness, making it a truly worthwhile experience.
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Stanley & The Nut
Address: Stanley, Tasmania, Australia

Xiao Sheng’s Wandering Journey
Every journey, every trek is about seeking something. Though I’m not entirely sure what it is I’m searching for, what I ultimately gain often turns out to be more than I expected. So, my wandering journey will continue, nonstop.