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.

• Sydney Gay Scene Updates message forum
• Lesbian listings
• Men in Sydney message forum

  
  

• Forward Therapy
  63 Albion St, 8006-1122, email. Counseling for gay and gender identity, coming out, relationship problems, sexual assault, depression, stress, anxiety and panic attacks, HIV and sexual health, body image, addiction (alcohol, illicit drugs, gambling, etc) and drug dependency issues, transition and adjustment issues (including 'mid-life crisis' phenomenon), childhood sexual abuse and other issues.
• La Fontaine Solicitors
  573 Bourke St, Surry Hills, 9360-3700, FAX 9360-8844, email. Gay-owned and providing most legal services including buying and selling homes, businesses and commercial properties; wills, probate and dying without a will; non-married property disputes; debt claims and defending them; criminal charges, asset protection, arrangements against later creditors and other legal advice, problem and protection matters. Utopia Member Discount
• Nexus Language Centre
  104 Bathurst St, 9267-8382, FAX 9267-8382, email. The world's first gay language school dedicated to helping the gay and lesbian community to master both English and foreign languages. Courses include Beginner's English, Pre-Intermediate English, Intermediate English, Upper-Intermediate and IELTS Preparation. Other languages include Chinese (Mandarin & Cantonese), Thai, French, Japanese, Spanish, German and many more upon demand. Activities (conducted exclusively in one language) include art classes; cooking classes; expeditions to galleries, restaurants, shops and a variety of cultural events. Join in the fun and study with friends! Utopia Member Discount
• Shane Warren Counselling & Coaching Services
  23/104 Bathurst St, 9283-6983, email. A web-clinic helping gays and lesbians to take control of their lives by assisting with life-changing decisions. Help make life a little easier in times of difficulty with a variety of services. A place to find compassionate non-judgmental support in times of need and to find others to walk alongside during the journey of healing and life growth. Utopia Member Discount
• Visions Synergy Associates (Accountants & Tax Agents)
  23/104 Bathurst St, International House, 9261-8980, email. A gay-owned boutique accounting and tax management practice, established in 1998 and located in Sydney’s CBD. In addition to providing individual taxation advice, their speciality is assisting contract workers and small-to-medium sized businesses to better understand the taxation system, better manage their books and improve their financial position. They strive for simple accounting solutions in the here and now, while anticipating the future needs of their clients. Utopia Member Discount

Click here for Sydney hotels and accommodations.

Click here for Sydney bars and clubs.

• 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.

Click here for Sydney cabarets.

Click here for Sydney discos.

• Beaches
  • Bronte, not so cruisy but some gays enjoying the beach with the families
  • Clifftops between Bondi and Tamarama beaches, walking paths and rocky outcrops for those Kodak moments.
  • Cronulla, in the sand dunes behind Wanda Beach
  • Nielsen Park at at Vaucluse harbor for scenic swimming
  • North Bondi
  • Tamara (nicknamed Glamarama), where the body beautiful head to be seen and...be seen.
• Centennial Park has some cruisy areas.
• Foreshore Dr at Botony (near the airport) is a stretch of bushy coastline which is a well known afternoon and evening meeting place. Safe and attracts a lot of people.
• Nude Beaches
  • Palm beach, on the northern peninsula (a drive outside of the city) has an unofficial nude section on the northern end of the beach popular with gays.
  • Obelisk Beach at Mosman (car park also is cruisy at night)
  • Lady Jane Beach at South Head
• Redleaf Pool at Double Bay

• 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.
• 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
• El Mojito Bar & Restaurant @ Morgans Hotel (Mediterranean and Asian)
  304 Victoria St, Darlinghurst, 9360-7955, email. Gay bar and restaurant. The tastes of the Mediterranean and Asia together, using organic and chemical-free ingredients, international wine list and 26 different styles of Mojitos. Utopia Member Discount
• L'Unico
  79 Elliott St, Balmain, 9810-5466. Balmain's best Italian restaurant.

  Comments from Utopians:

  "If you're in Sydney on the first Sunday of the month, don't miss their 5-course degustation at A$85 per person including wine." -- Robert, Jun 19, 2005

• MCA Cafe
  140 George St, The Rocks, 9241-4253. If you're touring the Rocks, Circular Quay and Opera House, this is a great place to have an excellent lunch (this is not a dinner venue). Big range of salads and seafood, and an extensive wine list.
• Nilgiri's
  81-83 Christie St, St Leonards, 9966-0636, email. Indisputably Sydney's best Indian restaurant. Winner of the SMH 2004 Good Food Guide Award for Best Indian. They have a "banquet" which is superb food at a reasonable price.
• Pancake Kingdom
  12B 7-13 Hunter St, Hunter Connection, 9238-0283, email. Gay and lesbian-friendly coffee shop serving up crepes and pancakes. Utopia Member Discount
• Paramount
  73 Maclaey St, Kings Cross, 9358-1652. Lesbian-run restaurant offering an inventive and contemporary Australian menu.
• Pello
  71 Stanley St, East Sydney. Tel: 9360 4640, email. No visit to Sydney is complete without at least one evening in Stanley St, a short street that really comes alive after dark. Pello is the best of the eateries, with five-star food and knowledgeable waiters.
• The Prawn Cafe (seafood)
  Shop 4A, Beach Park Arcade, Cronulla, 9527-6222, email. The Prawn Cafe offer guests a relaxing atmoshere in which to wine, dine, and relax in comfort. Group bookings and private functions are a speciality. Voted best small seafood restaurant. Utopia Member Discount
• 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.
• Star City Behind the Scenes
  9777-9000, 1800-700-700, email. Star City is Sydney's biggest and glitziest casino. There are so many Asians you'll think you're in Macau. Their VIP Dining Experience is really unusual and popular with gays and lesbians. After a backstage tour of their theatre, with champagne and canapes, you are served your first course in their Chinese restaurant. Then, after a back-of-house tour of casino operations, you are served your main course in their Italian restaurant. Then there's a look at the plush private gaming room for high rollers, and at one of the stunning penthouse suites, followed by dessert in yet another restaurant. Tue to Fri, starting at 6:15pm.
• 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 Kanteen
  541 Military Rd, Spit Junction, 9909-3768. Gay-owned restaurant dishing up Thai taste treats.
• Thai Panic
  80 Oxford St, 9361-5577. Cheap and popular with young gays and lesbians.
• Thai Pothong
  294 King St, Newtown, 9550-6277, FAX 9519 8050, email. Tasty, reasonably priced, and popular with the gay crowd. Friendly staff. Try their red duck curry with lychee.

Click here for Sydney saunas for men.

• Pleasure Chest
  161 Oxford St, Darlinghurst, 9332-2667. Open 24 hours.
• Pleasure Chest
  56 Darlinghurst Rd, Kings Cross, 9356-3640. Open 24 hours.
• Pleasure Chest
  705 George St, Haymarket, 9212-6440. Open late.
• Pleasure Chest
  382A Pitt St, World's Square, 9283-2194. Open late.

  Comments from Utopians:

  "Tool Shed is a great shop. Gay-owned and part of the Sydney scene for years. Check it out for DVDs, toys, leather, etc." -- cbc16, Aug 18, 2007