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Sydney
Sydney is the gay and lesbian capital of Australia where you can sunbathe, surf, go to the opera, dine in comfort with your partner and go clubbing - all in one day! Oxford Street is the entertainment hub, with its restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and shopping But Norton Street in Leichhardt and King Street in Newtown are strong rivals Whatever you want, you'll find it here
You can also enjoy the Hunter Valley wine district and the spectacular scenery of the Blue Mountains, both within easy reach of the city Further north is Byron Bay - a laid-back and friendly coastal town popular with gay and lesbian travellers around new year when the locals put on Rainbow Circus, a wild dance party

Melbourne
Melbourne has a large and dynamic gay and lesbian community Prahran's Commercial Road and South Yarra's Chapel Street offer fabulous food, fun and clothes Collingwood's Smith Road and Fitzroy's Brunswick Street are bursting with cafes offering fantastic pasta and gelato you could happily drown in

Midsumma is Melbourne's premier gay and lesbian festival, held during January and February Centred on a huge community pride march, it includes a carnival day, street parties, arts, performances and a thumping great dance party, Red Raw

A short drive from Melbourne is Daylesford, the gay capital of rural Australia If the partying’s all too much, this is the perfect retreat The Chill Out festival held in March offers fabulous food, wine and music

Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital of Australia's 'Sunshine State', Queensland The action happens in the west end of Fortitude Valley - known as "the Valley" The city's Pride Festival is held in June and July and includes a march, fair day, film festival and dance parties

Two hours north is the beautiful and secluded beach area of Noosa, a popular spot for recovering from the Brisbane festival or Mardi Gras

For the delights of the Great Barrier Reef head to Cairns in Tropical North Queensland It offers hotels, resorts and bars dedicated to lesbian and gay tourists

Adelaide
South Australia was the first state to legalise homosexuality, back in 1975 The busiest time of the year for the community here is the arts festival Feast First held in 1997, it now has more than 105 events, attracting more than 60,000 people during three weeks in October and November Events are held throughout the historic and picturesque city of Adelaide, from the Aquatic Centre and Performing Arts Centre to the zoo

It's also just a short drive to the renowned vineyards of the Clare, McLaren and Barossa Valleys

Perth
Perth makes up for being the most isolated of Australia's capitals by providing everything you want right there The Gay Pride festival draws 5,000 participants and 75,000 supportive spectators It's a dazzling achievement from a small but very proud gay and lesbian community Perth's reputation for glorious food, wine and weather is well deserved Northbridge hosts some great gay and lesbian venues along with an excellent selection of restaurants and cafes

Margaret River - home to some of the best wineries in Australia - offers fabulous wine-tasting and numerous gay-friendly tours and accommodation

Darwin
Darwin, capital of the Northern Territory, is a fascinating city with a strong blend of indigenous and Asian influences The gay and lesbian community is small but active Numerous venues host lesbian and gay nights The first dedicated club opened recently and is a roaring success

Alice Springs
Imagine a dance party in the middle of the desert right in the heart of the driest continent on earth The memories would stay for ever! Spin FX is Alice Springs' annual gay and lesbian dance party held on the weekend after Mardi Gras The Red Centre _ as the area is known - can provide an amazing experience Enjoy the vast beauty of Uluru and the Olgas while you're there

Canberra
Canberra, Australia's national capital, is not known for a high-profile gay and lesbian community, but it does offer some of the best galleries, museums and monuments in Australia Explore history and culture and still be assured of gay-friendly venues, restaurants and cafes

Hobart
The island state of Tasmania is known for its natural beauty and cultural heritage More recently, it has become known for its gay-friendly attitude

Gay and Lesbian Tourism  
Australia (GALTA) is an Australia-wide network of tourism professionals who recognise the needs of the gay and lesbian traveller seeking quality tourism related services  Visit wwwgaltacomau