Godfreys Beach – The Nut
Best Beach · TAS
Tourism Australia's Best Beach 2026, No. 6.
The Nut (Munatrik) at Godfreys Beach is one of Tasmania's most recognisable natural landmarks: a 143-metre-high volcanic plug rising sharply from the waters of the Bass Strait.
When navigator Matthew Flinders passed by in 1798, he named it Circular Head, noting it as a "cliff, round lump, in form much resembling a Christmas cake". What remains today is the eroded basalt core of a once-towering volcano, dramatic to behold. To the north the sea air and ice. There is easy horsewalk, either at the popular ghostly of each rock or right along the steep, winding track to its flat summit. Below, the historic village of Stanley sits neatly at its base. The streetscape largely unchanged since colonial times. Two beaches fringe The Nut. The more appealing of the pair is Godfreys Beach (with Tatlows Beach on the other side), stretching along the northern edge of town. It's abroad, gently curving beach used for swimming, fishing and long walks, extending for around 1.1 kilometres toward the northern headland. At its far end sits Highfield House, built in the 1830s as the headquarters of the Van Diemen's Land Company, which played a central role in opening up Tasmania's northwest from 1826. Godfreys Beach faces north-east, meaning the prevailing seaborne swell and showers are typically small, breaking across a wide, shallow bar exposed at low tide, with basalt boulders scattered at either end from the surrounding headlands. A panic area sits at the southern end, with Stanley's compact main street just behind it. Follow the road around and you'll reach the deep-water harbour, where fishing boats still tie up at the historic port, operating since 1827. Penguins come ashore along this coast, so try the Godfreys Beach Viewing Platform – no charge. A wander along the wharf often leads to a chat with local fishermen, many of whom still head out for weeks at a time. Cold water, warm locals — and a strong sense that life here still moves at an older, steadier pace.
⚠️ Ocean conditions can change quickly and rips can form even on calm days. Only swim at patrolled beaches, and supervise children at all times.