Normally asking the questions, we sent Cream writer Patrick Lewis on a weekend getaway to Sydney’s beach suburb Manly to experience the coastal life and then grilled him (pardon the pun) when he got back.

 

Why Manly?

Manly is a great destination for interstate visitors, but not many Sydneysiders realise its great laidback atmosphere, suitable for a local getaway. it characterises Australia but it’s great for Sydneysiders who want a break from the bustle of the city because it’s close but insular and so you can really lose yourself. It’s no wonder the locals never leave. While I was there I actually felt I was somewhere else far from Sydney. 

 

What was the highlight of your weekend?

Quite simply it was waking up by the water. I stayed at Quest Serviced Apartments overlooking the Manly bay. It was great to look out the window, see the sun come up first thing in the morning, and the ferries coming in. All with the city as its backdrop. It’s understated but there’s a buzz to Manly. It sounds simple, but walking along both the beaches both days at morning and when the sun went down was really invigorating.

Describe the restaurant scene in Manly. Where did you eat?

Dining out in Manly has changed enormously in the past five years. There’s now such a diverse range of restaurants like China Beach on North Steyne. It serves modern Asian dishes like twice-cooked free range duck with sweet tamarind, lychee, ginger and crispy eschallo, and crispy chicken with Chinese spices, honey, soy and black vinegar sauce. Both dishes are absolutely delicious and would give Billy Kwong’s and Jimmy Liks a run for their money. Beautifully tiled black and white floor with empty bird cages hanging from the ceiling. Comparing that to café Belgrave Cartel – if you were taken there blindfolded and then opened your eyes you would think you were in Newtown; the furniture is eclectic, the décor is incoherent, and it’s so different to anything else in Manly. Run by two Italian brothers they make a rich full coffee and amazing eggs.

Organicus (pictured above) is a great little spot in between the wharf and the beach. The philosophy behind Organicus is to produce healthy versions of junk food. While sausage rolls and stodgy burgers are normally avoided, after the Organicus treatment, a fennel and pork sausage roll with tomato relish and pasture-fed  burger with lacto-fermented cucumber was really tasty, and low in kilojoules. Chef Matt Wellings has worked under Gordon Ramsay. He really knows his food.

 

What does Manly have to do with space travel?

While alcohol is banned on NASA space missions and in the International Space Station, most countries don’t consider producing astro beers a possibility but forward-thinking Aussie Jason Held, Director of Saber Astronautics Australia, said this would change with the rise in space tourism over the next two to five years. He’s developed a series of fantastic beers low in carbon dioxide but big on taste – available in all your typical flavours and even a few drops of something more exotic: the highly recommended banana beer is love at first taste and guaranteed to blow you out of this world. 

 

What else did you get up to in Manly?

Getting on the water on a kayak under your own steam is a great workout. There’s only a few millimeters of plastic separating you from the harbour so you connect with the water in a way that you can’t in a boat. It’s a great feeling paddling around, checking out the million-dollar waterfront mansions and then heading to the national park on the other side for a rest. Oh, and if you’re lucky you might spot a humpback whale!

On land, i’s great hiring a bike and the winding down at Manly Beach Studio. The yoga classes are always full and it’s not surprising to learn that this studio is something of a mecca for yoga teachers around Australia. Believe it or not, it used to be a nightclub and the walls are soundproofed so it’s really quiet. The hardwood floors and the natural filtered light create a really relaxing atmosphere making it the perfect place to relax.

Manly is the perfect place for a weekend getaway to get you up and about.

 

For more information visit www.manlyaustralia.com.au.

For accommodation visit www.questgrandeesplanade.com.au or click on the image below.

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