Melbourne is Australia’s second largest city and the state capital of Victoria. It sits in South Australia on the lower reaches of the Yarra River. You will love this city’s vibrant energy, staggering choice of restaurants, funky boutiques, café filled laneways, cool bars, and unbeatable galleries. Prahan’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.

Melbourne has a large, dynamic and very varied gay and lesbian community. The main gayscene is set around Collingwood, in the bayside and southern suburbs near St Kilda and South Yarra. Drag bars are very popular here. Only 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. Australia can be a mixed bag. The general culture, especially in the cities, is one that boasts a high level of tolerance, but there is very much a macho blokey thing going on with some which is not so welcoming towards gay people. Thankfully things are changing due in part to the visibility and friendliness of the local gay community.