Perhaps it’s the region’s San Francisco–like weather and progressive vibe, or its diverse yet well-integrated population (you won’t find a concentrated “gayborhood” like Sydney’s Darlinghurst and Oxford Street here); Melbourne and Adelaide in Australia are about as LGBT–friendly as they come. With many gay friendly hotels Canberra to choose from it’s a great summer or winter destination
Australia is one of the most LGBT-friendly countries in the world. In a 2013 Pew Research poll, 79% of Australians agreed that homosexuality should be accepted by society, making it the fifth most supportive country in the survey behind Spain (88%), Germany (87%), Canada and the Czech Republic (both 80%).
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia’s largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall.
Top attractions to visit in Canberra
- Australian War Memorial
- National Gallery of Australia
- Australian Parliament House
- Mount Ainslie Lookout
- Royal Australian Mint
Best tours in Canberra
- Day Tour from Canberra to Batemans Bay – with Oyster Tasting Kayak Tour
- Cockington Green Gardens General Entry Ticket
- Skip the Line: Telstra Tower Observation Deck Ticket
- Day Tour from Canberra to Batemans Bay With Indigenous Experience
- Twilight Tour
1. The Sebel Canberra Civic 4* – Gay Friendly Hotels Canberra
Well set in the City Centre district of Canberra, The Sebel Canberra Civic is located 500 m from Canberra Centre, 600 m from National Convention Centre Canberra and 2 km from National Museum of Australia. The property is around 2 km from Anzac Parade, 2 km from Australian War Memorial and 2.5 km from Questacon. The hotel features family rooms.
All units at the hotel come with air conditioning, a seating area, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a kitchen, a dining area and a private bathroom with a hairdryer, a shower and free toiletries. The rooms will provide guests with a wardrobe and a kettle.
Located in the heart of Canberra CBD, The Sebel Canberra is the perfect base for work or pleasure with serviced apartments for all occasions, including families and groups. Wake up to beautiful city and hinterland views, walk to Canberra’s largest selection of shops, restaurants, cafes, bars, malls and nightlife and enjoy an expansive and delicious hot breakfast to start your day.
Location great, very central for walking and public transport. As most have said, no onsite parking which is a little bit of a pain given parking prices in Canberra sting. Ask though and they recommend a $14 all day park around a 10 minute walk away which works well.
The Sebel is in an excellent location for those, like us, travelling without a car. There are a multitude of cafes and restaurants within a quick walk. Canberra centre shops are very close, Braddon is a walkable distance away and the culture loop free bus stops almost across the road
The room was nicely decorated and had everything we needed – well almost. The beds were comfy, bathroom very clean. The little kitchenette would be great for those wanting to self cater, we only used the kettle and tea, coffee, milk and biscuits were topped up every day.
The location was convenient to us for Floriade, we walked, and there are plenty of restaurants in easy walking distance if you don’t wish to take your car out after you’ve parked it.
Breakfast was more than adequate but the room was very small for the size of the hotel, get there after 7:45am and you’ll have to wait.
Our room had a great view of Parliament House and lake Burley griffin.
There was a large room with kitchenette, dining table/chairs, and a queen bed. Bathroom was big as it was wheelchair accessible.
Breakfast was included, and for a hotel of this size (6 floors?), the dining area is super small. We had to wait for a table, but they let us get a drink while we waited. I felt really sorry for the 2 guys working, it was almost as though there should have been a third as they were just keeping up with seating people, cleaning, and constantly restocking the buffet. Everything was good and fresh, although there were more sweet pastries than traditional breakfast food. There was a gym in the basement, but I had to ask on the second day as there was no information to be found in our room or in the lobby.
Room was big. Huge in fact. A main bedroom with a double bed and a smaller room with two single beds. Also had a big kitchen space with dining table & chairs, cooker, microwave, Nespresso coffee machine etc.
There’s a gym in the basement and it’s really good. All brand-new equipment. Excellent.
Summary: The hotel is good. Central location, good rooms, nice decor, friendly staff, good breakfast. Being new I expect explains some of the teething problems but they’ll sort them out in time. I’ll give it 4/5 and come back again.
How much does a room costs at The Sebel Canberra Civic?
Prices start 154 $/night for Executive King Room. The Superior Queen Room is 160$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.
Where to book online – The Sebel Canberra Civic – Gay Friendly Hotels Canberra – you can find the best hotels deals in Canberra during Milton Food & Wine Festival which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Canberra on Booking.com or Trip.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.
2. Hotel Realm 5* – Gay Friendly Hotels Canberra
Located in the elegant suburb of Barton, on the footsteps of Parliament House, Hotel Realm is contemporary in design and features 2 day spas, 2 health clubs and 5 on-site restaurants. It offers a 25 m lap pool, plunge pool and sauna facilities.
The air-conditioned rooms feature modern interiors and stylish furnishings. Each includes a work desk, flat-screen TV with both free in-room movies, cable and a digital concierge. The ensuite bathroom offers free toiletries and a hairdryer.
Both Evo Health Club (located in Hotel Realm) and Hale Gym (located a short walk away) boast a fully equipped, state-of-the-art fitness centre and guests can visit Hale Spa or Mudd the Spa for beauty, facial or massage treatments.
Hotel Realm is a 5 Star hotel on National Circuit Barton, located next to the Parliamentary Triangle in Canberra. The hotel is located within walking distance to national icons including Parliament House, the National Gallery of Australia and the National Library of Australia. The 5 Star hotel provides 163 rooms and suites, each containing luxurious beds, complimentary WiFi, complimentary on-demand movies and Nespresso coffee machines.
The Realm Precinct offers a range of dining options, including the award-winning French restaurant Buvette Bistro & Wine Bar, the casual Ostani Lounge, Bar & Restaurant, chef-hatted Japanese restaurant LiloTang, chef-hatted Cantonese fine-dining restaurant, The Chairman & Yip, and casual cafes Maple + Clove and Ritual, as well as a gym, spa, indoor pool, hairdresser and conferencing facilities, all with complimentary Wi-FI. The precinct also offers a state-of-the-art gym and day spa, opened in 2017. Hale Gym + Spa has the latest Technogym equipment and casual yoga, Pilates, spin and boxing classes. Hale Spa is Canberra’s latest wellness destination, offering a sanctuary for the body and mind. Combining contemporary elegance with avant-garde design, Hotel Realm is Canberra’s only AAA rated 5 Star hotel.
The suite was quite spacious, with kitchenette (full fridge, microwave, kettle, toaster, coffee pod machine, dishwasher and washer/dryer), separate lounge area, small dining area and balcony, then the bedroom which could be closed off from the rest of the suite. Off the bedroom was a dressing area and en-suite.
We had a light meal and drinks at Ostani for dinner, which had a nice ambience and plenty of indoor and outdoor seating.
Breakfast was at buvette, a buffet with good choices. The poached eggs were all cooked firm and when my husband requested freshly cooked with soft yolks, it was not a problem. However, an extra $5 for a barista-made coffee was a bit steep.
Location is walking distance to Parliament House, Questacon, National Library, National Gallery etc. Hotel had a great indoor/outdoor bar to enjoy drinks and dinner – lots of choices on the bar menu. Large rooms with comfortable beds. Parking is free.
The room service menu is very limited – basically, burgers and pizza. If you are out all day, you don’t always want to eat out. It should be an easy fix to extend the menu. Breakfast and room-service apparently comes from Buvette, the hotel restaurant. The food was okay but nothing special. There are, however, plenty of alternatives in nearby Manuka.
The location is great, close to Manuka for great restaurants and shopping and to other attractions such as the National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery, which we had come to visit. Good view from our apartment across to parliament and a generous balcony from which to enjoy it.
We stayed in an atrium apartment which was very spacious. It had two bedrooms and bathrooms, one set at each end of the apartment, separated by a large lounge/dining room. There was a separate kitchen, with washer/drier. The apartment had three televisions, which made everyone happy and a good selection of channels, including Foxtel, and free movies. What more could you want? Beyond all of the practical elements, the apartment had a really nice feel to it, was well furnished, with a huge, comfortable sofa. The showers had really great water pressure, consistent temperature.
The housekeeping staff attended to your room whenever it was convenient for us over the course of the day. If we were in the room in the morning, they came in the afternoon once we were out. We were really impressed with that.
How much does a room costs at Hotel Realm?
Prices start 172 $/night for King Room. The One-Bedroom Suite is 186$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.
This suite includes complimentary WiFi and movies on demand. It also includes 1 king-sized bed, luxury bathroom amenities and a Nespresso coffee machine with coffee pods. There is a Smart TV, writing desk, direct dial telephone, plush bathrobes with slippers, a hairdryer, ironing facilities, a minibar, movie channels for an additional charge, cable channels and 24-hour room service. There is a digital concierge and complimentary national newspapers.
Where to book online – Hotel Realm – LGBT Friendly Hotels Canberra – you can find the best hotels deals in Canberra during Milton Food & Wine Festival which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Canberra on Booking.com or Trip.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.
3. QT Canberra 3* – Gay Friendly Hotels Canberra
QT Canberra offers sleek designer accommodation, ideally situated in
, on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin. is available throughout the hotel, while the concierge team offers .QT Canberra is 3 minutes’ drive from the Parliament of Australia. It is 5 minutes’ drive from the both Australian War Memorial and the National Gallery of Australia.
The renovated rooms at QT Canberra have been immaculately styled and offer
of the city or the . With a balcony, ergonomic desk and minibar, they are suitable for work or relaxation.Luxury exerts a power all of its own at QT Canberra. Designer chic surroundings meet an elegant portfolio of detail to delight every sense. This is a forum where work and play find perfect accord, and even our most seasoned guest can be genuinely surprised.
Whether it’s an afternoon antipasto or a fresh grilled steak, Capitol Bar & Grill is modern cuisine in a modern setting – Italian inspired with a wine list to match. Lucky’s Speakeasy offers a secluded getaway to end the day or our invitation-only members lounge is the spot for contemporary business with an Old Fashioned in hand. Join us at QT Canberra for a glamorous hotel, restaurant and nightlife experience that still gets up bright and early.
Staying at the QT Canberra ticked all our boxes. The bed is so comfortable, we wished we could take it home. Shower is spacious and hot with good water pressure, and the room was wonderfully quiet. The hotel itself is relaxed and funky with lovely helpful staff. We ate at the restaurant one night during our stay and had a top notch meal. There is only one thing that could be an improvement for us and that is our room air conditioner would not go low enough for our liking at night time, if we were cooler it would have been perfect.
If you’re looking for a funky hotel that is classy and interesting but not too pretentious or posh, that has cool bars both inside your room and in the hotel, then this is the place for you. The rooms are very clean and lovely, great bathrooms, the king-sized beds and pillows were Devine, the parking spaces in the car park are ample, the staff are lovely, and I’ll definitely be back. The only things that could be improved were the room service menu (healthy choices were limited), and the door to the balcony made a fairly loud whistling noise when it was windy.
Hotel design is modern, funky and spacious with a decor nod to the local political prominence. Staff on the whole were professional and helpful. Stayed in a well appointed twin room and king single beds were super comfy. Liked that it had a balcony for fresh air as the heating in the room was a bit difficult to control. Awesome shower, although no bathroom fan. Breakfast smorgasbord was definitely one of the best I’ve experienced. Did not eat dinner at the restaurant but if you are a steak fan, the menu would be appealing. Highly recommend the Blended Zebra cocktail as a nightcap. Loved the New Acton location close to the Lake, bars/restaurants and the CBD. However, Sunday night is pretty quiet in Canberra! The secure car park is quite large for a hotel and compared to Sydney prices, $25 per night is acceptable. Overall, great value and would definitely return.
he rooms are not huge but certainly adequate. The living space in the suite however was vast!
It’s an old building that’s been refurbished into the QT and this shows in things such as air-con systems that are antiquated and quite noisy and windows and doors that whistle in a strong wind. Beds are super-comfortable.
The ‘kitchen’ in the suite required far more in way of bits and pieces to be much use as a kitchen, but the hotel were happy to provide what we needed when we asked. A tiny kettle might be fine in a double room but is ridiculous in a suite for 4 people!
The common areas of the hotel are really lovely and we enjoyed the bar very much…great service and a good wine list. The breakfast buffet is top notch.
How much does a room costs at QT Canberra?
Prices start 139 $/night for QT King Room. The QT Superior King Room is 186$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.
Located on the higher floors of the hotel, this refurbished room offers a private balcony with city, lake and mountain views. The en suite bathroom has natural stone surfaces and a walk-in shower. Tea/coffee making facilities and a minibar are provided.
Where to book online – QT Canberra – Gay Friendly Hotels Canberra – you can find the best hotels deals in Canberra during Milton Food & Wine Festival which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Canberra on Booking.com or Trip.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.