Stays That Slay: Australia

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

For our first 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 boutique hotel in ultra-hip Melbourne.

Brady Hotels Jones Lane is a tucked away gem in the East End Theatre District.

Ideally located in Melbourne’s Central Business District (CBD) and steps away from trendy Fitzroy’s pubs, cafes, restaurants and gay bars, it’s the perfect base to explore one of the coolest, foodie-focused cities we’ve ever been to.

At Brady Hotels Jones Lane you’ll be immediately enthralled with the modern design and floor to ceiling windows providing plenty of Australia 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.

Finally, we’d be remiss without mentioning Brady Hotels Jones Lane’s restaurant (Sally’s Kitchen & Winebar). While we fully encourage you to get out of the hotel and explore Melbourne’s booming café and restaurant scene, you won’t be disappointed grabbing a bite at this charming eatery.

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’.

To begin with, the Hotel Grand Chancellor has spacious rooms outfitted with billowy beds, deep sofas and both harbour and mountain views. Every room is outfitted with standards such as bar fridges and cable TVs. In terms of facilities, be sure to enjoy the heated indoor swimming pool, sweat it out in the gym or kick back during afternoon tea in the Atrium Lounge.

Beyond its comfortable elements, we also selected the Chancellor for its convenient location between the CBD, MONA Ferry, Salamanca Place, and Battery Point.

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 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 One 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 sexy 5-star hotel in the heart of Sydney

Expect a lavish conclusion to our big gay Australia tour.

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 that screamed luxury. Enter Pullman Sydney Hyde Park.

This 5-star luxury property is located in Sydney’s Darlinghurst neighbourhood, a wombat’s throw from Sydney Harbour. Aside from its prized location, the best aspect of this hotel is its gorgeous rooftop pool and lounge overlooking the CBD, Hyde Park and East Sydney.

The Superior East Village Rooms we’ve reserved are bright and beautifully styled. They are some of the largest hotel rooms available in the entire city (up to 32m²!) and include king-sized beds, flat screen TVs, and decked-out, marble ensuites. But don’t just laze around your room, be sure to check out some of the sophisticated common areas such as Bar Rendezvous. Two sumptuous restaurants (Thirty6 and Windows on the Park) round out the hotel, making it the perfect accommodation to savour while in this beloved destination.

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.

Photo credits

All photos courtesy of Zagma’s House, The Hotel Grand Chancellor, Freycinet Lodge and Pullman Sydney Hyde Park.