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Just a short drive from the Redlands is Manly Harbour Village, a unique harbour-side village. With a diverse range of eateries, specialty shops, and special events set to the backdrop of fabulous views, Manly is a drawcard for many locals and visitors.
Manly Chamber of Commerce president David Farley referred it to as the epicentre of community lifestyle for many people with its boat clubs, markets, events and eating options.
“It’s a vibrant harbour-front precinct overlooking the Manly Boat Harbour which is the largest man made small boat marina on the east coast of Australia with more than 1800 moored boats,” he said.
The harbour is home to tour boats that access Moreton Bay including Saint Helena Island with its colonial, penal history, as well as charter and dive tour boats.
Three yacht and boat clubs call Manly Harbour home, and these clubs regularly hold local, state, national and international regattas. Mr Farley said that in October this year, Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron would host the 2018 Etchells World Championships with 600 sailors competing from nine countries.
The Little Bayside Park is a home to regular harbor-side markets which add to the hustle and bustle of frequent crowds each weekend.
The Creative Craft Markets, held every Sunday, is now the longest running market in Brisbane and has a loyal following of market goers.
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The Jan Powers Farmers Market is held on the first and third Saturday of each month and attracts between 4000 and 6000 each market day.
Free Movies in the Park are also staged in Little Bayside Park on the first Saturday of each month and up to 1500 attendees, mainly family groups, enjoy a picnic, or take away food from the local restaurants for a night of entertainment under the stars.
In addition to these regular events there are other significant events which attract people to the area. These include the Manly Harbour Village Halloween Street Party, with its 13 hours of non-stop entertainment on two stages, which draws a crowd of over 20,000 each year.
Mr Farley said that these events, plus the attraction of numerous cafes and restaurants, some with live music, make visiting Manly a popular thing to do.
Mr Farley the data indicates there are significant numbers of international visitors who come to the village on any day but Brisbane dwellers are regulars.
"Fifty per cent of visitors are from Brisbane because it has become a popular thing to do," he said. "Why would you go anywhere else?"
Mr Farley said Manly has one of the highest percentages of home-based businesses in Brisbane.
“People use the coffee shops to work,” he said.
