Gay Travel Melbourne

Melbourne is the more sophisticated European cousin to Sydney’s sun-drenched Australian vibe. The city is very continental, in both attitude and architecture. Melbourne centers around its business district, a compact grid system that’s anything but square. While on paper, the Central Business District (CBD) is all right angles, the narrow, hidden alleyways that aren’t on a map are where Melbourne really happens. Turn off the main thoroughfares, and you will inevitably discover a locals-only restaurant or an indie Australian music act sweating away on stage.

Metlink is Melbourne’s extensive network of trams, trains, and buses and will take you to any place that your own two feet can’t. During the wetter winter months of May through October, this system is incredibly useful! Travelers should also be appropriately insulated because Melbourne’s intense and unpredictable weather can leave the unprepared soaking wet and cold.

Melbourne Gay Scene

Melbourne lies in stark contrast to Sydney’s beach-bronzed tans and surf-chiseled bodies. This city has a sophisticated, professional vibe that caters to a different crowd of Australians – a crowd that, among other things, doesn’t mind the less-than-Australian weather that sometimes washes over the city! The Midsumma Gay and Lesbian Festival takes advantage of the warmer months every January and February, with art events, a street parade, and a ball.

Southeast of the CBD, you’ll find the gays in South Yarra and Prahran. Rainbow flags outnumber Aussie ones, and every other couple is two boys arm in arm. There are blocks and blocks of gay-owned restaurants and businesses. Bookshops have extensive collections of LGBT media.

St. Kilda’s is Melbourne’s working-class beach town with an impressive lesbian scene. The city plays host to the annual gay Pride March, which starts at Lakeside Drive and heads down Fitzroy Street to the Catani Gardens. A haven for the bohemian and artsy, a trip to the popular LGBT neighborhood is never a disappointment. While the best of gay pubs are in Fitzroy and St. Kilda’s, South Yarra and Prahran are the entirety of Melbourne’s gay club scene. Any given weekend, club-goers need only pick a rainbow-clad door to find sweaty action. Bar 362 is a great place for a cocktail. Get lost upstairs at Sircuit with their nightly drag shows, or get found at the Laird, the local men-only leather den and Australia's longest-running gay-owned and operated bar and accommodation. 

When to Visit

In the Southern Hemisphere, Melbourne's coldest winter months are in June and July. So, if you're looking for a warmer climate, plan your trip in the months from March to May or September to November. The summers and around the Christmas and New Year's Eve holidays can be crowded and extra expensive.

Melbourne's biggest LGBTQ event is the Midsumma Festival—a queer arts and cultural festival that takes place from the end of January through early February.

Melbourne Gay-Friendly Activities & Attractions

Melbourne is largely regarded as an arts and culture destination, with many museums, street art, and a thriving community of creative locals.

Australian Center for the Moving Image

While the many galleries and museums encompass classic, modern, and indigenous works, the Australian Center for the Moving Image (ACMI) pays homage to the art of video. The museum collection includes documentary films as well as nonsensical abstract images. The museum has various futuristic booths with high-quality screens, comfortable seating, and headsets that allow visitors to screen any one of a dozen current features.

Royal Botanic Gardens

Melbourne's Royal Gardens were founded in 1846 and have almost 50,000 individual plants representing 8,500 different species. It's a great opportunity to learn more about Australia's native plants and geography.

Queen Victoria Market

One of Melbourne's biggest tourist attractions is the Queen Victoria Market. It's the largest open-air marketing in the entirety of the Southern Hemisphere! Built in the 19th century, it's easy to get lost and wander through the aisles here, but that's the best way to find authentic and original Australian souvenirs, as well.

Melbourne Gay-Friendly Dining

The CBD has Australia’s best dining. From dim sum in Chinatown on Lonsdale Street to spanakopita in the Greek District, the food in the CBD is international and satisfying.

The Bottom End

Located in the CBD, this funky diner, pub, and disco attracts a young and fun crowd every night. It's designed like a dive bar you might find in Los Angeles or the type of place where Charles Bukowski might have hunt out in. Beers, burgers, and big screens with a no-hassle attitude make it a fun and lively restaurant to start off a wild weekend.

Chin Chin

For a unique restaurant, dine at Chin Chin which features an Asian-focused menu in a cool & contemporary setting. Local art is on display throughout the restaurant, and there's even a cocktail bar with DJs hosting special sets on weekends.

Melbourne Gay-Friendly Bars & Nightlife

The nightlife is energetic and world-class, but there’s also a slew of wholesome daytime activities. There is wonderful shopping to choose from and a bevy of museums in Federation Square, which you’ll find at the southern edge of the CBD (near the Flinders Street train station).

The Laird Hotel

Opened in the 1980s but temporarily closed, it's Australia's longest-running gay-owned and operated bar. Because of that, it's got a great reputation for both locals and visitors. You'll find a large backyard beer garden, free pool tables, and regular themed nights with DJs, trivia, and drag.

Sircuit Bar

Melbourne's other most famous gay bar is Sircuit which hosts more regular drag nights (like a drag bingo and a drag roulette) as well as regular Friday night drag shows. It's a chic club and nightlife spot with no cover charge, making it popular all weekend long.

Safety

Like most of Australia, Melbourne is mostly very safe. The country legalized same-sex marriage in 2017 after public sentiment turned in favor, so you're unlikely to feel any less safe with a same-sex partner here than any other large, metropolitan city.

Related Blog Posts

View All Blog Posts in Melbourne

Lions, Tigers, and Bears…in Your Living Room?!  Oh My!

And the Most Livable Cities in the World Are…

Nearly 7% of Australians Identify As Gay