Sydney Gay and Lesbian Vacations
SydneyGay
Your gay Sydney vacation
Sydney is easily the LGBT capital of the Southern Hemisphere. Where else could a very gay Mardi Gras – complete with bear jamborees – be televised on national TV, where grandparents and children stake out their spots on the parade route hours beforehand? Sydney also has a form of civil unions, the Relationship Declaration Program, and gays can be found all over the city, cavorting on the beaches, performing drag in a cornucopia of “hotels” (the Australian names for pubs), living casually out, and generally making the city feel like a San Francisco – albeit with better weather!
Featured Hotels
LGBT-welcoming Sydney hotels
Pullman Sydney Hyde Park
Medusa Boutique Hotel Sydney
Diamant Boutique Hotel Sydney
Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel at Circular Quay
Best in Stay
LGBT Best in Stay Sydney hotels
The Kirketon Hotel Sydney
Diamant Boutique Hotel Sydney
ibis Sydney World Square
BLUE Sydney - A Taj Hotel
Swiss Grand Resort and Spa
Novotel Sydney Manly Pacific
Flights
| Departure | Arrival | Travel dates | Round-trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | Sydney | Wed, Feb 6 - Sun, Feb 10 | $1,328 |
| San Francisco | Sydney | Thu, Feb 7 - Mon, Feb 18 | $1,328 |
| New York | Sydney | Fri, Mar 1 - Wed, Mar 13 | $1,289 |
| Shanghai | Sydney | Sat, Jan 5 - Mon, Jan 14 | $1,198 |
| Auckland | Sydney | Sun, Feb 10 - Thu, Feb 14 | $315 |
| Nadi | Sydney | Thu, Feb 14 - Thu, Feb 28 | $601 |
| Philadelphia | Sydney | Wed, Feb 6 - Wed, Feb 27 | $1,858 |
| Minneapolis | Sydney | Tue, Feb 5 - Tue, Feb 19 | $1,880 |
| Chicago | Sydney | Tue, Feb 5 - Tue, Mar 5 | $1,860 |
| Vancouver | Sydney | Tue, Feb 12 - Tue, Feb 19 | $1,480 |
| Newark | Sydney | Mon, Feb 4 - Mon, Mar 4 | $1,819 |
| Charlotte | Sydney | Tue, Jan 29 - Thu, Feb 28 | $1,876 |
Why book on Orbitz?
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Miss Richfield 1981 says it best in this video—not all travel sites are created equal. When you book on Orbitz, your travel dollars work harder. Here’s why:
- We’re the ONLY leading travel agency with a perfect Corporate Equality Index Score from the Human Rights Campaign, with two GLAAD Media awards to boot.
- We’re the ONLY leading travel site with filters for hotel reviews by other LGBT travelers.
- We feature the top gay-friendly accommodations, including Best in Stay hotels and gay resorts.
- We’re proud sponsors of many LGBT charities and events, year after year.
Sydney highlights
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LGBT Sydney
Sydney’s main LGBT strip is along Oxford Street running through Darlinghurst and Paddington, with neighboring Surry Hills also colored very lavender. Lesbians congregate in Leichhardt and Newton.
Gay beaches
Not only can you spot queers ogling the famous Aussie lifeguards in their skimpy gear at the beaches of Manly and Bondi. Gay-filled beaches abound as well, from Tamarama (aka Glamarama), adjoining Bondi to four local nude beaches as well – Obelisk, Cobblers, Washaway, and Lady Bay – all found within the Sydney National Park, northeast of central Sydney.
Landmarks
Beyond the gay and lesbian scene, Sydney is a world-class tourist destination in its own right. Catch a top tier performance at the Sydney Opera House, take a guided climb over the Harbour Bridge, check out the excellent Sydney Aquarium at the renovated Darling Harbour, or take day trips to go hiking in the nearby Blue Mountains, wine tasting in the Hunter Valley, or whale watching near Port Stephens.
Insider tips for Sydney gay travel
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Visit Sydney in the summer
Although winter (June-August) temps are moderate, you really want to experience Sydney in all its glory during its summer (late November through early March), especially for the huge Mardi Gras (happening every February or March) and the Sleaze Ball (in November).
Learn the lingo
Aussies love nicknaming, shortening their English, and creating playful slang for everything. A primer: Always say “G’day. “Bloke” means “guy,” “mate” means “buddy,” “cozzie” or “budgie smuggler” means “Speedo.” “She’ll be right” means “Everything will be ok.”
Don’t stand up for Melbourne
Sydneysiders and Melbournites have a longstanding rivalry that is both friendly and serious. Melbourne residents see Sydney locals as silly sun-bleached party boys, while Sydneysiders see their Melbourne cousins as stuck up and dour. Don’t get caught in between!