Australia’s best LGBTQIA+ nightlife

By Dan F Stapleton

Australians pride themselves on their friendliness – and local LGBTQIA+ communities are no exception. It doesn’t matter where you come from or what you look like, you’re sure to find a nightlife spot where you feel at home.

Let loose in Sydney’s bars and clubs

You may have already heard about Sydney’s famed Oxford Street. It’s here, on the Darlinghurst end of the street, at the edge of the city centre, that some of the city’s biggest and busiest LGBTQIA+ bars are located. Cruise along the strip and mingle with the crowds at The Colombian, a multi-level venue with a friendly neighbourhood vibe, before hitting the dance floor at gay drawcard Arq. 

In nearby Surry Hills, about a five-minute drive from the city centre, bustling pub The Beresford throws an LGBTQIA+ garden party every Sunday afternoon, complete with delicious food, mimosas and designer dogs abound. 

And in the nonconformist suburb of Newtown, a 10-minute drive west from the city, you’ll find welcoming bars such as The Bank hotel, the Newtown Hotel and the Marlborough ‘Marly’ Hotel. A short walk from the heart of Newtown brings you to Erskineville’s historic Imperial, which caters to revellers of all stripes with their iconic and nationally renowned drag shows, brunches and events.

In gritty Redfern, between Newtown and Surry Hills, The Bearded Tit proves Sydney’s queer community can embrace quirkiness and rough edges. This cosy bar is renowned for its out-there decor (such as a riot of taxidermied animals), graphic artworks and friendly vibe.

Find your niche in Melbourne

Progressive, sociable Melbourne is home to a range of venues and club nights that cater to specific strands of the LGBTQIA+ community. At the hugely popular Sircuit, in the inner-city suburb of Fitzroy, a 10-minute drive from the city centre, there’s a nude social night for exhibitionist men, weekly events for lesbians and wonderfully entertaining drag shows every weekend. 

Unpretentious DT’s Hotel in Richmond, a 15-minute drive from central Melbourne, is another drag hub. And The Laird, in Abbotsford, also a 15-minute drive from the city centre, is a space for cisgender and transgender males that hosts regular leather nights. 

If you’d prefer to mix with anyone and everyone, grab a ticket for queer Melbourne’s biggest weekly gathering, the long-running Poof Doof. It’s held at queer institution Chasers, on Chapel Street in South Yarra, a 15-minute drive from central Melbourne.

Meet LGBTQI folk around the country

Though Sydney and Melbourne are seen as the epicentres of LGBTQIA+ culture, you don’t need to visit them to find queer venues and events. Travelling north to Queensland? Brisbane’s queer-friendly establishments include the unpretentious Sportsman Hotel, in Spring Hill, a 10-minute drive from the city centre. It’s been gay-owned for more than three decades. Then there’s the upmarket Cloudland, in Fortitude Valley, about a 10-minute drive from central Brisbane, which hosts the riotous Fluffy night each Sunday. 

In South Australia's Adelaide, glittery Mary’s Poppin in the city centre is the place to make new friends. And in central Darwin in the Northern Territory, Throb Nightclub opens its doors every Friday and Saturday. 

When visiting Canberra, grab a stool at the inclusive Cube Nightclub, right next to central City Hill. And when travelling to Perth, drop in to The Court in the city centre, and Connections Nightclub, a five-minute walk from The Court, in Northbridge.

Immerse yourself in queer arts

For theatre that explores LGBTQIA+ themes, stand-up comedy with a queer streak and fabulously camp musicals, look no further than Sydney’s month-long Mardi Gras festival each February and March. Melbourne’s annual Midsumma LGBTQIA+ festival, usually held in January and February, features plenty of queer arts events, too. 

Cinema buffs shouldn’t miss Australia’s two big LGBTQIA+ film showcases: the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, which has been running every March since 1991; and Sydney’s Mardi Gras Film Festival in February.