Enjoy a day of fun in the sun on Feb. 18^th at Sydney’s premier water park where you control the action. Escape the big city and see some of the spectacular New South Wales South Coast on a gay day you will never forget.

Ride the water slides until your heart’s content or dance the day away with top Sydney DJs Ruby and Johny Blue Boy on the decks.

Enjoy a great Aussie BBQ ad open bar where you can meet, mingle and mix with old friends and new.

Join in the fun on our inaugural Mardi Gras Jamberoo Goes Gay day on 18 February for only $150 all inclusive.

• Under 21s & Sydney Mardi Gras members receive 10% discount
• Family and Wollongong local tickets available.
• 8am Sydney departure and 7pm return
• 10:30am Wollongong departure and 3:30pm return
• Great Aussie BBQ
• Beer, wine, water and soft drink available from noon – 4pm

Bookings .For more information visit gay4play.com.au.

Gay4Play is breaking the monotony and giving Sydney the opportunity to go BEYOND THE BARS and encourages gays, lesbians and their friends of all types and ages to join.

With our flagship events such as the Gay Armada (luxury yacht cruising on Australia Day and Chard… Champ… Camp… (the Hunter Valley wine tour) Sydney is beginning to discover there is a world beyond the strip

Turtle Cove’s famous Mardi Gras Recovery Week returns with fresh vibes at the resort.

Turtle Cove is situation along the Cairns-Port Douglas Highway in Far North Queensland.  It’s a destination and party worth the effort to get there post Sydney Mardi Gras Parade and Closing Party.

It’s the perfect place to chill and relax after frantic days spent at Mardi Gras. Australians and overseas visitors have been travelling to the party for years
Famous for being situated in an unspoilt paradise as much as for its reputation for fun events, Turtle Cove is an adults only gay and lesbian resort, with a Recovery Week package that’s a sure sell out.

Turtle Cove’ Beach Resort’s Famous Mardi Gras Recovery Package

• 3 night package – Valid between 5th to the 10th March
• 3 nights accommodation
• Bottle of sparkling wine on arrival
• Tropical continental breakfast daily
• Return coach transfers from Cairns Airport or city
• 2 dinners in Sandbar Restaurant
• $25 drink voucher
• Nightly entertainment

Room Type & Twin Share Prices
Garden View - $322 per night
Coral Sea View - $344 per night
Coral Sea Deluxe - $414 per night
Beachfront - $460 per night

You will soon find that life slows down in Tropical North Queensland, but if you can drag yourself away, the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rain Forest are on the doorstep. Both have to be seen to be believed.

More information about the Resort and Recovery Week.
More information about Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras ending 5 March.

• Opera In The Caves
• 17 and 18 February 2012
• Jenolan Caves, NSW
• Blue Mountains

Don’t miss this romantic weekend of Opera in one of the most picturesque parts of the world!

The Cathedral Concert
Friday, 17 February
Journey deep into the magical Lucas Cave to the breathtaking Cathedral. This magnificent venue, with an almost perfect acoustic, will resonate with the extraordinary voices of The Underground Opera Co. Indulge in this intimate concert of Opera greats that will delight all. The walk into the cave will be rewarded with a truly wonderful experience!

The Grand Arch Valentine’s Concert
Saturday, 18 February
The magnificent gateway to the Jenolan Caves comes alive with the sound of Opera! Experience a magnificent concert of Opera’s finest moments performed by some of Australia’s finest performers. “Opera in the Caves” is a collaboration of popular pieces from opera and light opera’s most famous productions. These include Carmen, Figaro, Cosi Fan Tutti, Les Miserables, My Fair Lady, and, of course, the immortal Nessun Dorma from Turandot.

The Underground Opera Company is a professional opera company that aims to produce concerts of world-class standard, catering for regional centres of Australia, in an underground environment, whether natural (caves) or man-made (mining and construction industries). It is the company’s vision to make opera and classical music accessible to regional Australia in an environment as breath-taking as the performances.

• Underground Opera website
• Weekend Escapes in the Blue Mountains
• Blue Mountains Outside of Syndey

Whether you live in Australia or will be visiting during the Mardi Gras Festival season, put this parade and final festival party at the top of your to do list: The Pride Parade is the 3^rd of March, and the partying continues through to dawn on the 4^th.

What began as a protest march in 1978 is now one of the world’s biggest gay pride events and one of Sydney’s most loved celebrations.

The parade is a night-time spectacular show that stops Sydney, as 9000 people make their way down Oxford and Flinders Streets in a colourful, outrageous demonstration of LGBTQI pride. More than 300,000 spectactors line the Darlinghurst streets to watch the glittering procession of exotic costumes and political slogans.

Grab a spot on the sidelines. Cheer as Dykes on Bikes rev their engines at the front of the parade and copy the dance moves of the Asian marching boys. See gay and lesbian police officers march alongside student pride groups, and Jewish and Arabic gays and lesbians, mix with lifesavers from Bondi Beach!

GLAMSTAND is the best place to watch Sydney’s world famous Mardi Gras Parade in style and comfort.

Located in leafy Centennial Parklands, on the corner of Moore Park Road and Anzac Parade, GLAMSTAND is so much more than just the Parade.

There’s a range of premium view options where you can party the Parade away in a beautiful setting, complete with fine food, glamorous bars, and all the amenities you need for a fun and comfortable Parade experience.

Australia’s first lady of house, the internationally celebrated Kate Monroe, is your host and DJ. Kate leads a fantastic pre-Parade entertainment line-up exclusive to GLAMSTAND.

• Glamstand details
• Need Accommodation – See the Rainbow Tourism accommodation options.

Fair Day is festive gathering in Victoria Park.

Fair Day is the ultimate way to kick off the official Mardi Gras season, with a fun and relaxed day out in the park with friends and family, even your pets!

Up to 70 000 people routinely turn out to sit on the grass, browse the stalls, enjoy the wide range of delicacies available at the stalls, have a few drinks, but most of all, catch up with old friends – and make some new ones.

• Need a place to stay during the Festival Season? See Rainbow Tourism approved accommodations, handy to most of the Mardi Gras venues.
• Destination Sydney

Bleach* Surfing the Fringe is launching on the Gold Coast, to be held from 11 – 26 February at multiple venues from Currumbin to Coolangatta. It will feature the spectacular beaches, foreshores and major venues of the Southern Gold Coast and is set to be one of the largest art events ever held in the area.

Two weeks of events across multiple locations, including the Surf World museum, trendy eating spots on the water and music halls.

The festival will celebrate surf and beach culture through a mix of pop up art installations, photography, exhibitions, film screenings, music, food, theatre and fashion events.

• Bleach* Surfing the Fringe
• Rainbow Tourism recommends the place to stay at Kirra Beach: Kirrasurf Apartments handily located above the Kirra Surf Shop across from the Coolangatta airport.

Midsumma, Melbourne’s annual Queer Celebration, is a federation of arts and cultural events spread over 70 different venues throughout Melbourne. The festival is presented over three weeks from mid January to February and is a significant attraction on the Melbourne festival calendar.  If you’ve never been, make it in 2012!

Midsumma – 15 January to 5 February 2012

• Midsumma 2012 program
• Midsumma Festival Youtube
• Local Rainbow Stays
• Gay Melbourne Stories

Travel through the Australian OUTback

The Ghan – The Ghan travels the 2979 kilometers from Adelaide to Darwin via Alice Springs. The ride lasts for 3 days and lets passengers experience the red center and the Top End.

Renowned as one of the world’s greatest train journeys, this is the wilderness of the outback at it’s best – an ocean of red dirt desert, vibrant aboriginal settlements and vast expanses of unpopulated land.
The Ghan also runs through Alice Springs, a popular stopover for tourists wishing to visit Uluru (Ayres rock) and through other notable tourist havens like the Flinders ranges in South Australia and the Katherine Gorge.

Popular since its creation over 80 years ago, The Ghan retains its reputation as Australia’s most impressive train ride and few travelers are disappointed with the 2-night south to north trip. Book your trip with Great Southern Rail where a sleeper cabin will set you back AU$1420.

Read more about:

• train travel in Australia
• gay travel to the outback.
• Rainbow Tourism Accredited Tour Operators in The Alice.

CELEBRATION NYE 2012 offers unrivalled views of Sydney icons.

This year marks the third return of this sparkling Gay and Lesbian fireworks event at the Museum of Contemporary Art, high above the crowds at Circular Quay. It is an all-inclusive, fabulously exclusive, wonderfully private, party in exuberant Points of Difference Events style, presented in association with Gaydar.com.au and featuring DJ Murray Hood.

Guests are required to dress up and dress well for the event, with this year’s dress code billed as “Smart Gay Lounge” in Black, Gold, and Pink.  Think classic lines, but dress for a stylish and sensible Sydney summer. Options of vests, open shirts or ties, cuff links, heel’s and Diva’s: BYO Entourage!

Further information:

• Date & Time: From 8pm Saturday December 31st 2011 to 2am January 1st 2012
• Venue: The Harbourside Room & Terrace,  Museum of Contemporary Art, Circular Quay
• Tickets:  General Release, $495;  PoDE Members, $415
• Bookings:  pointsofdifference.com

Out of town visitors can book accommodation recommended and accredited by Rainbow Tourism.

The final winning photo from Tourism Australia’s Aussie Holiday Dream Team promotion was published on 11.11.11 on nothinglikeaustralia.com.au. The photo was taken by Nick Banbury from NSW at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in the Northern Territory.

“There’s nothing like being at Uluru just as the sun is setting, looking up and seeing this view. I was dumbstruck.”

Also submitting a photo of Uluru was Perth resident Mark Bradley. “There’s nothing like witnessing the Australian outback, the wonderful Uluru, Kata Tjuta National Park and most of all, the traditional Aboriginal culture!

Editor’s Note: Gay life in Northern Territory centers around Alice Springs and a little bit in Darwin. See Rainbow Tourism for places to stay, places to play.