With Sydney, Australia hosting the first ever WorldPride (Feb 17 to Mar 5, 2023) in the Southern Hemisphere, there’s plenty more to queer about all year round. See below for a range of LGBTQ+ products, experiences, and events across the country, then head down under for a gay ole time!

Western Australia 

Ampersand Estates (LGBTQ+ Owned)  

South of the Swan Valley wine region in the up-and-coming Pemberton wine region, Ampersand Estates opened its cellar doors December 13, 2021. Owners Corrie Scheepers and Melissa Bell are both members of the LGBTQIA+ community.  Surrounded by the majestic Donnelly River and the ancient karri forests of Easter National Park, Ampersand Estates is much more than a winery. The Estate offers three, private luxury accommodations, which opened in March 2022: the two-bedroom Settlers’ Cottage; the Homestead, which features a dining room, large kitchen, and library as well as five ensuite bedrooms; and the Vintner’s Residence, which offers five elegant bedrooms overlooking the vineyard. Ampersand Estates also offers two wedding venues; curated picnics that can be enjoyed across the 130+ acre estate; and Rainfall Distillery – Australia’s only single harvest distillery – producing vodka and gin using the finest local ingredients. 

Adie Chapman , founder of Oh Hey WA! is one of Perth’s leading LGBTQIA+ advocates in the tourism community. Adie and her sister operate fun, informative and unforgettable walking tours designed to help locals and visitors discover things they would never find on their own and learn more about the amazing city of Perth. Their tours explore streets, laneways and public spaces showcasing art, history, bars and architecture sharing quirky stories and fun facts along the way. In 2021, Adie was awarded the Sir David Brand Young Achiever Medal in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the WA Tourism Industry, and she is an enthusiastic advocate for Perth’s tourism, hospitality, arts and more. 

Perth’s annual Fringe World Festival is famed as being a safe space for inclusivity, self-expressions, and being true to who you are. Dozens of amazing LGBTQIA+ artists perform each year, including drag shows and other integrations across burlesque, cabaret, circus, comedy and more. Performers come from around the globe to showcase their talents at the world’s third biggest Fringe festival, where more than a million tickets are sold. 

Broome Pride is a celebration in one of the world’s last true wilderness areas. Ash and his partner Jensen from Air Kimberley are involved as sponsors of this event, conducting magnificent scenic flights across the region. The Mardi Gras-inspired celebration includes daily events and workshops such as Drag Bingo; Mardi Gras Cabaret; a Drag Queen Makeup Workshop; and more. 

The Court and Connections in Perth are two inner-city entertainment venues that are lively and stylish nightspots. The Court is one of the biggest and most popular gay venues in Perth, attracting a large gay & lesbian crowd and serving delicious food – their pizzeria is one of the best in town.  The venue hosts regular events including drag and karaoke nights and the outdoor terrace is the perfect oasis during the hot summer months. Nestled in the heart of Northbridge since 1975, Connections, also known as “The Club” prides itself on being Perth’s premiere gay and lesbian nightspot and for providing the most upfront music, played by the best DJs in town, having the friendliest atmosphere and service, plus the wildest theme nights and entertainment. With something for everyone, visitors can dance all night in the main room to the latest and future sounds, enjoy the city views and fresh air on the terrace or kick back with friends, sipping the tastiest cocktails to the smoothest soundtrack in the lounge. 

Tasmania

TasPride Festival

This coming-together of the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies brings an atmosphere of celebration and pride to Tasmania. Many of the festival’s flagship events will take place in Hobart over the Regatta long-weekend, including the raising of the pride flag at Hobart Town Hall, the opening night cocktail party, the Pride March, the River Derwent cruise, the Queer Cake Bake at Farm Gate Market, and Madge’s Picnic. Some offshoot events will take place during February, organized by smaller Tasmanian community groups. In previous years, events have included a queer film night in the Huon Valley. Prices for events are TBC, though some events will be free. Funds raised at ticketed events will go towards supporting the LGBTQIA+ community.

Mona Foma

The Mona crew will bring its annual summer festival to Hobart and Launceston. A string of program events will include a Queer Woodchopping performance art piece, and a colorful celebration of nightlife known as the Party, which will include queer acts and promote a safe space for the LGBTQIA+ community. Other eclectic live music and art at this festival will take place across Launceston and Hobart and include the likes of Bon Iver, Peaches and Pavement. The lawns at the famous Museum of Old and New Art in Hobart will host an array of local and international talent across three balmy summer evenings at the Mona Sessions, which cost $75/$65 each to attend. Tickets for the Launceston equivalent – the Old Tafe Sessions – are $55/$45 each. Bon Iver’s performance at MyState Bank Arena is priced at $99-$129. 

Hobart Out Tennis Tournament

While the Domain Tennis Centre hosts the famous Hobart International female tennis tournament this January, another competition will take place alongside it. Lesser-known, but still entertaining and filled with adrenaline-inducing rallies, Hobart Out Tennis will again host this accredited tournament as part of the Gay and Lesbian Tennis Alliance (GLTA) world tour during the lead-up to Melbourne’s AO Glam Slam. Tickets are $90 for one event, or $105 for two events. Entry includes Hobart International WTA semis and finals tickets.

Judy’s

The second and fourth Saturday of every month. Pussay Poppins is perhaps Tasmania’s most famous drag queen. As well as popping up at events around the state, and sometimes interstate, she hosts queer dance party Judy’s as a regular gig at the popular club venue High Altar in Hobart. Judy’s evenings include live drag performances, DJs and entertainment, and create a safe space for queer and LGBTQIA+ people to dance and express themselves. Tickets for this event range from $15-$25, with occasional one-off Judy’s events costing around $35, such as the New Year’s Eve Ruby Slipper Ball in 2022. Expect sparkles, dazzling lights, energetic club beats, queer anthems, and comedic and dramatic live entertainment.

TasPride Artfully Queer Exhibition

A contemporary display of provocative visual installations is set to fill Salamanca Arts Centre at the TasPride Artfully Queen Exhibition. This annual event highlights the talent and creativity of Tasmanian LGBTQIA+ artists of varying experience levels. Art pieces appear on display at the Long Gallery in Salamanca, with money raised covering the costs of the event run by the local not-for-profit organization TasPride. The theme for the 2022 installment of this exhibition was “Transform”. One of the featured artworks from this exhibit depicted a caterpillar. This artwork is set to feature on a float at the upcoming WorldPride parade in Sydney in 2023. TasPride’s Artfully Queer Exhibition usually takes place in springtime, around September, but 2023 dates are yet to be confirmed.

TasPride Queens Ball

Typically taking place on a long weekend, TasPride holds its annual Queens Ball for a night of creative performances and fun. The 2022 edition featured international artists including DJ Alex Taylor, and other talents such as DJ Amanda Louise, MisTy DelRay and Rosa Rita. This event usually takes place in Hobart at venues including the Observatory Bar and raises funds for TasPride. The event often coincides with Dark Mofo, though the two are separate. June 2023.

LIMBO

The non-profit organization LIMBO hosts parties, queer sports events and fundraisers. Parties organized by LIMBO and featuring drag performers, queer DJs and LGBTQIA+ artists have filled Hobart’s most vibrant venues, from In the Hanging Garden to the Grand Poobah. Keep an eye out for LIMBO’s offshoot events amid larger festivals, bringing local drag talent such as the Ana Thema, Trey L’Trash and Pussay Poppins to the fore. Dates and event information for 2023 are yet to be announced. The most recent LIMBO event was priced at $60 per ticket.

Dark Mofo

Dark Mofo is Mona’s midwinter festival in Tasmania, delving into centuries-old winter solstice rituals. Marking 10 years since the festival launched, signature events will make their return during the darkest and shortest days of the year in June, including the Nude Solstice Swim, the Winter Feast, and Night Mass – a quirky, culturally enriching late-night celebration that has traditionally offered a platform for LGBTQIA+ artists, including local drag queens and international club performers. Night Mass is usually ticketed at between $50-$100. Other events like the Winter Feast can cost between $10-$50, while larger-scale live music events can cost upwards of $100. Many of the art installations appearing around Hobart as part of Dark Mofo are free to view. June 8 – 22, 2023.

New South Wales

Splendour Tailored Tours

Gay owner Carly Rea offers private and small group private tours to Sydney & NSW greatest destinations. Carly works and supports many local LGBTQIA+ communities and organizations. Splendour’s offers include sightseeing, foodie, architectural, nature & wildlife tours in Sydney, Southern Highlands, Hunter Valley wine country and the Blue Mountains.  

Broken Heel Festival, Broken Hill

The Broken Heel Festival is a fabulous three-day festival held every September which celebrates the theatrical anniversary of “Priscilla Queen of the Desert” at her spiritual home; The Palace Hotel and the outback township of Broken Hill, NSW. Fueled with more desert, disco, and divas than one could imagine, there could be no better way to experience Gay Australia, champagne in hand of course!

Planetdwellers 

Planetdwellers is a LGBTQ+ Travel, Tours, Events company in the middle of Oxford Street, Sydney. Proudly gay-owned and operated, Mario, Barry, and Tim are the perfect guys to contact when travelers are looking for a special tour of Sydney with a gay twist, or any dedicated help for your gay travels within Australia. One of their top in-house tours around Sydney is the Sydney Gay Village Walking Tour which explores Oxford Street and the surrounding area, talks about the famous events and history of the area and what it means to be gay in Sydney today.

Queensland

Big Gay Day at the Wickham

This mini-Mardi Gras is a local street festival that has been running for more than 20 years, with a bill featuring live music acts, street performers, and drag artists. Featuring musical acts, drag extravaganzas and so much more all in support of local LGBTQIA+ charities, ATSAQ and LGBTI Domestic Violence Foundation. Established in 2000 as a celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community and a way to raise vital funds for charities, Big Gay Day has evolved to one of Brisbane’s biggest street parties. The event now closes an inner-city street to drop in an epic main stage, bringing an incredible lineup of local, national & international LGBTQIA+ entertainers to Brisbane. April 30, 2023.

Sportsman Hotel

For a taste of Brisbane’s premier hospitality, travelers should kick it off with a drink at the Sportsman Hotel—and “Sporties” is the city’s only completely gay-owned and -operated bar and nightclub, serving the LGBTQIA+ community for over 30 years. It’s where you’ll find the warmest welcome and an instant foray into the local community.

Click here to find out even more on Queer Austraila.

About the Author

Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist based in Toronto with a focus on tourism, lifestyle, entertainment and community issues. He has written several travel articles and has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors and other public personalities. He’s willing to take on any assignments of interest, attend parties with free booze, listen to rants, and travel the world in search of the great unknown. He’s eager to discover the new, remember the past, and look into the future.