Tasmania has come a long way since it became the last Australian state to pass gay law reform in 1997. Today it boasts a small but visible gay scene in Hobart and Launceston and offers many good options for gay travellers. Hobart even has its own LGBTQI dance bar at Flamingos.
Flamingos Dance Bar
201 Liverpool St, Hobart TAS 7000
(03) 6294 6173
www.flamingosbar.com
Hobart’s only dedicated GLBT venue goes off on a Friday and Saturday night. They produce the TasPride Festival each year and host several other events throughout the year. They also promote a wide range of activities produced all year round by the many GLBTIQ organizations in Tasmania.
Mona, the Museum of Old and New Art
In fact, you’d be more likely to come to Tasmania to soak up the beauty and culture of this southern island state. Any trip to Hobart would not be complete without a visit to Mona, the Museum of Old and New Art in the Berriedale peninsula in Hobart, which houses some of the best examples of provocative modern art you’re likely to see anywhere.
Corinda’s Cottages
Spend the night in Hobart at the charming gay-owned Corinda’s Cottages taking in the cafes and galleries around the beautiful sandstone buildings at Salamanca Place, then hire a vehicle and hit the road.
Cygnet
Outside Hobart, make your own adventure. Towns like Cygnet in the Huon Valley the historic Port Arthur retain an arty and bohemian edge. Tasmania also now has more acknowledgement of its same-sex history in tourism information including early gay explorers, convict love and pseudo-males.
Lumera Echo Chalet
For the more adventurous in the summer month’s towns on the east coast such as Coles Bay and Bay of Fires offer breathtaking coastal ambience. The Lumera Echo Chalet provides excellent queer accommodation and travel advice for this region.
Hiking and Mountain Climbing
Tasmania also offers some of the best hiking and mountain climbing in Australia. Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park offers stunning day walks, while the Walls of Jerusalem National Park or the Friendly Beaches in Freycinet National Park are fantastic spots for camping or taking longer hikes into the wilderness.
