social events.

looking for local offline connection?

a calendar of in-person talks, stand-up comedy nights, elder’s storytelling, chess club, music performances, craft and chat afternoons, singles’ mixers, the Under the Moon philosophy group, board game nights (Catan, anyone?), women's circle, men's group, the “therapists taboo panel”, book club, hobby groups, movie nights…

if you organise a local community group and are looking for a space to meet, we’d love to hear from you!

join us in the real world #escapeyouralgorithm.

🌿 guided nature walk with mark around north head

join manly42 and local nature enthusiast Mark for a refreshing guided walk beginning at the Shelly Beach area. This is a chance to connect with community, enjoy the outdoors and notice the beauty of our local flora and fauna, all while taking time off our phones and engaging our senses in nature.

📍 meeting Point: Shelly Beach Boathouse
🗓 when: Wednesday 10th September at 8:00 AM
⏳ duration: ~1 hour walk + optional coffee afterwards

walk route:
We’ll meet at the Boathouse at Shelly Beach, wander up towards the cliff lookout, loop back towards the Barracks and finish at The Bower.

After the walk, join us for an optional coffee at The Bower Café to continue the conversation.

what to expect:

Guided insights into local flora & fauna 🦜
Gentle mindful walking in nature
A chance to meet community and connect outdoors

Fitness Level: moderate – about 1 hour on mixed terrain.

Cost: free,bu you must book a ticket here

the future of human connection

tuesday 5th august 2025

on tuesday 5th august manly42 began our evening talks on the subject of “the future of human connection” with a philosopher, a psychotherapist, a women’s empowerment coach and an AI transformation consultant in henry G’s wine parlour in the centre of manly.

during this sold out event with over 50 people, the cozy, heritage bar was filled with warmth, curiosity and conversation as the evening explored how technology and AI are reshaping the ways we connect with each other and with ourselves.

key threads from the discussion included:

philosophy’s role — ensuring we don’t lose sight of purpose and meaning of human connection as efficiency and automation grow.
human depth in a digital world — reminders from psychotherapy that connection is about presence (and hugs), not just convenience.
empowerment through awareness — how embracing tech mindfully can help individuals reclaim agency and voice (including some helpful practical tips!)
AI as mirror & mediator — how emerging tools don’t just change how we communicate, but also reflect our values back to us.

the Q&A sparked lively dialogue, with guests leaning into questions about ethics, sex and the future of intimacy in an AI-shaped society.

as the talks wrapped, conversations carried into the night over wine and shared plates, with Henry G’s proving the perfect backdrop for genuine human connection.

thank you to our speakers April Lewis, Hannah Maude, Tony Moran and Rachel Smith, and also to Jorja and Mo at Henry G’s for hosting us. we had a great time!

evening talks series 1.0

pre-launch event at gumbooya reserve

on friday 27th june 2025 we met in gumbooya reserve for a welcome to Country ceremony and to acknowledge the land on which we meet. it was such a perfect way to celebrate our human connection with the beautiful people

the blue sky and the sunshine welcomed us and warmed us up just for our gathering, after a cold and grey morning. this event wasn't successful without your love and support

thank you so much for being there to witness our journey and those who wanted to be there but couldn't, everyone showed us so much support, that drives us to go forward to help create this new community a meaningful one for all.

People stayed longer afterwards, connecting one after another with the delicious food.

People came from everywhere, from manly to all the way from auburn!!

Gratitude to all

Special thanks to