Best Gay Destinations to Visit in Australia

Australia is such a wonderful country comprised of cities that thrive in their unique ways. Two of the most popular cities in Australia are Melbourne and Sydney. Aside from being a prosperous country, gay Australia is also known for its open-minded laws and appreciation of the gay.

In Australia, gays can freely express what they think or like, as well as walk without the fear of discrimination, hate, and disrespect. With that, if you’re planning to visit Australia as a gay traveller, there are notable spots that you shouldn’t miss. So, let’s take a stroll in the most popular cities, Melbourne and Sydney, to see what they can offer.

Gay Melbourne

Melbourne, Australia, is one of the best places in the world as it predominantly progresses in a variety of fields. It is also known for its wonderful greeneries and city life that keeps the balance in life. It has countless travel destinations that warmly welcome gay travellers. Melbourne has a lot to offer to this community, from nature trips to cruising, bar hopping, dance clubs, and parties.

Another thing, Melbourne is such a sophisticated city with its continental architecture and attitude. It is regarded as a business and employment district with towering buildings within the city. It has a busy day and nightlife. Also, Melbourne has Metlink as the extensive bus, trains, and trams’ work that take everyone, both local and international people, to any place.

Before you visit Melbourne, check out here our selection of gay-friendly hotels in Melbourne.

Moving on, let’s now take a look at these gay spots to check once you visit Melbourne!

Gay Scene in Melbourne

Compared to Sydney, which has a lot of surf-chiselled and beach-bronzed bodies, Melbourne offers sophisticated and professional vibes for everyone, including the gay community. Different kinds of visitors, such as Australians or not, are warmly welcomed in the progressive streets of Melbourne.

One of the most visited and recommended gay scenes in Melbourne is the Midsumma Gay and Lesbian Festival, which takes place every January and February. In this event, street parades, art events, and a ball are being held to entertain and commemorate the presence of the gay community. In the South, gays in Prahran and Yarra can be found too who proudly showcase rainbow flags. Here, the abundance of gay couples is immaculate. Also, there are several businesses and restaurants owned by gays, as well as bookshops that offer extensive gay media collections.

Moreover, St. Kilda remains to be the working-class beach town of Melbourne as it has an impressive scene of gas. This city annually hosts Pride March, which takes place from Lakeside Drive to Fitzroy Street and Catani Gardens. This is ideal for gays who would love to witness artsy and bohemian-inspired events and trips that never disappoint.

Club-goers can enjoy nights of endless partying in these areas, especially on weekends. There is also Bar 362, which has its iconic rainbow-clad door that offers great cocktails. On one hand, there is Sircuit with drag shows every night, and Laird offers only men on leather dens venue.

Best Time to Visit Melbourne

In the southern regions, the coldest winters happen every June and July, so if you are looking forward to enjoying a trip with a warm climate, you better have a planned trip from March to May and September to November. Travelling during the summer and Christmas holidays is not recommended as it can be expensive and crowded. These months are not the go-to if you are on a budget. Also, between January and February, the Midsumma Festival takes place, which you can join for a fun trip. This cultural festival showcases queer arts, live events, parades, and so much more. Better have this on your list!

Melbourne Gay-Friendly Attraction and Activities

As a culture and art-rich destination, Melbourne has a lot to offer to gay couples and individuals who would like to wander its historical places, such as a museum, a creative community of locals, and street arts. Given that, here are some of those!

Australian Center for the Moving Image

First, on the list, we have the Australian Center for the Moving Image, which highlights the art of video. It isn’t like the ordinary museums that show indigenous, modern, and classic works as it is filled with documentary film collections and nonsensical abstract images. This museum also has different futuristic booths that utilize high-quality screens, headsets, and comfortable seating. It is like a virtual reality museum due to its inclusion of technology in expressing art to the audience. This place is perfect if you are into the arts!

Queen Victoria Market

Up next, we have the Queen Victoria Market of Melbourne, which is also called the biggest tourist attraction located in the market. It is a large open-air market that coincides with the southern hemisphere of Melbourne. It was first built in the early 1900s. It has these magnificent aisles that you can wander at, as well as the authentic Australian souvenirs that you can purchase for yourself, your friends, and your loved ones.

Hares and Hyenas

If you are into books, then Hares and Hyenas, which is a queer bookstore located at Fritzoy, is the perfect place for you. Here, you can see lots of options for book reading. There are different categories that you can choose from for a good price and view. It is also well-visited by gay travellers from all over the world, so it’s such a wonderful place to visit. While you’re there, you can also have a nice cup of coffee from Mario’s café located on Brunswick Street.

Royal Botanical Gardens

Lastly, we have here the royal botanical gardens that were founded back in 1846 with 50,000 plants coming from 8,500 different species. This is the perfect place and opportunity for gays who love to learn more facts about the geography, native plants, and gardening of Melbourne.

Melbourne Gay Parties

For the gay parties in Melbourne, you should check out Trough, Grouse, and the Closet Party. These parties showcase live performances and events for the queers. Lots of people visit and have fun at these events, both local and international. The best thing about these parties is that they favour disco music that is just always a vibe. For hotel booking, don’t let Brooklyn Arts Hotel slip out of your reach as this has excellent service, as well as location. Have a glimpse of the old Victorian era through its terraces and nearby streets.

And that is all for gay travel in Melbourne; now, let’s move to gay travel in Sydney!