Manly’s Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron Invites You to a New Year Family Feast

Another transition is about to happen as one year ends and another begins. With everyone down for celebrating the New Year to symbolically welcome new beginnings, the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron in Manly is hosting a fun-filled family event on the 31st of Dec 2019. What better way to start a brand new year than by enjoying the last night of 2019 with your loved ones!

The New Year’s Eve celebration at the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron will kick off at 5:30 p.m. until the first hour of 2020 rolls. Dubbed the “Seafood Smorgasbord and Movie Night Under the Stars,” this party will include a generous table spread filled with healthy and delicious food, a feast for the children and two fun movies at the lawn!

Adult guests may indulge in salt and pepper calamari, spicy gumbo, grilled prawns, mussels, sand crab, oysters, as well as rolled pork, sumac grilled chicken, and a generous helping of fruits and salad greens at the smorgasbord. With a choice as generous as this, it’s fitting to relish and reflect on how good you’ve got it in 2019 whilst you sit, dine and look forward to 2020 overlooking the gorgeous view of the Manly Harbour.

Photo Credit: Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron – Social/Facebook


The kids, on the other hand, may enjoy a special menu consisting of wood-fired pizza, hotdogs and slushies. These treats are perfect for enjoying the movies on the big screen set up at the lawn.

The film screening will promptly start at 5:30 p.m. followed by the next movie at 7:30 p.m.

In lieu of the planned fireworks, the Manly Chamber of Commerce has made a charitable donation this year.

Photo Credit: Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron – Social/Facebook

Reservations are at $85 per person (adults) and $25 (children). For bookings and inquiries to the  Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron New Year’s Eve party, email reservations@rqys.com.au or phone 07 3396 8666. 

The Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron at the Royal Esplanade is one of the oldest and most prestigious sailing clubs in Queensland. For generations, this bayside venue has also been a popular choice for events and celebrations.  



The Mad Hatters Bookshop in Manly Hosts 3 Themed Parties for Booklovers/Pop Culture Buffs

Whilst most parties in this merry month of December are about Christmas, The Mad Hatters Bookshop in Manly is hosting three themed parties that are out of this world. Monster trainers, wizards and padawans are invited to these exciting celebrations of some of the biggest pop culture marvels in Australia and around the world. 

To many, The Mad Hatters Bookshop is a place for both children and adults to let their imagination run wild. This store encourages the reading habit, especially in kids, with a nook that’s designed like a wonderland out of the pages of a fairy tale.

Photo Credit: The Mad Hatters Bookshop/Facebook

December 2019 Events

More than a bookstore, activities to enhance one’s love for books are also happening every month at The Mad Hatters Bookshop. Here are some of its upcoming events for the summer school holiday this December: 

WHATWHEN/DETAIL
Pokemon Party





Tuesday
17 Dec 2019
4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Learn to play Pokemon trading cards and participate in the Pokemon Quiz to win prizes. Get your ticket here.
A Moste Magical Christmas Party
(Harry Potter-themed)
Sunday
22 Dec 2019
3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Make magical baubles and potions, as well as play the Hunt for Nargles, Harry Potter-themed mad libs and the Harry Potter quiz for some magical prizes. Get your ticket here.
Star Wars Party

Sunday
22 Dec 2019
3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Chat and celebrate with like-minded people as the latest Star Wars franchise ends. Get your ticket here


January 2020 Book Launch

The Mad Hatter Bookshop will also host the book launch of  “Around Australia in 30 Places Illustration Challenge.” This event is set for Saturday, the 25th of Jan 2020 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and it will be live-streamed for the rest of Brisbane to see. Publisher Rochelle Manners will be its special guest.

About The Mad Hatters Bookshop

Amidst a downturn in the retail business in Australia, The Mad Hatters Bookshop in Manly remains as a top business for the locals. This small but thriving hive for booklovers, found on Cambridge Parade, was recently picked as one of the best bookstores in Brisbane.

Photo Credit: The Mad Hatters Bookshop/Facebook

Under new management since 2015, The Mad Hatters Bookshop prides itself on giving attention to detail to make every aspect of the store worthy for customers to keep coming back. Aside from stocking up on books that you won’t likely find anywhere else, customers drift to this bookstore because of its community vibe. 

The Mad Hatter Bookshop is open daily at 9:00 a.m. It is run by a staff of local ladies who are more than happy to chat with customers about book recommendations, cards, games or pop culture. 



Feel the Holiday Vibe Any Day of the Week at Tide Wine Bar in Manly

Residents of Manly love spending their Sunday morning chilling by the water on William Gunn Jetty, where Tide Wine Bar stands. This restaurant, which opened in 2016, is without a doubt the locals’ favourite watering hole for its amazing scenic view of Moreton Bay. Yet because it’s in a prime location for relaxation and a good time, Tide Wine Bar is actually worth the visit any day of the week.

It’s fairly easy to understand why locals love hanging out at this place since its vibe always feels like you’re on a summer getaway — very relaxed or easygoing.  Expectedly, weekends are always busy at this establishment so it’s highly recommended for guests to book a table in advance to guarantee their seats.

Tide Wine Bar offers a straightforward but substantial menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Among the usual choices include smashed avocado toast, the Classic Benny, waffles and pancakes, Haloumi or Wagyu Beef burgers, fish and chips, and salads. They also serve a great range of tapas, food platters to share, an assortment of cakes, and an impressive drink list.

Suffice it to say, when you’re at Tide Wine Bar you’re meant to enjoy lingering lunches to process the beauty of the lovely surrounding and to savour the tasty food.

Photo Credit: Tide Wine Bar/Facebook
Photo Credit: Tide Wine Bar/Facebook

But beyond the normal dining fares, there’s more reason to enjoy coming back to Tide Wine Bar. The restaurant hosts regularly scheduled events like Trivia Tuesdays, Wednesday Games Night and Sunday Sounds with different performers every week. 



Trivia Tuesdays run from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. This is a free event with some cool prizes but participating teams must order meals to be able to play. 

Wednesday Games Night is from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and features card and board games, as well as other fun activities. Players are encouraged to wear their most comfy clothes because the competition can be fun but challenging. 

Sunday Sounds start at 3:00 p.m. and end at 6:00 p.m. and here are the performers for the next few weeks: 

1 DecMel Lathouras and Peta Wilson
8 Dec Hayden John Music
15 DecLuna Steer
22 DecAndrea Vocaturo
29 DecShark & Wine

Tide Wine Bar opens daily at 8:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday trading hours, however, are until 12:00 noon only. 

For bookings and other inquiries phone 07 3396 8962. 



“We had breakfast at Tide Wine Bar last weekend. Great food and great service. Really busy so you need to book. Really nice menu. Well done to the young man looking after the outdoor tables. He was so polite and helpful. We had a great time.”

~ IamJLW, Google Reviews

“lovely atmosphere and view! food was fantastic, would definitely come here again. would recommend the breakfasts and milkshakes. quite expensive but definitely worth the money!”

~ Amy, Zomato

“First time here to eat lunch. Ordered pan-flashed prawns. $15.only had 6 prawns on the plate, but very nice. Lots of garlic and chilli. Then shared warm chicken salad with husband. Only 2 small pieces of chicken , in saying that the Salad was very nice. Loved the views. Staff very friendly and kept checking if we wanted anything. Best to make bookings as it gets busy Sunday lunch. Can be very noisy if near the large tables. Wine was a little pricey had beer instead.”

~ J7597FPangelap, Trip Advisor

Manly Kerbside Collection: Set Your Pile or Donate?

Manly’s next kerbside collection is coming up on Monday, the 18th of Nov 2019. If you have large unwanted items to dispose of, you’ve got a few more days to pack your stuff in time for the pick-up in the early morning of the scheduled date.

As always, only small household appliances, furniture, white goods, electronic wastes, sporting equipment, bath and laundry tubs, carpet and rugs, and wood products no bigger than 1.5 metres are to be set aside for kerbside collection. Things that aren’t included in the acceptable items guidelines will be left behind your property, which you will have to clean off before you’re liable for illegal dumping.

However, you don’t necessarily have to put out stuff for kerbside collection if you’ve got old furniture and appliances that still work. Do you know that most of what you dispose of goes to the landfill? 

As the Council suggested, you can help reduce the landfill waste crisis by consider donating things you no longer want to charity or a recycling organisation. You may also give your stuff away to friends and family who might still have a use for it. After all, someone’s trash could easily be somebody else’s treasure. 

Photo Credit: INESby/Pixabay


Some of the Council-recommended facilities that accept old, second-hand, and pre-loved items for donation include:

You can make arrangements at these facilities on how to transport your items for donations. But if you have a preferred charity facility, tip shop, second-hand store or recycling centre, then that would be a good move as well — anything to keep your pile away from the landfill!

Some communities also organise a recycling drive, where neighbours or groups could barter items while holding a get-together or an informal party. Others set up a pre-loved market, where they do not just do away with unwanted stuff but also make a tiny profit. Some also donate this profit to their charity of choice. 



Ocean Crusaders Foundation in Manly Wins Outstanding Clean Green Award

Manly’s Ocean Crusaders Foundation Ltd was announced as the winner of the Outstanding Clean Green Award for 2019 at the recent Brisbane’s Cleaner Suburbs Awards. The group, founded in 2010, was given the honours for its work in cleaning up water areas in the suburb and around Brisbane. 

Ocean Crusaders Foundation Ltd established a Cleaning Station System, a first in the world, at the Wynnum Manly Foreshore to effectively do their work. In the last 18 months, the group was able to rid Brisbane’s waters with over 12 tonnes of debris with the help of 600 volunteers, both kids and adults. 



Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner handed the group’s awards at a special ceremony for the Cleaner Suburbs Award at the Council. The group has also credited the Tangalooma EcoMarines War on Waste 4017, The Turtle Tribe, OzHarvest Brisbane, Councillor Peter Cumming, Councillor Fiona Hammond and Councillor Kim Marx for their support.

Photo Credit: Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner/Facebook

“[Our] entire campaign is run with a passion for the ocean having seen the issue our wildlife is facing first hand,” Ocean Crusaders stated in its official site

“Looking into the eyes of a dead turtle and wondering what killed it, to later find out it was plastics, drives this campaign to ensure that our oceans, waterways and beaches are clean and safe for all animals.”



For its next cleanup drive, Ocean Crusaders will be at the Cabbage Tree Creek Paddle Against Plastic at Shorncliffe. 

Meanwhile, Spicers Retreat Hotel & Lodges was named the finalist in the same category. This establishment has over seven locations around Brisbane.

Foreshore Dog Off-Leash Trial at Manly Beach Has Commenced

Pet owners may now walk their dog on the foreshores of Sandgate, Nudgee Beach, and Manly minus a leash, as Council starts the 12-month foreshore dog off-leash trial.

The Foreshore Dog Off-Leash Area Project is a joint project of Brisbane City Council, the Department of Environment Science, and the University of Queensland. The project aims to protect and conserve shorebirds whilst creating recreational opportunities for dog owners in the identified foreshore dog off-leash areas.

The start of the one-year trial comes after Queensland Government issued the guidelines for establishing off-leash areas in marine parks, based on the result of University of Queensland research on disturbance to migratory shorebirds.



Based on a 25 years worth of data, the UQ research revealed that the population of many of the migratory species have dramatically declined and are already close to extinction, including the eastern curlew, which has already declined by 80 percent in 30 years.

By engaging the community about the areas where dogs are allowed to move about freely and areas they will need to be on-leash, disturbance to threatened shorebirds will be reduced.

Manly foreshore dog off-leash trial area
Photo Credit: Brisbane City Council brisbane.qld.gov.au

The Council identified pilot sites are:

  • Manly – at the end of Davenport Drive, between the fishing platform and RQYS Port Centre Park
  • Nudgee Beach – in Nudgee Beach Reserve, south of the car park to Nudgee Road
  • Sandgate – along Lover’s Walk between Second Avenue and Zeehan Street.

On-site signage will be in place, and community education and engagement events to ensure voluntary compliance during the trial period.

During the trial period, the University of Queensland – School of Biological Sciences will monitor shore bird species present, habitat value, and levels of disturbance along the entire foreshore.
Members of the community are invited to have their say about the dog off-leash trial by completing an online survey before midnight on 17 November 2019.

Manly Harbour Village Stages a Free Family-Friendly Halloween Street Party

Manly Harbour Village is staging a must-not-miss Halloween Street Party for families on Saturday, the 26th of Oct 2019. The event promises to deliver over 13 hours of fun, thrills and chills that every family member will enjoy.

Come dressed in your most innovative and creative costume by 1:00 p.m. as Manly Harbour Village kicks off the Halloween Street Party with heaps of entertainment at the main stage. School and community bands will take their turns performing, whilst free activities for kids and adults by the Little Bayside Park, such as fencing lessons and sand-sculpting workshops, will run throughout the day. 

Visitors may also enjoy the rides and games that will surely elicit some squeals and screams. Get the chance to win exciting prizes from the following competitions: 

Manly Deck Best Dressed Competition
Pumpkin Pie Eating  
Manly Village IGA Pumpkin Carving
Move Podiatry Best Dressed Business
Scratch and Win with the Manly Harbour Village App
Photo Credit: Manly Harbour Village


Interesting programs to leave visitors gawking will also be taking place over at the waterfront. There will be an on-water stage for model yacht displays, jet aerobatic demonstrations and racing competitions. 

By 6:00 p.m. the Halloween Street Parade will kick off the activities for the rest of the night.  If you would like to join the parade, look for the marshals at Richard Russell Park by 5:15 p.m.

After the parade, families can look forward to a movie in the park, as well as the fire, sound and light display on the main stage. 

Photo Credit: Manly Harbour Village

This event is alcohol-free whilst dogs on a leash are welcome to join their family.

Manly Harbour Village and Harbourside Eat Street food traders will be serving a variety of street food, sausages, pretzels, calamari, barbecues, beer-battered chips, sushi and Japanese food, and french crepes. Vegetarian and vegan choices will also be available. 

“We are very proud to deliver the Halloween Street Party as a FREE, family-friendly event. With so many free entertainment options (including sand sculpting workshops, model boat racing, Street Parade and Movies in the Park), people can bring a picnic and enjoy a great, low-cost day out. Of course, there are paid rides and food,” organisers from Manly Harbour Village stated. 



Learn How to Paint With Alcohol Ink at the Workshop Hub in Manly

Have you ever tried using alcohol ink to create beautiful artwork? There’s a certain technique to handling this medium, which you can learn and enjoy from the Workshop Hub in Manly.

Artist Teagan Watts will be at the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron for the Alcohol Ink Planter Workshop. Set for Sunday, the 29th of Sept 2019, Ms Watts will introduce participants to alcohol ink painting and teach students how to turn a plain-looking planter into a beautiful and colourful container. 



Alcohol ink is highly pigmented and fast-drying, which might be a challenge to work with. However, with Ms Watts guidance, you’ll be able to pick up great pointers on how to mix colours using the right applicators and blend the paint to create a marbled effect on yupo paper and ceramic pot.

She will also discuss the safety aspects of using alcohol ink, as well as impart techniques on how to seal your artwork to last for a long time. 

Photo Credit: Teagan Watts artist/Facebook

The three-hour workshop will begin at 10:30 a.m. and you can score tickets at the Workshop Hub for $120, which comes with free materials. Of course, you will be able to bring the planter you’ve worked on after the event to proudly display at your home.

Morning tea, snacks and drinks will be served.



Wilson’s Boathouse Returns in Manly With New Look and Bigger Plans

Wilson’s Boathouse makes a bid to reinvigorate the waterfront seafood dining experience in Manly with bigger and better plans following months of renovation. 

Whilst the restaurant got a brand-new look, regulars can expect the same flavours especially from crowd pleasers such as the signature sand crab lasagne, North Queensland grilled barramundi with macadamia crust and lemon butter, barbecue Moreton Bay bugs, pan-seared scallops, and freshly shucked oysters.

Owner Neil Jedid wanted to invest into the local economy by further extending and improving his restaurant at Trafalgar Street in Manly. But that can only happen if the Transport and Main Roads allowed him to have a long term tenure of the site.

Mr Jedid, who believes the renovations were much needed for a long time, only has a month by month lease for the site. He, himself, has already fallen in love with the place and wanted to give back to the community as much as possible.

For now, seafood lovers can expect a better dining experience at Wilson’s Boathouse with its magnificent views and bright, airy interior. Guests can have stunning views of the Moreton Bay and Manly Boat Harbour whilst devouring fresh and local seafood cuisine. 

The restaurant has a large wine list to accompany a casual lunch or an evening meal. Wilson’s Boathouse is a family-friendly destination, with a kids menu offering main dishes like crumbed whiting, prime beef steak, crumbed chicken thigh, and salt and pepper calamari. 

If you want to experience dining at Wilson’s Boathouse, head to their newly renovated place at Manly from Tuesday to Sunday, 11:30 am until late. For more information about the seafood restaurant, check out their website or follow them on Facebook.



An Inaugural Walk for Women’s Cancers is Happening in Manly

Brisbane is joining the Walk for Women’s Cancers event for the first time this year, and it’s taking place at Bayside Park in Manly this September!

On Saturday, the 14th of Sept 2019, participants of Brisbane’s first-ever Walk for Women’s Cancers event will converge at the park at 8:00 a.m. and start walking at 9:00 a.m. to complete either a 3-kilometre or 6-kilometre goal. 

Photo Credit: Cancer Council Queensland


The one-day affair will also feature food trucks and entertainment so participants might want to bring picnic blankets and enjoy a meal with the whole family or groups of friends at the park.

The main reason for doing this activity, however, is to raise funds to support various research to develop treatments or programs that assist women with cancer. Participants need to register and pay the corresponding fees, which will go to a good cause.

Photo Credit: Cancer Council Queensland


Walk for Women’s Cancers is also a celebration of the strong women who are facing a tough battle and it would be nice to see their families, friends and even strangers connect and come together to cheer them on. Do you know that 4,300 women in Queensland are diagnosed with either breast cancer or gynaecological cancer every year? 

Photo Credit: Cancer Council Queensland

This event is not strictly for women, though. You can join in the walk regardless of your gender orientation, especially if you know that your modest contribution and participation will make a huge difference in someone’s life. 

Brisbane is the sixth Queensland regional city to become a part of Walk for Women’s Cancers since it started in 2004. For more details, especially on pledges and sponsorships,  phone 1300 65 65 85.