Sydney
Travel Downunder with ManAboutWorld’s Global Correspondents John Walker and Gavin Patterson who recently traveled to Australia and New Zealand, the great southern lands ‘downunder.’ Walker and Patterson founded their travel website GayMenOnHoliday.com, providing reliable tips and tales about getting ‘the most bang for your pink buck.’
According to this peripatetic duo, “You’re sure to find something you’ve always wanted to see; an opera house on a harbour perhaps. Maybe you’ll also find something completely unexpected.” This is a great time to travel downunder: the U.S. dollar is strong against the New Zealand and Australian currencies and it’s their summer. Here are the top 10 experiences in Australia and New Zealand in their words:
Touring in this part of the world is easy. The exchange rate for US visitors leaves a little for those extras and you’re bound to make a few new ‘mates’ along the way. You’ll be wanting to do some selfies with cuddly koalas, kangaroos and kiwis but don’t forget the fun of the beaches and bars. The restaurants will have you drooling and the succulent steaks, lamb and the plentiful, fresh seafood create culinary nirvana.
However, it’s the rich, rugged landscapes, the endless green rolling pastures, the flourishing rainforests and the azure seas which dominate this
Selfie with Kangaroo
part of the world. Ancient lands with fascinating indigenous heritage offer travellers safe, hospitable destinations for a discovery holiday like no other. Dive in, soak it up and roll around like there’s no end to this dream.
These top 10 little gems might just whet your appetite.
1/Dining Under The Big Hanger
Ripples is perfect for chic, relaxed, dining, with seasonal Italian food and stunning views of Sydney Harbour and its iconic bridge, affectionately referred to as ‘the big hanger’. After dinner take a stroll through Luna Park to Lavender Bay. Along the boardwalk you will be treated to a setting sun which creates a romantic mauve shimmer on the water.
Take the ferry to the restaurant from Circular Quay and on your return the lights of the imposing city skyscrapers and the soaring sails of the Opera House will welcome you back. Finish off with a post dinner drink at Pullman Grand Quay, ECQ bar. This ultra-modern bar has uninterrupted views back over the harbour and ‘the big hanger’. (See photo above)
2/Sydney’s Best Gay Beach
Little Congwong at La Perouse in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney is the choice for the local gay crowd. Walk straight across Congwong Beach past the happy families and take the path to the right and walk about 300 metres to a set of stairs and the beach is at the bottom.
On a hot weekend the beach is packed with nude, sun worshippers but during the week it is much less crowded. This beach is small, sheltered and the dazzling, crystal clear water of Botany Bay makes it perfect for swimming. The chilled vibe makes relaxing easy. Feel like a stroll? The rocks to the left hand side of the beach lead right around the headland to even more fun.
3/Melbourne and Lord Coconut
Head straight for Degraves Street, just near Flinders Street Station for a famous Melbourne coffee. The narrow lanes are a unique part of the Melbourne cafe scene, with their Parisian style small tables, tiny crowded shops and treasure trove of food and coffee aromas filling the air.
While in the area, you might find the wedding or engagement ring for you and your husband-to-be while shopping at Lord Coconut in Melbourne. It feels like a mens’ den, showcasing unique jewellery fashioned by forty specialist jewellers who craft exclusive designs for discerning men.
Caluzzi Bar
4/Hobart and MONA (Museum of Old and New Art)
Take a ‘Posh Pit’ ride on the ferry to MONA (Museum of Old and New Art) in Hobart where champagne, canapés and cute cabin crew create an ‘absolutely fabulous’ introduction to this unique place. Finish with an all-inclusive tasting tour of the vineyards.
Back at the port, check out Salamanca Place (http://www.salamanca.com.au) for a plate of the freshest seafood around. If it happens to be a Saturday, the 300 stall market is famous for locally produced food, beers and wines as well as unique arts and crafts.
5/Wellington and the Ortega Fish Shack
Te Papa, New Zealand’s national museum, is located right on the harbour front. Entry is free and the displays of Maori culture from weapons, carvings and art works to a magnificently restored Maori Meeting House, provide a true sense of how the indigenous people of New Zealand lived before white settlement.
Ortega Fish Shack (http://ortega.co.nz/about/about-us) is a hidden gem and serves outstanding seafood. An award winning chef, top shelf local produce, striking decor and friendly staff are a real recipe for success.
6/Rotorua and the Polynesian Spa
The hot mineral baths of the Polynesian Spa in Rotorua, New Zealand (http://www.polynesianspa.co.nz) have renowned therapeutic properties and are listed in the top 10 spas by Conde Nast Travel. Treat yourself and your loved one to an indulgent experience, including a private spa room overlooking the thermal lake on sunset.
Te Puia is a cultural centre built on the edge of a geothermal valley and here you will see the amazing Pohutu Geyser and the legendary mud pools. Check out the Kiwi House for a glimpse of the nocturnal national symbol.
6/Napier and the Art Deco Festival
Delirious about art deco and dying for a dress up? Napier, New Zealand has the largest Art Deco Festival (http://www.artdeconapier.com/events.html) in the southern hemisphere. Prohibition parties were never as much fun as this. The summer festival in February each year is a huge dress up event attracting 40 000 people and with new festival manager Jonathan Smith there is bound to be more gay happenings on the agenda like an Art Deco pool party.
For a slice of Art Deco on any day try the Emporium Eatery and Bar, part of the award winning Masonic Hotel. This stunning place has joined a few select establishments in New Zealand voted one of the world’s best bars.
7/The Bay of Islands and Waitangi
A kilometre or two out of Paihia is the Waitangi Treaty Grounds where the famous Treaty of Waitangi was signed between the British and the chiefs of the Maori tribes. The grounds have stunning views over the bay and a huge flagstaff marks the point where this historic event took place.
At the Carved Meeting House a Maori cultural group perform a spectacular, traditional welcome (Haka), explain their rituals and present tribal songs and dances. Within the treaty grounds there are three war canoes, one of which is the world’s largest ceremonial canoe at a staggering 35 metres long and needing up to seventy hunky Maoris to row.
8/Lake Taupo and Huka Falls
Amazingly beautiful and formed 2000 years ago by a fiery volcanic eruption, Lake Taupo is the size of an inland sea. A perfect playground for swimming, fishing, sailing and adventure sports like para-gliding and jet skiing. Majestic snow covered Mt Ruapehu, the largest active volcano in New Zealand, sits in the background while swimmers enjoy the warm geothermal currents in the lake.
Huka Falls just outside Lake Taupo blasts out more than 220,000 litres of water every second. Stand on the foot bridge to witness the roar and energy as the water crashes into pools below. For further excitement take a jet boat ride below the falls.
9/Auckland and Caluzzi Bar
From the moment you walk through the door the laughs begin. Drag queens Miss Ling Ling, ‘who loves bling’, Miss Victoria, Miss Kola and the elegant Miss Taro Patch, ridiculously tall in their high stilettos, welcome visitors to Caluzzi Bar and Cabaret in the heart of Auckland. These ‘sluts with nuts’, as they call themselves, turn on a Kiwi welcome with lively, exuberant and raunchy charm, ensuring the mood from start to finish is totally upbeat and completely outrageous. Celebrating 20 years in 2016, let Captain Campbell (the very hot owner) and his bevy of high camp babes take you on a journey downunder you’ll never forget. (See photo above.)
Photos: Courtesy John Walker and Gavin Patterson.Sharing is so sexy!
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