2 Flinders Walk, Melbourne

Everyone's summer go-to, the floating bar and restaurant Arbory Afloat, has hit the water on Melbourne's Yarra River for its third consecutive season. This spring, Afloat has re-berthed earlier than ever before and is now open.

Arbory Afloat is bringing a new summer vibe to the Yarra River with a food concept and design inspired by the colour and fun of Miami. Think pastel blue and pinks, palm trees and a relaxed poolside art-deco sensibility; reminiscent of the cool vibes of 1970s Miami.

Inspired by the cultural diversity of Miami - Arbory Afloat Executive Chef, Nick Bennett - creates a food offering that celebrates all things Latin American; the Caribbean; Cuba and Mexico. The custom-made pizza oven is hotting up again with American-inspired, wood-fired pizzas and an array of grilled meats, empanadas and other share-friendly snacks.

This year the upper deck has been extended to accommodate more dining, lounging and private Cabanas. With the best views of the Yarra River and the city, Arbory Afloat promises the sort of dreamy summer experience we could not have imagined, right in the beating heart of Melbourne.

We cannot book a table for this night so I will be getting there early to save an area.

Meet Nicole at the bar.

Fri, 13 December

6.00pm - 10.00pm

Non-Members / Guests: N/A

Braeside Brewing Company, 43 Governor Rd, Mordialloc

Today we will be travelling to the fabulous suburb of Mordailloc to visit a very new brewery that has opened.

Nestled on the Bay, in Melbourne's South East, Braeside Brewing Co is an independently owned brewery and eatery. Having grown up in the area, they are excited to be finally serving their community - it has been a long-time coming! They provide a relaxed and comfortable space to share a beverage and bite in a family-friendly atmosphere.

Collectively, the team brings +40 years of experience in the food & beverage industry and we are delighted to be showcasing our creative range of craft beers.

Accompanying your beers, is a selection of fresh wood-fired pizzas and tempting bar menu. Additionally, our spirits and wines are produced locally to complete your experience.

Meet Nicole and Aron at the bar.

Sun, 15 December

1.00pm - 4.00pm

Non-Members / Guests: N/A

MEMBERS ONLY EVENT

Booking closes on:
Sat, 14 December

Curry Leaf Cafe, 101 Brighton Road, Elwood

Due to popular demand, we head to the Indian subcontinent again to visit an award winning Indian restaurant in Melbourne.

Regarded by many as one of the best Indian restaurants in Melbourne, it does amazing Indian curries and sizzling tandoori platters.

The venue has received some good reviews and has great service, we have visited this venue before.

Tram 67 stops just across the road and is close the the Chapel Street tram 78.

Meet Ian at the table(s) reserved for FunFF.

Wed, 18 December

7.00pm - 9.00pm

Non-Members / Guests: N/A

MEMBERS ONLY EVENT

Booking closes on:
Tue, 17 December

Coffee stand outside Arts Centre, St Kilda Road, Melbourne

Enjoy an incredible Christmas full Day Yarra Valley Wine Tour for under $85 for a special Christmas member price!

We have put this trip together on request from our members, and our last Christmas wine tour sold out and we expect this to be another popular trip, so don't forget to book early.

We plan to visit four or five our other favourite wineries on the day and lunch at Wild Cattle Creek Winery in the Yarra Valley.

The price includes wine tastings and return transport. If you wished to be picked up on route, please let us know before you book. Lunch at own expense.

Meet Ian at the coffee stand outside the Arts Centre. Our exclusive Christmas wine tour leaves at 9.30am sharp so enjoy for an early coffee if you wish

Sat, 21 December

9.15am - 5.30pm

Non-Members / Guests: N/A

Prepayment required for this event

MEMBERS ONLY EVENT

Booking closes on:
Fri, 20 December

near Chapel Street and High Street, Windsor

*** This party is limited to the hosts of the club for all their help organising events this year and invited guests, invites will be sent out closer to the day ***

The hosts Xmas party is a casual drinks and nibbles night. There will be a mix of bubbles, red and white wines, beers, soft drinks and dips. Please note that if you would like to bring your special drink that would be fine, as we will not have a full range. It is a great way to thank the hosts for helping arrange events by having a Christmas party and enjoy a few wines or a few beers.

This is a free casual event with drinks and nibbles and it will be possible to head out to dinner afterwards in Chapel Street (although the party kept going til late in previous years.)

As with all events that involve drinks, driving is not recommended.

Sun, 22 December

4.30pm - 8.00pm

Non-Members / Guests: N/A

The Queen Victoria Gardens (opposite National Gallery of Australia), St Kilda Road, Melbourne

** Open to everyone to enjoy Christmas **

Come and join the Melbourne Social Club for a Melbourne Christmas Day Picnic Lunch in Queen Victoria Gardens. This will be the 14th year that the Christmas Day Picnic has been run and we expect over 100 people to attend like last year.

There will be no snow but a great place to meet others not participating in the traditional family Christmas. This event is shared with Newcomers Network.

Queen Victoria Gardens is very centrally located in Melbourne and is located opposite the Arts Centre and National Gallery of Australia (NGV) and is close to Flinders Street Railway Station.

Join us and the Newcomers Network for a relaxed Christmas Day lunch under a shady tree.

Please bring your own food/drinks, picnic blanket/rug/chair, sunscreen hat etc. and outdoor games equipment - like a football to kick, cricket bat and tennis ball etc, if you wish.

Bring food that you can have for yourself or share with others. It would be also useful if you could bring a name tag as well.

Public transport is free on this day and uses the Sunday timetable.

The group will be located under a shady tree directly opposite the Arts Centre and Arts Centre Tram stop located on St Kilda Road.

Look for the Melbourne Social Club banner and the Newcomers Network banner hanging from the tree in Queen Victoria Gardens. A Happy Christmas text will be send on Christmas Day so you can reply to this text message if needed. It would be also useful if you could please bring a name tag as well.

Meet Ian from Melbourne Social Club / Fun, Food and Friendship or Sue from the Newcomers Network on arrival, you can come for any part of the times shown and enjoy a Christmas Day picnic lunch.

Wed, 25 December

NOON - 3.00pm

Non-Members / Guests: FREE

OPEN TO EVERYONE

Federation Square, Melbourne CBD

This Boxing Day ride will be an easy social casual ride around Melbourne on the Yarra Trail. The approximate distance is 32 km on the Capital City Trail. This ride is run in conjunction with the YHA cycling group and we have run this joint ride for many years.

The route is easy and is fairly flat most of the way. We ride along the Yarra past Collingwood childrens farm to Dight Falls and after lunch we head back on the Moonee Ponds Creek. The trail continues past the Zoo and towards Docklands and then back to Southbank which is ideal for some drinks, ice creams or gelato.

The lunch venue is the historic Fairfield Boat House to enjoy an informal outdoor dining experience. Relax by the river in an historic riverside garden setting watching the rowers on their classic designed rowing skiffs which are unique in the Southern Hemisphere.

Various lunch options are available from the outdoor grill all cooked in front of your eyes.

Meet David and Ian at Federation Square directly opposite the tram stop on St Kilda Road. Please ensure that your bike is in good working order.

Lunch at own expense.

Thu, 26 December

10.45am - 4.00pm

Non-Members / Guests: N/A

MEMBERS ONLY EVENT

Booking closes on:
Wed, 25 December

Wharf Hotel, (World Trade Centre)18-38 Siddeley Street, Melbourne

*** Event Open to everyone ***

Join us for our end of year drinks in a city bar which also has an outdoor garden overlooking the Yarra River that has stunning city views and waterfront ambiance reserved for Fun, Food and Friendship and the Melbourne Social Club.

There is a $6 happy hour from 5pm to 7pm that has glasses of wine, basic spirits and selected schooners for only $6.

The venue has a lot of classic pub meals available while enjoying this great waterfront location.

If you are not a member, book in and join us at this end of year drinks night. Meet some of our hosts and members, learn more about the best and liveliest social activities in Melbourne and start enjoying a great social life and great benefits like free drinks and discounts to bars, restaurants, shopping and car parking in the city.


The Wharf Hotel is located riverside next door to Crowne Plaza & opposite Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre.

Check-in with the hosts of the Melbourne Social Club on arrival, look for the social club banner.

Fri, 27 December

6.00pm - 9.00pm

Non-Members / Guests: FREE

OPEN TO EVERYONE

RMYS, 1 Pier Road, St Kilda

*** Please Note: Booking Cut-off date is 19 Dec ***

Enjoy a special NYE dinner followed by the NYE rooftop party to watch the fireworks at midnight with some of the best views on the bay from a rooftop located boasting uninterrupted views over Port Phillip and panoramic views of Melbourne skyline.

The evening will start with a three course dinner with live jazz music from Groove Indigo in the Harbour Room that has stunning bay side views.

The three course dinner will consist of a shared platter of whole cooked prawns and freshly chucked oysters, a choice of mains and dessert of jaffa chocolate mousse and quinoa cocoa snap followed by tea/coffee.

The choice of mains from the following options:

Hot smoked salmon with mash potato, cider beurre blanc, watercress and apple salad (GF, NF)

Grilled Chicken Breast with satay sauce pressed with sticky rice and Som Tom (GF, DF)

12 hour braised lamb shoulder, pea, broad bean, mint, barberry salad and grilled eggplant tahini (GF, DF, NF)

Seared porterhouse with roasted cauliflower velvet, merlot jus and charred asparagus.

Casareece pasta with roasted eggplant, crushed peas and mint, smoked goats cheese and chilli (NF, V)

For more information on the rooftop party, please see the 9pm listing, this option includes dinner and the late night supper as part of the rooftop party. All drinks at own expense at the bar.

The Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron (RMYS) is located in the Catani Gardens on Pier Road, right at the end of Fitzroy Street on the beautiful foreshore of St Kilda near St Kilda Pier. In terms of public transport, trams number 16 and 96 travel down Fitzroy Street.

Also, please note booking cut-off date is 19 Dec or until sold out and also note we have added a small additional change of 99c to cover PayPal costs.

This event is strictly members only event as a member of the RMYS club must sign you into the clubhouse.

Meet Ian at the main RMYS entrance to sign you in so you can enjoy a fantastic NYE experience.

Tue, 31 December

6.00pm - 1.00am

Non-Members / Guests: N/A

Prepayment required for this event

MEMBERS ONLY EVENT

Booking closes on:
Thu, 19 December

RMYS, 1 Pier Road, St Kilda

*** Please Note: Booking Cut-off date is 19 Dec ***

Enjoy a special NYE rooftop party and watch the fireworks at midnight with some of the best views on the bay from a rooftop located boasting uninterrupted views over Port Phillip and panoramic views of Melbourne skyline.

What better place to spend NYE than a rooftop with 360 degree views of the bay, stunning beachside views with live music and a late supper with roaming options of Teriyaki chicken slider, Burger:Royal with cheese and fafafal.

Although this is a rooftop party, in the event of rain or hot weather the party will simply be moved into the Harbour Room. All drinks at own expense at the bar located on the rooftop that closes at 1am. Live music by Pina & The Coladas on the rooftop.

We have attended a NYE party at the RMYS previously and members had a great time.

Note, there is also a three course dinner option at 6pm at extra cost of $50 with live jazz music from Groove Indigo in the Harbour Room. If you wish to come to dinner before the rooftop party, please email us for more information on this option.

The Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron (RMYS) is located in the Catani Gardens on Pier Road, right at the end of Fitzroy Street on the beautiful foreshore of St Kilda near St Kilda Pier. In terms of public transport, trams number 16 and 96 travel down Fitzroy Street.

Also, please note booking cut-off date is 19 Dec or until sold out and also note we have added a small additional change of 99c to cover PayPal costs.

This event is strictly members only event as a member of the RMYS club must sign you into the clubhouse.

Meet Ian at the main RMYS entrance to sign you in so you can enjoy a fantastic NYE experience.

Tue, 31 December

9.00pm - 1.00am

Non-Members / Guests: N/A

Prepayment required for this event

MEMBERS ONLY EVENT

Booking closes on:
Thu, 19 December