Melbourne gay accommodation and travel guide

Gay Homestays accommodation network lists gay and lesbian guest house, bed and breakfast, tourist apartment and private gay accommodation in Melbourne, Australia. Melbourne is a vibrant and cosmopolitan gay-friendly city with many gay bars, clubs, shops and other gay services in its established inner-suburban areas.  The city has two main gay and lesbian villages, one to the north of the city’s Yarra River, and one to the south. The Southside gay village is centred on Commercial Road which divides the suburbs of South Yarra and Prahan, about five kilometres south-east of

Melbourne's city centre.  As a generalisation the Southside scene is a younger, more fashion and club orientated one, with a strong gay male population and cruising scene.  Commercial Road is also very close to Chapel Street, one of Melbourne’s hottest shopping and bar-cafe areas, which hosts many other gay and lesbian venues.  The Southside gay village stretches south into Windsor and beyond that to St Kilda, which is Melbourne’s most popular beach suburb and has had a strong gay and lesbian community since the 1960’s.  St Kilda is also host to Melbourne’s gay pride march, which is part of the Midsumma Festival - Melbourne’s largest gay festival which runs from late January to early February each year.  South Melbourne and Richmond are also significant gay-friendly suburbs in the southside scene.

Melbourne’s northside gay scene is a more alternative and indie orientated one with a strong lesbian population.  It has many leather and bear orientated venues, lesbian venues and some of the city’s best gay saunas and sex shops.  It encompasses the suburbs of Abbotsford, Collingwood, Fitzroy, Northcote and Brunswick.

As a city Melbourne is renowned for its shopping and bar-cafe culture – the suburbs mentioned above have more than enough to keep any avid shopaholic or bar-fly busy for days.  If you’re looking to escape the shops however Melbourne has plenty for you too - a walk along the Yarra River’s Southbank is a must-do for the first time visitor.  It hosts many great public buildings and spaces as well as bars and restaurants to keep you fed and watered along the way.  Further up the river you have the choice of the unique and iconic Federation Square on the north side or continuing along the south side of the river into the city’s beautiful Botanic Gardens.  On a fine day it is great introduction to the city, but beware – Melbourne is also infamous for its incredibly changeable weather, so check the forecast before you head out and be prepared for the unexpected!

If you want to get out of the city the massive Port Phillip Bay to the south has many interesting towns, beaches and national parks worth exploring and the beginning of the world renowned Great Ocean Road is only a couple of hours drive away and is a must-see for most.

Why not visit Melbourne? Use the room search box to find your lesbian and gay accommodation; gay guesthouse, B&B, apartment or a private guest room in Sydney. Unlike impersonal hotels we offer our customers a unique experience by connecting them with local people living and working in Sydney. If you have a spare room in your home, an apartment or gay guest house in Sydney, or any other city in Australia, then please add your accommodation.