Stays That Slay: Australia

You’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto. This is Oz!

For our gay tour of Australia, we’re setting our sights on Melbourne, Tasmania and Sydney as well as their surrounding regions, so of course we want to reserve accommodations as killer as the country’s arachnids. Check out the slick hotels we’re checking-in to!

Hilton Little Queen Street, Melbourne

Classic cosmopolitan with stellar city views!

Ideally situated in the center of downtown Melbourne, the Hilton Little queen Street is the perfect base for exploring one of the coolest, foodie-focused cities we’ve ever been to. Once you’ve settled in from your (likely lengthy) flight, you could close the blackout curtains and plunge into the plush pillows for a power nap… but you’ve just arrived and it’s exciting!

With malls, shops, and restaurants galore surrounding the hotel, you’re only steps away from anything you’ll need. And if you’re keen for a nightcap after your walkabout, head down to The Douglas Cub, a 1930s Art Deco-style bar that specializes in bespoke cocktails and boutique spirits.

Thirsty for more details on Melbourne? Check out our Gay Guide to Melbourne.

Lenna Of Hobart Hotel, 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. 😉

Freycinet Lodge, Wine Glass Bay

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.

The Grace Hotel, Sydney.

Smack dab in the middle of everything!

Our South Pacific sojourn wraps up 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 sought out something well-located and close to all the action. Enter… The Grace Hotel.

A historic icon on the outside, each classically styled and well-appointed room on the inside is perfect for showing off to any new friends you meet while parading the streets. Of course we all need to rejuvenate with some quiet time, but did we mention it’s Mardi Gras?! Besides, after a few days in the Tasman countryside, you’ll be raring to jump into the Sydney action where anything’s possible! You won’t see any roos or koalas here in the city, but maybe you’ll get lucky and see a Hemsworth – crikey!

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.