Is Australia LGBTQIA+ friendly? 

Australia is an extremely friendly destination for travelers of the LGBTQIA+ community thanks to its welcoming culture, impressive anti-discrimination laws, and diverse population. This means that travelers of the community (or those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual) should feel generally safe, supported, and accepted anywhere in the country and shouldn't be worried about displaying PDA with their same-sex partner.  

This is largely due to numerous governmental laws making discrimination based on sexual orientation illegal in all states and the variety of gay-friendly pubs, restaurants, hotels, clubs, and other public venues scattered throughout all major cities. It's also believed that Australia has a large population of LGBTQIA+ people (around 2.5 million) and their presence can be felt in specific suburbs in Sydney (Darlinghurst and Newton), Melbourne (St Kilda and Brunswick) and Brisbane (Fortitude Valley). 

Despite Australia being home to a wide demographic, there are still some remote and conservative regions where same-sex relationships are frowned upon so be aware of that when travelling away from urban areas and well-populated cities. 

Queer culture in Australia 

Queer culture is well and truly alive and thriving in Australia with cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane all offering plenty of gay-friendly establishments and neighborhoods. There are also several pride festivals including Sydney's 'Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras' and Melbourne's 'Midsumma Festival' that happens throughout the year for queer travelers to participate in. But pride festivals aren't where the LGBTQIA+ cultural activities end with plenty of other events geared toward the community organized during the year such as the Queer Screens Mardi Gras Film Festival in Sydney and Brisbane's Queer Film Festival. 

Other notable gay-friendly establishments to get your drink on include: 

  • Oxford Street (specifically the Colombian and the Stonewall), Sydney 
  • Sly Fox, Sydney 
  • The Laird, Melbourne
  • Sircuit Bar, Melbourne 
  • Poof Doof, Melbourne
  • The Sportsman Hotel, Brisbane
  • Connections Nightclub, Perth 
  • My Lover Cindy, Adelaide 
  • Flamingos Dance Bar, Hobart 

Solo travel and room sharing

At Intrepid, we think feeling both welcomed and comfortable is really important so we want everyone who books a trip with us to feel that way, regardless of whether you're travelling alone or with a group/companion. If you're a solo traveler, we'll automatically pair you with a person who's of the same gender (according to passport information) for accommodation during your trip. If that's not okay with you, kindly reach out to us during the booking process and we can make alternate arrangements. There may also be some solo rooms available depending on the trip which will be communicated to you at the time of booking if this is your preference. 

Return to Australia FAQs

Our Australia trips 

6 Days From 1355

Explore Cradle Mountain National Park and the Bay of Fires on this nature-filled...

4 Days From 1110

Discover the history, culture and incredible landscapes of Australia’s Red Centre on a...

5 Days From 1470

Roadtrip with Intrepid to southern WA. From Fremantle, take five days visiting Margaret...

5 Days From 1781

Discover the untamed beauty of north west Tasmania on a 5-day tour departing from...

6 Days From 1692

Tackle one of Australia’s greatest treks, among some of its most incredible scenery, on...

Tailor-Made trips

Take four or more on an exclusive trip and tailor your itinerary

6 Days From 2040

Discover Australia’s Red Centre in comfort with a six-day Intrepid adventure. Visit...

7 Days From 2050

Travel from Sydney to Brisbane and soak up the best of Australia’s east coast beaches,...

5 Days From 2110

Take a five-day adventure tour through the coastal wilderness of Kuku Yalanji land,...

6 Days From 4280

Uncover 600 million years of history on a Premium adventure through Australia’s Red...

3 Days From 803

Discover the best of Australia’s Red Centre on a three-day adventure with Intrepid,...

7 Days From 3045

Travel from Exmouth to Perth on an incredible 7-day adventure along Australia’s west...

6 Days From 1960

Discover the staggering landscapes of Australia’s Top End on an incredible 6-day...

Read more about Australia