Photo Credit: Beau Wade

TripOut Gay Travel:
Melbourne

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Gay Friendly Rating: Gay Friendly Rating Very welcoming; this place is gay-tastic!
Australia's most stylish city serves up killer food, fun nightlife and a can't-miss artsy vibe.

Melbourne Fast Facts:

  • Gayborhood A more bohemian, somewhat older crowd thrives in north Melbourne (the Collingwood and Abbotsford neighborhoods); the southern area of South Yarra, Prahran and St. Kilda are more fashion-forward and youth-oriented.
  • Read Up! For LGBT activities and interests, pick up or surf the Melbourne Community Voice (http://www.mcv.com.au), Q Magazine (http://www.qmagazine.com.au) and B News (http://www.bnews.net.au).
  • Wild Women Kath & Kim, one of Australia's most enduring sitcoms, is set in a fictional Melbourne suburb. Watch the original Aussie version before your visit - a few well-placed quotes will send your Melburnian friends howling.
  • Foster's, Children. The brewing company Foster's was started in Melbourne in 1886 by two brothers from New York. That said, no Australian we know drinks Foster's. Instead, try a Victoria Bitter (Australia's largest selling brand) or Carlton, which are both owned by Foster's.
  • Hot & Cold If you're going to Melbourne in the colder months, take a coat. High temperatures in mid-winter (June and July) rarely top 60 Fahrenheit, and nights are typically in the 40s or less. Summer highs can be in the 80s.
  • Tram Slam Once in town, the way to get around is by tram. Basic fares start at A$3.20, or A$6.10 for a day pass (bring coins). Discounts are available for short trips, or the City Circle tram loops around the city center for free during business hours. For more information, visit www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au.
  • Credit Crunch Good news: Melbourne taxis accept credit cards. Bad news: They add 10 percent to your fare for credit card charges. Mitigating news: tipping is not mandatory - most locals don't tip, but it's considered kind to leave the change.
  • Arch Rivals To annoy a Melburnian, mention how much you love Sydney.
  • Fly Qantas Qantas is Australia's premier airline, of course. They can get you to Oz in classic style. After all, they've been flying the GLBT community to Australia, Sydney Mardi Gras and New Zealand for decades. Visit http://qantas.com.

Melbourne: Prodigiously Diverse

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Not long ago, we were sitting in a café here when we overheard one visitor sum it up perfectly: “Melbourne surprises you.” This city of 3.7 million (Australia’s second largest) may not be well known to North Americans, but it’s been... Read More Melbourne: Prodigiously...
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Melbourne Top 5

Don't leave town before checking out...
TripOut Top Five
  1. Midsumma Melbourne
  2. National Gallery of Victoria
  3. The Peel
  4. The Prince
  5. Australian Rules Football

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