By
Matt Mathrani
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Click on the link for a handy PDF version of our January 2008 Australia travel feature!
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In this land of didgeridoo, boomerang, koala bear, and kangaroo, Sydney is to Australia what New York is to the U.S. -- a vibrant city with a charge that's electric, and a tingle that lingers long after. Infamous for its frolic,
it's what locals call the blow in place, given the amount of folks that simply waft into town! Celebrated beaches, breathtaking views, and a spellbinding nightlife contribute to its allure.
Since 1978, Sydneysiders are inured to the world swooping down upon them for their annual Mardi Gras Festival. Soon to celebrate its 30th birthday, the next Mardi Gras is scheduled to commence February 9, 2008,
and culminate with a parade on March 1.
With a feel similar to Southern Decadence in New Orleans, Sleaze Ball -- originally a fundraiser for the Mardi Gras Festival -- is an event in its own right. With spectacularly-clad revelers crackling with a sexual charge, it's
hosted annually, usually in the first week of October.
For detailed info on both Mardi Gras and Sleaze visit Mardigras.org.au.
Accommodations
Down by Crown Street in Surry Hills, Governors On Fitzroy (64 Fitzroy Street; +61-2-9331-4652), an updated Victorian bed-and-breakfast, offers six guest rooms. Governors serve a full breakfast and has a
friendly atmosphere, with common rooms and a spa. Bedrooms are smoke-free, but there is an outdoor patio for those who just must light up.
Manor House Boutique Hotel (86 Flinders Street; +61-2-9380-6633), a Victorian grand mansion, offers 18 rooms in an elegant, gay friendly setting. A hospitable staff excels here. A full breakfast is part of the pampering.
Oasis On Flinders (+61-2-9331-8791), a naturists' retreat, offers in-the-buff lodgings for gay males. No address is provided for discretion's sake, but the lodgings are on Flinders Street. Don't be surprised if they
greet you at the door wearing nothing but a smile!
Comfort Inn Cambridge (212 Riley Street; +61-2-9212-1111) is a centrally located, three-and-half star hotel that offers plenty of room! Just a short stroll from the Oxford Street party zone, it is a good base
to experience all things Sydney has to offer.
In what is called Paddington, Sullivans (21 Oxford Street; +61-2-9361-0211) is a charming value-for-money hotel located two blocks away from the Darlinghurst action. Other budget choices include
Wattle Hotel (108 Oxford Street; +61-2-9332-4118),
City Crown Motel (289 Crown Street) and Y on the Park (5-11 Wentworth Avenue).
The "hip, ambient, and intimate" L'Otel (114 Darlinghurst Road; +61-2-9360-6868) is a 16-room boutique hotel, whereas the 92-room
Hyde Park Inn (271 Elizabeth Street; +61-2-9264-6001), overlooking Hyde
Park, offers four-star comforts. Nearby, Travel Lodge (27-33 Wentworth Avenue; +61-2-8267-1700) and
Hotel Stellar (4 Wentworth Avenue; +61-2-9264-9754) are other convenient choices.
Medina Apartments (359 Crown Street; +61-2-8248-2361) suits those who desire self-contained apartments. A swimming pool, spa, gym, and barbecue area is also on site.
Nightlife
Nowhere is the partying more rampant than along rowdy Oxford Street in Darlinghurst.
ARQ (16 Flinders Street at Taylor Square) continues to rage in Darlinghurst. The nightclub comprises two-and-a-half levels that show off a major investment in lights, sound, and sight. It is popular with both the straight
and gay partygoers.
Colombian (117 Oxford Street) is a slick, modern gay pub and lounge bar that is decidedly straight-friendly! Spread out over two levels, it offers the largest range of DJs in Sydney.
Stonewall (173-175 Oxford Street), a three-story entertainment complex, opens daily at noon. Sydney's top DJs and entertainers draw in hordes to this hot spot. Their underwear contests are jam-packed, and their
recent expansion includes a pokies room (gambling machines), which has only rendered Stonewall even more popular.
Midnight Shift (85 Oxford Street) has been a gay must-do for over 25 years. The downstairs bar has pool tables as well as myriad slot machines; the upstairs offers dancing on weekends.
Oxford Hotel (134 Oxford Street) comprises three distinct bars. At street level is the Oxford Bar, a saloon-style bar with pokies (slot machines). A very earthy-looking crowd frequents this long-standing haunt.
Palms On Oxford (124 Oxford Street) is a basement-level nightclub offering piano and drag entertainment.
Phoenix (34 Oxford Street) is a party bar and dance place that offers succor on weekends after 10 p.m.
Sly Fox (199 Enmore Road), also owned by the ARQ folks, is popular with women on Wednesdays.
Slide (41 Oxford Street) is a nightclub, a supper club, and a restaurant all in one. Open for dinner nightly Tuesday through Sunday, Slide is slick with events. Among the highlights are shows hosted by Clair
De Lune and El Circo -- which is a combination of dining, wining, and cutting-edge circus-inspired entertainment, bringing in capacity crowds.
In the Newtown area, Imperial Hotel (35 Erskineville Road), run by ARQ nightclub, has been famous for the Priscilla Show (yes this is where the bar scenes were filmed) for what seems like donkeys of years.
Currently undergoing thorough remodeling, this legendary venue is slated to reopen by the time Mardi Gras rolls along.
Restaurants
In addition to Slide (mentioned above), a slew of restaurants, take-out eateries, and cafes dot the golden mile of gay Oxford Street. The service is laid-back and an easygoing attitude prevails.
Whilst a slew of Chinese/Thai restaurants abound in Sydney, you'll be hard pressed to find sumptuous cuisine that hails from Laos. This is where gay-owned
Pink Peppercorn (122 Oxford Street) steps in. Beguiling
taste buds are dishes such as gaeng phed
phak, salmon soufflé, perfectly presented mains of chicken, lamb, beef, and seafood flavored with lime, dill, lemongrass, chili, and garlic. Prices are good value, with quality main courses
under AU$20.
The lentil soup at Betty's Soup Kitchen (84 Oxford Street) hits the spot, and there's more home-style fare to choose from. Just about everything is priced under AU$10 dollars.
Looking good
Beauty Room (220 Goulburn Street) proffers the pampering of professionally-trained therapists (both male and female) at this skincare center for men and women. You may choose from a large selection of
relaxing treatments, ranging from facial peels to micro dermabrasion treatments, or maybe a massage to relax you after a busy day touring around Sydney. Take time to retreat from the street and visit this internationally-known salon.
City Gym (107 Crown Street) thrives as the oldest shrine to gay narcissism in Sydney, now sporting a $3 million makeover.
Gold's Gym (23 Pelican Street) is a link in the global chain of Gold's gyms and another
gay trammeled choice. Fitness Network (63 Oxford Street), with over 70 clubs across Australia and many more abroad, is also gay-mobbed.
Sex-on-premises venues
Kingsteam (38-42 Oxford Street), located next to the Exchange Hotel, is a clean, comfortable place for release that's been around since 1974. It's the only sauna on queenly Oxford Street. Kingsteam gets a diverse
crowd and features a small gym, sauna, spa, and steam room. Their "$10 Tight Arse Tuesdays," contributes to much business. A new sling room (coming soon) will compound the physical allure.
Bodyline (10 Taylor Street) offers a large Romanesque jacuzzi, a cedar-wood dry sauna, a maze, and myriad large cabins -- some with their own slings. A rooftop deck adds to outdoor pleasures.
Tucked discreetly the Kensington 'burb, Ken's At Kensington (83 Anzac Parade) is a legendary sauna spread out over two spacious levels. Facilities include steamroom, sauna, spa, weights area and indoor pool. A
DVD/TV/coffee/smoking lounge and chill out area complements the relaxation.
Sydney City Steam (357 Sussex), perched in Chinatown, draws office-goers during lunch break. A faithful Asian clientele is the hallmark of this clean, crisp place.
At Adult World (124-A Oxford Street) you'll find state-of-the-art video booths with 15 movies to pick at any time. The backroom has booths, a sling room, a bondage room, a very engaging mirror room, as well as
porn lounges.
Pleasure Chest (161 Oxford Street, 56 Darlinghurst Road, 705 George Street, and 382 Pitt Street) are adult stores that also aim to please.
When it comes to size, with its four floors to explore,
Headquarters (273 Crown Street; Headquarters.com.au) is the biggest sex club around, open 24 hours. This fantasy play-world features a mineshaft, jail,
SUK-station, a unique watersports space, sling rooms, glory holes and cruise areas, douche rooms, plus private rooms in addition to a video lounge and a coffee bar. Speedo parties, piss parties, naked sex parties are the some of their
monthly events.
Signal (81 Oxford Street) offers more than just lube 'n' condoms within all its over 25 rooms. Their catch phrase -- "There are places Down Under that are big on blowing their own horn; at Signal, we'll leave the blowing
up to you" -- just hints at the pleasant surprises in store.
Urge (97 Oxford Street) strikes hard on the ejaculation scene. Erotic goodies are vended here as well.
In the Newtown area, Newtown Basement (304 King Street, or 6 Wilson Street, should you want to enter from the rear) is an adult store that's in a delightful time warp.
While not technically "sex on premises" venues,
Knightcall (+61-2-9368-0511) and Delivery Boys Escorts (+61-2-9699-6377) offer boys by the hour -- anytime, anywhere.
Shopping
Bookshop (207 Oxford Street) is the specialist in gay and lesbian books. You'll also find a wide range of contemporary magazines here.
When it comes to leatherwear and accessories, the community-oriented
Sax Fetish (110-A Oxford Street) shines. It is highly regarded as manufacturer of leather, metal, fetish, and BDSM products produced locally from
the finest of Australian leathers, with many unique designs. The store itself is bursting with leather garments of every genre, toys and gear for the widest range of taste and perversion, as well as some distinctly Australian
souvenirs of your trip Down Under.
If you go by size, Toolshed (three locations: 81 Oxford Street, 191 Oxford Street at Taylor Square, and 198 King Street) is a giant among gay-and-lesbian adult stores in Sydney. They sell adult products, clothing,
cards, and unique pride items.
Kaos (197-199 Oxford Street) offers an adult store catering to men on its second floor level. The range of items at hand includes oodles of DVDs, toys, accessories, and some clothing. Internet kiosks are also on premises.
Aussie Boys (102 Oxford Street) sells gay clothing and accessories, footwear, leather goods, toiletries, CDs, hand-made cards, and more.
Bang (4 Flinders Street) vends gay clothing labels from around the world. Specializing in a wide range of men's swimwear, gymwear, underwear, clubwear, and accessories, Bang also has a sister store in Melbourne, Victoria.
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