Manly Harbour Village is a bayside shopping and dining strip on Brisbane’s eastern edge, facing Manly Boat Harbour and Moreton Bay. It is about 30 minutes from the CBD by car, parking is free, and the weekend markets, the boat views and the breakwater walk make an easy half day.
Manly Boat Harbour is the largest small-craft harbour in Queensland, so there is always something floating to look at. The village sits on the Esplanade side, with a shaded park and a paved plaza between the shops and the water.
Manly Boat Harbour: what you can see
Work on the harbour began in 1958. Wave-break walls were built to the north and south, and the dredged material was used to form the parks and parking areas beside it. Today the harbour holds marinas and docks, and it is home to the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, the Wynnum Manly Yacht Club and the Coast Guard.
The easiest viewpoint is the footpath along Royal Esplanade, where the masts line up across the water.
Walk the Manly Harbour breakwater
A paved path runs along the rock breakwater out towards the end of the harbour wall, with the marina on one side and open Moreton Bay on the other. The eastern end of the northern wave break is Norfolk Point, named after the sloop Matthew Flinders sailed into Moreton Bay in 1799.
There is no shade on the wall, so go early or late on a hot day.
Dogs on the foreshore
The beach at the end of Davenport Drive, between the southern and northern rock walls, is a dog off-leash area. Brisbane City Council asks you to keep your dog under control, pick up after it and keep it on a leash everywhere outside the designated area. Check the signs and the council off-leash page for the boundary map.
Manly markets
Two markets run in Little Bayside Park, the grassy park beside the plaza on Royal Esplanade between Cambridge and Cardigan Parades.
- Jan Powers Farmers Markets: 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month, 6 am to 12 pm. Dogs are welcome.
- Manly Creative Markets: every Sunday, 8 am to 2 pm.
The farmers markets break over summer, so check the dates on the organiser’s page before you go. For more markets around the region, see the markets category.
Events in the park and on Cambridge Parade
The village events calendar lists Free Movies in the Park on the first Saturday of the month (music from 4 pm, the movie at sunset, bring a chair or rug, restrained pets welcome) and Twilight on Cambridge on the second Friday of the month, with jazz, street food and stalls. There is also a run of Christmas events in December. Dates change, so see the Manly Harbour Village what’s on page.
Parks and playgrounds nearby
Little Bayside Park has a picnic area with shelter, seating, water taps and paths. The toilets are at Bayside Park, just across a side road, which also has shaded tables and barbecues.
Bayside Park is also the nautical playground: Brisbane City Council describes a mini replica battleship and a climbing feature, steps from the Manly shore. For another bayside play spot nearby, see Wynnum Wading Pool Park.
Where to eat
Cambridge Parade and the Esplanade have cafes, takeaway shops and restaurants, and the village website lists them under Eat, Shop and Play. The Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron also runs a bar, cafe and restaurant at the harbour.
Planning your visit
- How long: A couple of hours covers the breakwater walk, a coffee and a market lap. Add a picnic and playground time for a half day.
- Best time: Saturday morning for the farmers markets, Sunday for the creative markets, or a Friday evening for Twilight on Cambridge.
- Cost: Parking is free and the foreshore is open to everyone.
- What to bring: A hat and sunscreen for the breakwater, a chair or rug for movie nights, a reusable bag for the markets.
Getting to Manly Harbour Village and parking
By car it is about 30 minutes from Brisbane CBD. There are plenty of free car parks along the length of the Esplanade. Turn either way out of Cambridge Parade to find one.
By train, Manly station is about a 10-minute walk from the markets. By bus, the Wynnum and Manly loop routes 223 and 224 stop at Cambridge Pde at Manly Village (stop 87), but services are limited, so check the live timetable on the Translink stop page before you rely on one. Plan the trip with the Translink journey planner. More details are on the village’s getting here page.
Nearby
- Wynnum Wading Pool Park – a wading pool and playground along the same foreshore.
- Boxhead Park, Lota – bayside parkland just north of the harbour.
- 5 of the best markets in South East Queensland – more market mornings to plan.
- More days out in Brisbane
Quick answers
Is parking free at Manly Harbour Village?
Yes. There are free car parks along the length of the Esplanade, and you can turn either way out of Cambridge Parade to find one.
When are the Manly markets on?
The Jan Powers Farmers Markets run on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month from 6 am to 12 pm, and the Manly Creative Markets run every Sunday from 8 am to 2 pm. Both are in Little Bayside Park.
Where are the toilets?
The toilets are at Bayside Park, across a side road from Little Bayside Park.
Can I take my dog to Manly Harbour Village?
Dogs are welcome at the Saturday farmers markets, and the beach at the end of Davenport Drive is an off-leash area. Everywhere else on the foreshore, keep your dog on a leash.
Is there a bus to Manly Harbour Village?
Translink loop routes 223 and 224 stop at Cambridge Pde at Manly Village (stop 87). Check the timetable first, because services are limited. The train to Manly station and a walk of about 10 minutes is the easier option.
Can you walk out along the Manly Boat Harbour breakwater?
Yes. A paved path runs along the breakwater, and the eastern end of the northern wall is Norfolk Point.
0 Comments