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Blue Mountains (New South Wales) -- area code (61-438)

Click here for Blue Mountain hotels and accommodations.

Darwin (Northern Territory) -- area code (61-8)

Darwin, reputed to have more lightning strikes than anywhere else in the world, has a population approaching 150,000 (that's about 6,000 Utopians).

• Frangipani Holidays
  Suite 15A Anthony Plaza Mall, 8942-3333, FAX 8942-3344, email. Frangipani Holidays is a gay-and-lesbian-friendly wholesale travel company which has been operating in Darwin for over eight years.

• Throb Nightclub (mixed)
  Level 1, 64 Smith St, 8942-3435. Friendly venue popular with local gays and lesbians. Drag shows and dance beats.

SYDNEY (New South Wales) -- area code (61-2)

The population of Sydney is over 4 million (that's more than 160,000 Utopians) and the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is Australia's largest tourist attraction, swelling the rainbow ranks even further for weeks before and after this huge annual event.

Most of the city's gay bars are located in its trendy Oxford Street street area in Darlinghurst (known affectionately as "Darlo"), with another pocket of venues around King Street in Newtown, and still more sprinkled around town. The lesbian scene gravitates to Erskineville and Leichhart (nicknamed "Dykehardt").

Take a stroll down Oxford Street and shop the trendy boutiques, or sip a cuppa in a sidewalk café and check out the locals, known as "Sydneysiders". Pick up a copy of the free Sydney Star Observer and Lesbians on the Loose (LOTL), SX, or one of the other gay scene rags, for what's hot at the moment.

Click here for Sydney hotels and accommodations.

• Bank Hotel
  342 King St, Newtown, 9557-1692. Mainly popular with women.

  Comments from Utopians:

  "The Bank has recently been refurbished and doesn't have the same kind of vibe anymore - full of yuppies. They do girls' night on Wed." -- Amanda S., Nov 19, 2006

• BumpHer Bar
  Burdekin Hotel, 2 Oxford St, Darlinghurst. Fri nights for women. Dancing and occasional drag king shows. Younger, sporty crowd.
• Landsdowne Hotel (mixed)
  2-6 City Rd (intersection at Broadway), 9211-2325. Best on Fri and Sat after 10pm. Lesbian theme parties on every "Spicy Friday".
• Leichhardt Hotel
  126 Balmain Rd (at Short St), Leichhardt. Lesbian-managed pub with games, pool tables, beer garden, and a chance to meet some of the local Dykes on Bikes who kick back here.
• The Martini (mixed)
  Pier One Parkroyal, 11 Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay, 8298-9999, email. Stylish modern bar with great location on the Walsh Bay wharves with harbour views. As the name suggests, martinis are the specialty here, in more than a dozen styles, as well as other scrumptious cocktails. Sit outdoors in the warm weather to take in the fresh air and cruising (on the water, of course).
• The Newtown Hotel
  174 King St, Newtown, 9557-1329. Mixed lesbian and gay crowd in the heart of the Newtown gay scene. Upstairs lounge, pool table, DJ, dance beats, and drag shows.
• The Sly Fox
  199 Enmore Rd, Enmore (5 minutes walk from Newtown). Popular with lesbians.

  Comments from Utopians:

  "The Sly Fox does dyke night on Wed, including drag king performances. It can be a bit 'cliquey'...full of the 'cool' Newtown lesbians! ;) " -- Amanda S., Nov 19, 2006

• Stonewall Hotel
  175 Oxford St, Darlinghurst, 9360-1963, email. The main pub downstairs is friendly and features live shows. Head upstairs for dancing. Popular with both gays and lesbians.
• X-cite/Soho
  171 Victoria St, Potts Point. Popular weekend lesbian hang-out bar.

  Comments from Utopians:

  "Bitch is now on the first Fri of every month at the Mars Lounge, 16 Wentworth St, Surry Hills. 8pm-3am." -- Claire, Aug 25, 2008

  "All of Oxford Street is pretty much full of lesbian-friendly clubs - you can't walk down Oxford on a Wed night without running into at least 50 lesbians!!" Newtown is full of lesbian-friendly venues. Other popular places: Gelatomassi gelato store/café on King St, where Newtown girls tend to hang out; Hoochie Mamma café on Missenden Rd (straight clientele, but there are several cute lesbians on staff!) and heaps of other places. Put it this way, though - you can pick up a copy of LOTL (Lesbians on the Loose) at just about any store in Newtown...even the local pharmacy is called 'The Rainbow Chemist." -- Amanda S., Nov 19, 2006

• The Bookshop Darlinghurst
  207 Oxford St, Darlinghurst, 9331-1103, email. For more than 20 years the Bookshop Darlinghurst has been Australia’s premiere source of GLBT books, magazines, calendars and DVDs. Located in the heart of Oxford Street. If you’ve ever wondered what literary lesbians, bookish bears and pop culture poofs have in common, pay them a visit/ Friendly and knowledgeable staff.

• Imperial Hotel
  35 Erskineville Rd, Erskineville, 9519-9899. A recent face lift and new lighting has only accentuated the dazzle at this famous Sydney drag bar, the location of club scenes in "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert". Catch one of the all-pro shows in Priscilla's Bar, their cabaret. Five a night on weekends! Downstairs dance space. Open late. Attracts every kind of being around so it's also dished as being "like the cantina from Star Wars" (bitch!).

• Coogee women's pool (on the cliffs) is a popular lesbian oasis

• Aqua Luna Bar and Restaurant (Northern Italian)
  Shop 18, 7 Macquarie St, East Circular Quay, 9251-0311, FAX 9251-0322, email. Stylish and trendy Aqua Luna has unsurpassed views of Sydney Harbour extending from Circular Quay to the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Aqua Luna Bar is situated on the ground level and offers a casual ambiance. Outdoor seating on the promenade allows guests to soak up the waterside atmosphere while sampling the fine wine list. The bar has become renowned as one of Sydney's hottest places to be seen. Fine dining on the second floor.
• Aria
  1 Macquarie St, 9252-2555. Spectacular panoramic views of the Opera house, bridge and harbor to compliment Chef Matthew Moran's contemporary Australian cuisine.
• Banc (French)
  53 Martin Place, 9233-5300. Located in an old bank building with vaulted ceilings and an elegant modern bar. Chef Liam Tomlin updates traditional French cuisine with contemporary Australian touches. Lunch served Mon to Fri, dinner Mon to Sat.
• Be Mine Bar and Restaurant (Cajun)
  413 Bourke St, Surry Hills, 9360-4070, email. Authentic Cajun Creole restaurant where you can savour genuine New Orleans style cuisine in a gay and lesbian-friendly, fun loving, relaxed, and sophisticated atmosphere. "New Orleans food is as delicious as the less criminal forms of sin." -- Mark Twain (1884) Utopia Member Discount
• Pancake Kingdom
  12B 7-13 Hunter St, Hunter Connection, 9238-0283, email. Gay and lesbian-friendly coffee shop serving up crepes and pancakes. 10% discount all Utopia\'s members Utopia Member Discount
• Paramount
  73 Maclaey St, Kings Cross, 9358-1652. Lesbian-run restaurant offering an inventive and contemporary Australian menu.
• Rockpool
  107 George St, The Rocks, 9252-1888, email. Pricey, but quite simply impeccable. High quality Australian produce in food with an Asian influence. Chosen as one of the World's 50 Best Restaurants.
• Sydney Opera House
  9250-7250. There is a great package called "Starry Nights". Guests begin the evening with a 5pm guided tour of Sydney Opera House and can choose between a pre-theater dinner or a post-theater supper in either Guillaume at Bennelong or Aria restaurant (2 or 3 course option). A performance in the famous Opera Theatre, Concert Hall, Drama Theatre, Playhouse or The Studio will complete the 'Starry Nights' experience. All Starry Nights guests receive a Sydney Opera House gift.
• Tetsuya's
  529 Kent St, 9267-2900. Tetsuya Wakuda regularly appears on World Best 10 Chef lists. His fusion food restaurant is difficult to book, but worth the effort.
• Thai Panic
  80 Oxford St, 9361-5577. Cheap and popular with young gays and lesbians.