Sydney’s picturesque, sun-drenched (apparently), and the city that most people associate with Australia. It is a living postcard, but it’s also well known for being Australia’s gayest city. So let’s take a look at some of Sydney’s best rainbow-coloured attractions.
Gay beaches
Yes, yes, the bronzed and buff Aussie lifesaver in tiny Speedos is a bit of a stereotype, but that’s because in Sydney, they exist! Head down to North Bondi or Tamarama beaches on a hot summer’s day and you’ll find flocks of Adonis-like gay boys sunning, preening, strutting and cruising. Don’t worry, they’re there to be seen, so perve away…
Golds Gym
Of course, those boys on the beaches aren’t ready-made Ken dolls; they have to work at it, and many of them work out at Gold’s Gym just off Oxford Street in Darlinghurst. It’s a great place to pump some iron and check out the locals in shorty-shorts cruising each other. The floor-to-ceiling mirrors make that easy too, but it’s the top floor change rooms you have to beware of.
Oxford Street bars
Sydney’s main gay neighbourhood is Oxford Street, Darlinghurst from the bottom of Hyde Park down to Taylor Square, and it boasts a number of bars for the rainbow community. The Midnight Shift draws an older, mixed crowd, and is great for a trashy night out; The Colombian is a little classier, with a few more women, and – ahem – ‘straight men’. Named after the famous New York gay bar, Stonewall is the most popular, with three heaving (sometimes literally) floors of dancing, drinking and drag queens, and Palms on Oxford offers a dark basement bar and camp retro music, while around the corner in Flinders Street is Arq, where the young party boys and girls head for a serious dance. Q Bar also hosts GiRLTHING, which, as you’d expect, is for girls who like girls.
Oxford Street fashion
Before you head out though, best make sure you’re dressed for the occasion, and there are plenty of stores on Oxford Street and around Taylor Square to check out. Aussie Boys is two levels of short shorts, singlets, swimwear, underwear and anything else to ensure you’re dressed to impress. If you prefer to dress to kill, then pop into Sax Fetish, which specialises in leather and fetish gear, for men and women and all occasions. And Bang Clothing also stocks athletic wear, street wear and a very large range of small and sexy swimwear and underwear. Because sometimes that’s all you need to wear.
Newtown and Enmore
But where do the girls go, you ask? It’s true, Sydney’s gay men make a lot of colour and movement, but Newtown in Sydney’s inner west is where lesbians congregate. King Street is the main queer strip this side of town, with plenty of lesbian nights in bars and clubs. Bank Hotel’s Velvet Room for women only is every Wednesday night, The Townie has Chicks with Picks, an open-mic night, and just around the corner in Enmore Road is the Sly Fox for queer ladies. If you’re keen for a drag show over this side, head to The Imperial in Erskineville – the location made famous thanks to The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.
Mardi Gras
Mind you, Sydney’s gay reputation would be nothing without this little event. It’s a full festival of arts and events, but it culminates in the world-famous Mardi Gras Parade that consumes Oxford Street – and the rest of the city, to be honest – for one night in March. There are floats, lots of bare flesh, glitter, rainbow flags, fun, satire and political comment. And just like Sydney, it’s loud, it’s colourful and brash, and completely proud of what it is. Finish off with a bang – of your choosing – at the Mardi Gras party after the parade. You won’t regret it. Maybe.
(Feature image: John O’Nolan. Search flights to Sydney image by Yupeng Wu)
