Your Gay Travel and Local Adventure Social Network

The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival is the world's premier gay and lesbian cultural festival. Spanning two weeks in 2012, Mid February - 4th March, the Festival aims to increase visibility of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities and their culture. Party and Parade are on the 3rd March 2012.

Watch SYDNEY'S NEW MARDI GRAS 2012 VIDEO below!

MARDI GRAS RECOVERY - Plan your POST MARDI GRAS ESCAPES - check out QGuide's Top Rated Destination blogs below...

EXPLORE SYDNEY WITH 100's of Day Tours and Activities
Make the most of your stay and explore Sydney and its surroundings - book your tours here..

Check out the MARDI GRAS EVENT dates below...

Fair Day - 12th February 2012
Queer Thinking - 25th February 2012
Harbour Party - 25th February 2012
Parade - 3rd March 2012
Party - 3rd March 2012

It has as its highlight the world-famous Mardi Gras Parade and includes some of the most famous dance parties in the gay calendar, including the iconic closing event Mardi Gras Party on the 3rd March.

(1.5 hour's flight north of Sydney) Located 1 hour's north of Brisbane, between Tewantin and Fraser Island, you'll find 40km of pure natural beauty - 40km of pristine beach - located in Cooloola National Park.

Tewantin, just north of Noosa is the gateway to Cooloola National Park, Rainbow Beach and Fraser Island!

Alice Springs is a perfect base for an Outback holiday, giving easy access to many natural wonders - Uluru/Kata Tjuta National Park.....

(45 minute flight north of Sydney - flies into Ballina) The most easterly point on the Australian mainland, Byron Bay is special, both geographically and culturally.

Its unique mix of coastal and hinterland national parks, steadfast limits on development, famous surfing breaks, and unspoilt beaches where you can whale watch in winter and catch dolphins frolicking all year round make it a natural playground for visitors and residents alike.

Every week Byron Bay plays host to coach & car loads of tourists, there is always plenty of talent to check out. The HOT factor meter usually goes off the the scale most weeks especially during the Christmas holidays.

Byron Bay has one fresh water lake and two beaches where you can swim nude! To find out where... click on the link below.

(1 hour's flight north of Sydney) Not sure what to do after Mardi Gras? - One hour's flight north of Sydney is the beautiful Gold Coast in sunny Queensland.

Stunning beaches, mountain getaways, exciting theme parks, sun-kissed locals, sophisticated style - the list goes on. The Gold Coast truly offers something for everyone. The beachgoers are as beautiful as the beaches, and the surfing is some of the best in the world.

Follow The Adventures of 5 Sydney boyz on holidays on the Gold Coast. See what mis-adventures they get up to on the videos below...

(1.5 hour's flight north of Sydney) Escape the rat race after Mardi Gras ... Explore this magnificent Island with 5 star luxury accomodation at the KingFisher Bay Resort

World Heritage Listed Fraser Island lies on Queensland's coast near Hervey Bay - it's the largest sand island in the world and the only place on the planet where rainforest grows on sand!

Over 120 kilometres long and over 30 kilometres across at its widest point, the Island has developed over 800,000 years and is a unique natural environment.

You simply cannot leave Australia without making it to Fraser Island.

(1 hour's flight south of Sydney) European Chic in the South - Melbourne, (Little Europe) the capital of Victoria, is known for the good things in life - fashion, food, entertainment and sport.

The influence of decades of immigration from all over the world has made Melbourne a paradise for those who love food and wine. Whole streets are dedicated to food, whether it be Indian, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Greek, or a host of other styles. You can't miss the world-class wines, either.

Enjoy the culturally diverse southern part of Australia!

(2 hour's drive north of Sydney) Escape the Sydney lights....two hour's drive north of Sydney is Wine country.

The Hunter Valley is so close to Sydney and offers great wines, gourmet food, superb restaurants and cafes, along with romantic rustic cottages.

You can explore the wineries by horse-drawn carriage, hot air balloon, bicycle or by car. Don't forget to buy some wine, cheese and bread and have a picnic in the bush amongst the gum tress and kangaroos!

(1 hour's flight north of Sydney) 90 minutes from the Gold Coast is the Lamington Plateau, 930 metres (3,000 feet) above sea level, with views west over the McPherson Ranges and Great Dividing Range.

Set in the World Heritage Lamington National Park, the O'Reilly family run the Retreat which offers guesthouses or luxury Rainforest Canopy Suites and Mountain Villas. Book them here on QGuide!

Stay a couple of nights and experience the true Aussie bush with the many bushwalks available.

(1 hour's flight north of Sydney) Brisbane, or Brisvegas as the locals affectionately call it, is a vibrant place blessed with good weather, friendly people and an optimism bigger cities often manage to quash.

One of the best ways to cruise around Brisbane is with the River City Cats. Seven days a week, it's a great way to take in Brisbane avoiding the traffic lights.

Brisbane is as culturally diverse as Sydney yet more compact making it easy to get around on foot. Indulge in some retail therapy and don't forget to head on down to Fortitude Valley and experience Brisbane's gay nightlife.

(2 hour's drive west of Sydney) Many people visit the Blue Mountains, but often only manage to enjoy half the experience. The total Blue Mountains experience is both visual and auditory. Drive past the bus loads of visitors and experience the full magic of the Blue Mountains.

Visit the Three Sisters at Katoomba, and drive a further 15 minutes west to arrive at Govetts Leap, Blackheath. Don't just stop at the point look out, take the bushwalk leading to the waterfalls! An experience you'll never forget!

(1.5 hour's flight north of Sydney) The Sunshine Coast is one of Queensland's best and most beautiful destinations for surfing, scuba, sailing, and all the other pleasures of the sea. The local cities of Alexandra Headland, Pomona, Nambour, Cooroy, Noosa, Cooran and Maroochydore host a vast array of activites and are in close range to world-reknowned beaches like Mooloolaba, Alexandra Headland, Coolum and Maroochydore. Come have some fun in the Sunshine Coast sun!

For an extra treat, head on down to the Surf Life Savers Clubs in the afternoons to see the volunteer surf life savers toning up their muscles with their daily exercises! Wear you sun-glasses!

(3 hour's flight north of Sydney) Cairns City is the heart of Tropical North Queensland and is the primary gateway to Northern Australia. The city itself is a hub for travelers looking to surf, hike, fish, dive, scuba, sail, and explore the natural beauty of the great barrier reef.

Cairns also hosts three gay clothing optional resorts - Turtle Cove Skinny Dips & Mai Tai Resort in Port Douglas - one hour's drive north of Cairns - well suited for Mardi Gras Recovery!

Book these and other gay friendly resorts directly on QGuide via booking.com or Agoda.