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Victoria
Victoria’s capital city, Melbourne, is known for its trams, tree-lined boulevards, boutique hotels, great bars and restaurants, and fine Victorian architecture. Melbourne also has a deserved reputation for its café life. Its gay and lesbian population hangs out in the cafés and restaurants along Brunswick Street in Fitzroy, the shopping precinct of Chapel St in South Yarra & Prahran, and the bars and clubs of St Kilda and Commercial Road, as well as a handful of hot spots in Collingwood and Yarraville. Each January, Melbourne’s Midsumma gay and lesbian festival kicks off for 3 weeks of madness and mayhem. A street party, Carnival Day, Pride March, and Dance Parties keep the queer community buzzing, along with a host of gallery showing, theatre productions and other uniquely queer events.
For a great weekend escape, head to the Spa Country. Daylesford is about two hours’ drive from Melbourne, and this small country town leads the way in its welcome of gay and lesbian visitors. It also hosts the annual Daylesford Chill Out Festival in March each year, a post-Mardi Gras event that enables visitors to continue partying in a relaxed, rural environment.
Phillip Island with its unique wildlife, and Mornington Peninsula with its wineries, restaurants and antique stores, are an easy 1 – 2 hours drive from the city centre. The Yarra Valley - famous for its wineries and local produce - is an easy drive from Melbourne. There are more than 30 wineries in the region, including the Domaine Chandon label. En route, stop for lunch at one of the major wineries or you can picnic at one of the nearby national parks. The Great Ocean Road is one of the world’s most beautiful coastal dives, and is just a couple of hours from Melbourne to the west.
Melbourne hosts many great annual events including the "Hot August Night" staged by Melbourne Marching Girls, and the week-long Bear celebration HiBearnation in late June.
Source: Tourism Victoria / Gay Australia Guide / S Mattsson
