With seemingly endless sunshine, the city can be enjoyed year-round with al-fresco dining, rooftop bars and waterside terraces. The city is booming to such an extent that Lonely Planet describes it as “Australia’s hippest city”^[1]. 

The city has a handful of gay venues and a growing calendar of regular queer dance parties including the weekly Precious. There are also regular gay events and festivals such as the popular Big Gay Day and Melt festivals.

What’s more, the city makes a great stopping point for the great tourist migration down the east coast from north Queensland to Melbourne. There are many great day-trips including jaw-dropping beaches, old-growth rainforest and gorgeous sand islands.