Guide to Manly Queensland Australia

Manly is a harbourside village on Moreton Bay, about 16 kilometres east of the centre of Brisbane. It is the sailing capital of Queensland, built around a boat harbour that shelters well over a thousand yachts and cruisers, with a small main street of cafes and shops, weekend markets and a relaxed nautical atmosphere.

Known For

• Manly Boat Harbour, one of the largest in the southern hemisphere
• Waterfront markets, cafes and yacht clubs
• Cruises to St Helena Island and sailing on the bay

The harbour lies at the foot of a low hill, with the village centred on Cambridge Parade running down to the water. A foreshore esplanade leads north to Wynnum and south to Lota, and the bay islands lie across Waterloo Bay to the east.

Manly is the most polished of the Brisbane bayside villages and a lovely place for a weekend morning.

Things To Do in Manly

Manly Boat Harbour

Four marinas and several yacht clubs share the harbour, and a walk along its rock walls and boardwalks passes every kind of vessel, from racing dinghies to ocean-going yachts. On weekends the bay fills with sails as club fleets race. The harbour walls are popular fishing spots, and public boat ramps give trailer boats direct access to the bay.

Sailing and Cruises

Several operators offer sailing trips, charters and lessons on Moreton Bay, from two-hour sails to full-day voyages around the islands. Guided day cruises run from Manly to St Helena Island, where visitors tour the ruins of a colonial prison with costumed guides. Fishing charters also leave from the harbour.

The Esplanade and Tidal Pool

A wide foreshore path follows the bay in both directions, part of the Moreton Bay cycleway. Just north of the harbour is a tidal swimming pool beside a playground and picnic lawns, and the walk continues for about two kilometres to the Wynnum wading pool and jetty. To the south the path leads through parkland to Lota.

Markets

Markets are held on the harbour foreshore on most weekends. A creative market on Sundays features local art, craft, clothing and food, and a farmers market on selected Saturdays sells fresh produce, bread, cheese and flowers. The setting beside the masts makes them among the most attractive markets in the city.

Village Shopping

Cambridge Parade and the streets around it have boutiques, galleries, gift shops and homewares stores in old shopfronts, with plenty of places to stop for coffee. The elevated streets behind give views over the harbour to the islands.

Where To Stay

Manly has a small but appealing range of places to stay.

A boutique hotel overlooking the harbour offers comfortable rooms within steps of the marinas and the village, and the historic Manly Hotel has accommodation above its bars and restaurant.

Bed and breakfasts in timber Queenslanders on the hill provide bay views and a homely welcome, and holiday apartments suit longer stays. Some charter operators offer overnight stays on board a yacht.

Manly is about 20 minutes from Brisbane Airport and the cruise terminal, and half an hour from the city by train.

Eat & Drink

The waterfront has a choice of restaurants and cafes looking over the boats, with seafood the natural specialty. Fish and chips from the harbourside outlets can be eaten on the grass beside the marina.

The yacht clubs and the trailer boat club welcome visitors to their restaurants and bars, which have decks over the harbour and good-value meals. Cambridge Parade adds cafes, a bakery, Italian, Thai and modern Australian restaurants and a large pub with a beer garden.

Weekend breakfast is a busy time, particularly on market days, so arrive early for a table.

History

Manly is in the country of the Quandamooka people. The area was first known as Wyvernleigh, after a house built on the hill, and was renamed after the Sydney beach suburb when land was sold in the 1880s. The railway arrived in 1889, bringing weekend visitors to its beach and jetty.

Sailing clubs were established early in the twentieth century. The boat harbour was built in stages from the late 1950s, reclaiming the tidal flats and turning Manly into the main recreational boating centre on the bay.

Getting to Manly

Trains on the Cleveland line run from Central to Manly station in about 35 minutes, and the harbour is a five-minute walk downhill.

By car Manly is about 25 minutes from the city centre by Wynnum Road or Manly Road. Parking near the harbour is free but fills quickly on market days.

Nearest Airport: Brisbane