Stays That Slay: Australia

It’s official: Out Adventures is finally heading Down Under.

For our gay tour of Australia, we decided to focus on Melbourne, Tasmania and Sydney as well as their surrounding regions. Of course, we wanted to reserve accommodations as killer as the country’s arachnids. Check out the slick hotels we’ve settled on below.

A modern hotel in ultra-hip Melbourne.

Brady Hotels Central is a centrally located boutique hotel in the CBD

Ideally located in Melbourne’s Central Business District (CBD) and tucked away in one of the city’s hidden laneways, it’s the perfect base to explore one of the coolest, foodie-focused cities we’ve ever been to. The property is within the free tram zone and also steps away from Melbourne Central Shopping Centre and Queen Victoria Market.

At Brady Hotels Central, you’ll be immediately enthralled with the modern design and floor-to-ceiling windows providing plenty of Australian sunshine and Melbourne views. Beyond the exquisite stylings, you’ll be sleeping like a queen, literally, with beds made by the official bed supplier to Buckingham Palace. A small but well-outfitted gym is a welcomed touch considering all the Adonis-looking Aussies strutting the streets.

A harbourfront hotel in Hobart

To kick-start our time in Tassie, we’ll enjoy a comfortable accommodation right on Hobart’s harbour.

Where our Melbourne accommodation exudes ‘cool,’ our Hobart hotel defines ‘comfort.’

You’ll feel right at home at the Lenna of Hobart Hotel, in a sandstone mansion built in 1874, to be precise. Her foundations were laid from local sandstone cut from Princes Park next door. Each handmade brick holds a piece of the past, and each room has a story to tell, wrapped in National Trust-classified walls. Hear whispers of grand parties beneath chandeliers still present, and climb the turret where former owner Alexander McGregor kept vigilant watch for his returning ships.

The rooms feature mountain and garden views, plush comfy beds, flatscreen TVs, iPod docks, safes, minibars and Nespresso machines.

Romantic tip: if you’re travelling with your special someone, suggest a sunset harbour stroll just outside this hotel’s doors. 😉

Bush and sea views await at Freycinet Lodge.

For the second leg of our Tassie tour, we’ll slumber in an award-winning eco-lodge on the eastern coast of the island.

Freycinet Lodge is the only accommodation inside Freycinet National Park, an ecologically rich peninsula on Tasmania’s eastern coast. From your cabin window, you’ll either have striking views of the Tasman Sea and pink granite peaks lining its coast or of protected Australian bush with flourishing gum and eucalyptus trees. Don’t be surprised if you see a wallaby and echidna nonchalantly grazing just off your private balcony.

If you’re looking to stretch your legs, well-maintained trails lead right off of the lodge’s property towards the park’s famous sites, including Hazards Range, Wine Glass Bay and the Great Oyster Bay. Also, while the lodge does not have a swimming pool, it does have direct access to the relatively calm Richardson’s Beach.

For our Aussie adventure, we reserved both Room Cabins and Family Cabins. These quaint, well-designed spaces are smartly decorated and include king- or queen-sized beds, private balconies with the aforementioned views and ensuite washrooms. Family Cabins even come with a kitchenette—not that we imagine you’ll want to cook, given the three on-site restaurants and lounges serving excellent, locally-inspired and locally-sourced dishes.

A stellar hotel in the heart of Sydney.

In the middle of everything Sydney has to offer.

Our South Pacific sojourn wraps in Sydney just as the city’s loud and proud Pride Festival (aka Mardi Gras) kicks off. To best enjoy this world-renowned city and its fabulous annual festival, we wanted something well-located and close to all the action. Enter the Rydges World Square Hotel.

This modern property is located in Sydney’s CBD, a wombat’s throw from Sydney Harbour, Chinatown and the vibrant LGBTQ nightlife of Oxford Street. Aside from its prized location, the hotel boasts a stylish eatery and bar.

The spacious Deluxe rooms we’ve reserved are bright and beautifully styled, featuring a king-sized “Rydges Dream Bed” (or two doubles), a sleek ensuite bathroom with a separate shower and full-size bath, work station with broadband connectivity and a flat-screen TV.

Reserve your spot.

Our all-gay Australia: Summer Down Under tour departs annually in February, aligning with Sydney Mardi Gras and the country’s summer season (North America’s winter). You can find all of the nitty-gritty details, including pricing, a detailed itinerary and booking conditions here.