Australia – the land of the fair go!

Melbourne’s all about laneway culture, vivid street art and boutique coffee. Adelaide and Hobart’s robust cultural schedules have put them both in the frame as the new 'it kids' of the domestic travel scene. And Perth’s recent penchant for craft breweries and stylish microdistilleries has the nation taking notice.

But sadly, it’s the controversial same-sex marriage postal survey that’s got a lot of the nation scratching its collective head. And it’s also got a lot of travellers asking the question –
“Is Australia not so gay-friendly anymore?”

At Lonely Planet, we value diversity and respect for others – it’s an essential part of who we are and what we do everyday. It’s reflected in all our products and manifests in the way we
go about our day-to-day.

So, we’re fully supportive of the YES vote on marriage equality. It’s a no-brainer.

Let’s support equality and diversity, repair Australia’s rep, and get it back on the list of most “gay-friendly places on the planet”.

The most gay-friendly places on the planet

Here's a list of the most progressive, inclusive and accepting destinations that open their arms to the LGBTQ traveller.

New Zealand becomes top destination for gay marriages from overseas

New Zealand has become a popular place to get married among same-sex couples, with 483 resident couples and 471 overseas couples tying the knot in 2016.