Gay travel melbourne
We dive into Melbourne's homosexual scene, spill the tea on the best queer hotspots, and share all our savvy tips and tricks so you can also have an memorable adventure in Australia's second city.
“Mullet, mustache, and incredible coffee!”
That summed up gay Melbourne for us!
Australia's second city and much-lauded rival to gay vintage Sydney. But unlike the Harbor City, Melbourne felt more European, cosmopolitan, and down-to-earth than her massive Sydney sista. Melbourne is renowned for its highly-rated restaurants, world-class museums, captivating street art, and excellent coffee.
The gay scene in Melbourne is also a lot of fun. It's mainly centered around Gertrude and Smith Street, which also happens to be rated as THEcoolest road in the world by CNN!
We visited Melbourne at the tail end of the Midsumma Festival in February, a spectacle that culminated in the Victoria Pride street party along the main gay roads, Gertrude Street, Smith Road, and Peel Street. Melbourne was also our start/end point for our Fantastic Ocean Road journey, tracing the contours of Australia's picturesque southern coast.
Magical, wonderful, majestic Melbourne is a lot of fun. We only st
LGBT
LGBT events, gay clubs and bars and all that's lgbtq+ in Melbourne
The finest gay bars in Melbourne
Sex on premises venues in Melbourne
The optimal outdoor queer-friendly bars in Melbourne
The best of Melbourne, straight to your inbox
By entering your email you approve to our Terms and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, suggestions and partner promotions.
🙌
Awesome, you're subscribed!
Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon!
Melbourne, the cultural capital of Australia.
Melbourne is Australia’s second largest city, after Sydney, and many refer to it as the cultural capital of Australia. The city boasts a European feel, complete with cosy cafes and bookshops, but the architecture and people here are a reflection of multiculturalism, perhaps more than anything else.
The gay scene is thriving, and locals are both gay-tolerant and gay-friendly. Melbourne keeps a low profile as it's considered one of Australia’s best-kept secrets; from ballet to leather and bear hotels to BBQs, anything's possible.
With gay friendly neighbourhoods such as Fitzroy, St Kilda and Carlton, there’s never a dull moment. Melbourne produces some of the best art, sports, amusement, cuisine, fashion, and architecture in the world. Melburnians take pride in their city, even if it means defending the city’s temperamental weather, sometimes going from brutal heat to rain in a matter of minutes.
Midsumma Festival is Melbourne’s largest LGBTIQ+ festival held in January each year and runs over a week of festivities. The Pride March is one of these events and starts from St Kilda with around 45,000 people participating.
Gay Melbourne
-------------------------------------
Cosmopolitan Melbourne is Australia's more refined gay destination. Amazing restaurants tempt foodies with cuisines from around the earth. Buildings ranging in manner from neoclassical to current draw architecture buffs. And the gay scene, split between the arty queers and the leather studs, has something for everyone.
The city, built during the gold rush of the 19th century, is extraordinarily well planned. Scout such inner-city laneways (narrow, pedestrian-only streets) as Hosier Lane and Degraves Highway, and you'll find a selection of cafes that rival the best in Europe. The two National Galleries, one displaying Australian art, the other exhibiting international works, are recognizable for their world-class exhibitions.
While Melbourne has a gay scene to satisfy just about everyone, you can't help but detect how much the town caters to the artsy types and leather aficionados, those with open minds and adventurous spirits will be well rewarded. Of course, everyone comes together on Sunday afternoon for drinks at the Railway Hotel.
Melbourne has a pleasantly high concentration of Greeks and Italians, so if