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 Darwin in Australia are about as LGBT–friendly as they come. With many gay friendly hotels Darwin 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%).
Darwin is the capital of Australia’s Northern Territory and a former frontier outpost. It’s also a gateway to massive Kakadu National Park. Its popular waterfront area has several beaches and green areas like Bicentennial Park. Also near the water is the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, displaying Southeast Asian and Pacific art, plus a pearling lugger and other seafaring vessels.
Top attractions to visit in Darwin
- Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
- Mindil Beach
- Crocosaurus Cove
- Berry Springs Nature Park
- RFDS Darwin Tourist Facility
Best tours in Darwin
Darwin is a gorgeous area, though the city itself isn’t necessarily worth it. Its Kakadu National Park and the surrounding sites that make it worth your while. … so i’d say Darwin is definitely worth a visit just so you can use it as a base to visit these two national parks
- Litchfield National Park Day Tour from Darwin
- Darwin Harbour Sunset Cruise with Optional Buffet Dinner
- Katherine Day Tour from Darwin including Katherine Gorge Cruise
- Sunset 3-Hour Cruise from Darwin Includes Dinner and Sparkling Wine
- Jumping Crocodile Day Trip from Darwin
1. Ramada Suites by Wyndham Zen Quarter Darwin 4* – Gay Friendly Hotels Darwin
Centrally located in Darwin’s city centre, Ramada Suites by Wyndham Zen Quarter is a 10-minute walk from the nightlife of Mitchell Street and the surrounding shops and restaurants. Each 1 or 2-bedroom, self-contained apartment features a balcony offering city and/or water views. Guests enjoy an outdoor saltwater pool and unlimited free WiFi.
Famous for its hand crafted souvenirs and beautiful sunset, the Mindil Beach Market is a 5-minute drive away. Ramada Suites by Wyndham Zen Quarter is an 8-minute drive from both SkyCity Casino and Cullen Bay. Darwin International Airport is 7 km away.
The modern air-conditioned apartments each have a fully equipped kitchen with a dishwasher, oven and a refrigerator. Guests can relax in their living area which includes a flat-screen TV with free cable channels.
Our spacious, fully self-contained apartments all have water and/or city views along with large balconies. Guests enjoy free high speed internet, free parking including spaces for high-set or long vehicles along with full Foxtel channels. Only 550 meters from the main mall in the Darwin CBD our hotel is easily accessible to the CBD, Darwin Nightlife, waterfront, shops and restaurants. Facilities include onsite air-conditioned gym and a 28 meter saltwater pool.
The accommodations are very new and contain full sized fridge, microwave, oven, dishwasher, cooktop, toaster, kettle and cooking and dining implements. It is perfect for both short and extended stays. Our onsite restaurant on level 3 provides an all-day menu from 6am to 8pm with room service available. Come down to the café and just chill out in the lounges overlooking the Harbour. The breakfast is one of the best in Darwin.
A good location which is easy to access and has undercover secure car parking.
Our apartment was clean, regularly serviced and fully equipped. The pool is long and has views over the harbour, though the pool cleaner could do with some customer service training.
What a great place to stay in Darwin, 10 minute walk to city centre. Our executive apartment was spacious, though bathroom small but not an issue. Balcony on city side with sunset view. Staff fantastic as was breakfast(included), secure parking, amazing pool and the best rooftop bar and restaurant. Washing machine in apartment, no drier but with drying rack provided on balcony no need for drier.
The layout of the room is a bit odd: the “bedroom” is a sort of glassed-in box that doesn’t have nightstands and the reading lights are placed impossibly high. By the time you got up to turn off the light you would be awake again! The kitchen/appliance area is in the entry area and is too narrow. There are large mirrors in places they do not need to be (like above the headboard of the bed). The bathroom light switch is in the oddest location I have seen in quite some time. However, it’s all clean, everything works, the balcony is large and the view is indeed expansive.
Pros: good shower pressure, comfy bed, nice balcony (view not so good where we stayed, as it was a view of containers and industrial side) spacious living area.
The kitchen is well equipped. There is a lot of storage space throughout. Each bedroom has an on suite bathroom. There is a balcony , we were lucky to enjoy the sea view. A buffet breakfast is included and it offers a variety of cooked and continental dishes. There is a good size swimming pool, a gym and a roof top restaurant with amazing city and sea views.
The building is located a short walk from the waterfront.
Bed comfortable, linens great; powerful shower; comfortable seating area, well equipped kitchen with washing machine. Pool great for lap swimming. Used the restaurant on the top floor which had fantastic views across the water/wharf, the food was amazing, staff were warm and welcoming.
How much does a room costs at Ramada Suites by Wyndham Zen Quarter Darwin ?
Prices start 83 $/night for Executive One-Bedroom Apartment. The Deluxe One-Bedroom Apartment is 108$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.
This apartment has a separate bedroom, living area and kitchen. The balcony overlooks both the harbour and the city.
Where to book online – Ramada Suites by Wyndham Zen Quarter Darwin – Gay Friendly Hotels Darwin – you can find the best hotels deals in Darwin during Darwin Festival which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Darwin on Booking.com or Trip.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.
2. Oaks Darwin Elan Hotel 3* – Gay Friendly Hotels Darwin
Ideally positioned in the heart of Darwin CBD, Oaks Darwin Elan Hotel is just minutes’ from the Darwin Waterfront Precinct and the city’s dining, entertainment and shopping hub, including Smith Street Mall. It boasts on-site leisure facilities including an outdoor pool, fitness centre and restaurant open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Guests can choose from spacious hotel rooms or self-contained 1 and 2-bedroom apartments with balconies. The apartments feature views over the tropical city, Darwin Harbour or Frances Bay. Also provided in the rooms and apartments is a flat-screen TV with cable channels, tea/coffee making facilities and a private bathroom with a hairdryer.
The Original Australian Kitchen is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner, serving modern Australian cuisine. For breakfast included rates, guests will receive a continental breakfast. Cooked breakfast is also available to purchase at the property.
Blending contemporary apartment accommodation with resort-style leisure amenities, superior conferencing and events facilities, and a convenient CBD location, Oaks Elan Darwin presents as the premier choice for business or pleasure. Located on Woods Street in Darwin’s CBD, our hotel is just minutes from the Darwin Waterfront Precinct and the city’s dining, entertainment and shopping hub, including Smith Street Mall. Rising over 27 floors, Oaks Elan Darwin offers uninterrupted views over the tropical city, Darwin Harbour and Frances Bay.
As one of Darwin’s newest hotel developments, our accommodation is contemporary in design and features modern décor and quality finishes, including a combination of hotel rooms and one and two bedroom apartments. Apartments are self-contained, spacious, and feature all the essential comforts for a memorable stay. Guests will enjoy the convenience of an in-room kitchenette complete with modern appliances, including a cook top, full size fridge, microwave and dishwasher, as well as full laundry facilities, while hotel rooms feature tea and coffee making facilities. Apartments also feature private balconies, air-conditioning and ceiling fans, Wi-Fi access, and LED/LCD TVs with Foxtel and on-demand movies. For those visiting Oaks Elan Darwin for business, the dedicated work desk features a media station with multiple connection points and universal power outlets, ideal for the international traveller. Oaks Elan Darwin boasts myriad leisure facilities for guests wanting to relax and unwind, including an outdoor lap pool, well-equipped gymnasium and onsite restaurant, Seoul Food, open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner and serving a unique combination of modern Korean and Australian cuisine.
Oaks Elan Darwin is located just 17 minutes from the Darwin International Airport and is within close proximity to the Darwin Entertainment Centre, the Esplanade and Bicentennial Park. Oaks Elan Darwin is also well placed for guests wanting to explore the Northern Territory’s Top End, including Kakadu National Park and Litchfield National Park, both of which are just under two hours’ drive from our hotel.
Very clean, spacious and generous balcony to enjoy the harbour views. Rooms are very well appointed with plenty of stuff for the self-sustaining option, everything you need for a comfortable short stay. Staff were always friendly and helpful, breakfasts are really good value with a great selection of items, and it’s located in a central spot that’s easy to find. Level 21 has fantastic views and you don’t get disturbed by surrounding noise (building, pubs etc).
The room was particularly modern, big king size comfy bed, very spacious living area which included a lounge and desk. Lots of cupboard space for clothing and also a full length mirror which some accommodation sometimes lack. The bathroom was also spacious and very clean. I opted for no room service which made the stay even more economical as I didn’t need my bed made everyday. I had access to clean towels whenever I needed so the no room service option worked out fine.
Parking was free and easily accessible. The Wifi worked well, easy to connect to and relatively fast for a hotel. The location of this hotel was good, easy walk into the main CBD area and also a short walk to the Darwin waterfront which has an array of restaurants and bars. I would stay here again.
The view from the lounge and balcony was breathtakingly beautiful. The lounge was comfortable, the kitchen area was very functional with a full sized fridge which was appreciated. The bed was a little on the firm side, however, an additional underlay request which was met, made it more comfortable. Washing machine was very easy to use as was dryer.
We enjoyed dinner one night in the downstairs restaurant, after drinks at happy hour. The waiters were very pleasant the the meal was good.
The hotel is a little out of the centre of town but it was close to the waterfront and the walk to other features did not take long at all. Being set back a bit it was probably a quieter location than some of the more central hotels.
This was a great spot to stay, highly recommended.
How much does a room costs at Oaks Darwin Elan Hotel ?
Prices start 70 $/night for Hotel Room – No Housekeeping. The Hotel Room with Harbour View
is 85$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.
Boasting views over Darwin Harbour, these rooms feature tea/coffee making facilities, air conditioning and a dedicated work area with a desk. Also provided is a TV with streaming capabilities and free WiFi. Room service is available.
Where to book online – Oaks Darwin Elan Hotel – Gay Friendly Accommodation Darwin – you can find the best hotels deals in Darwin during Darwin Festival which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Darwin on Booking.com or Trip.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.
3. Palms City Resort 3* – Gay Friendly Hotels Darwin
Located on the , offers you a oasis surrounded by in the heart of Darwin’s business district.
The centrally situated Palms City Resort offers you villas and rooms that are fully air-conditioned and furnished with fresh colours. Laze around the pretty landscaped surrounded by greenery, and relax on the sun lounges.
With the city centre of Darwin just minutes’ drive away, you can conveniently enjoy all that the city has to offer. Business guests will be pleased with the resort’s convention facilities and the travel time to the office buildings. Leisure guests can easily enjoy the vibrant shopping, dining and entertainment scene in the city.
Palms City Resort offers corporate and leisure accommodation conveniently located on the picturesque Esplanade in the heart of Darwin’s CBD. There is a choice of Tropical Villas, Executive Villas with Spa Baths or Private plunge spas, Garden Bungalows and Superior and Standard Hotel Rooms. All the Villas and Bungalows are surrounded by tropical gardens and come complete with verandas and electric BBQ’s. All accommodation is fully air-conditioned.
The resort also boasts a perfectly landscaped swimming pool, guest laundry, conference facilities, tour bookings, limited onsite car parking, 24 reception and complimentary luggage storage. The resorts location is perfect with a 5 – 10 minute walk to CBD restaurants, shopping, the deckchair cinema and new waterfront development. For that truly tropical experience in the Top End, choose Palms City Resort.
Palms City was the perfect location and type of accommodation. We stayed in an Executive Villa with outdoor jacuzzi which was an excellent choice. Could sit on the verandah while it was raining and take a dip in the jacuzzi anytime we wished. The interior was well appointed with comfortable bed, two ceiling fans and when we used it the air conditioner worked very well, but at night it was nice to open up the louvre windows and keep the fan on. Location is great for walking around the CBD and down to the foreshore and Stokes Wharf precinct. Plenty of choice for restaurants and cafes close by.
The villas have a car park allocated to each one, so no dramas parking. Found the villas to be “compact” to say the least, but everything was clean and functional. Our room had a basic service daily, mainly with the bed being made and toilet paper top up. Quite acceptable as our stay was short.
Nice deck and garden that is reasonably private. We did get noise from people walking past on the esplanade and while we were here the Darwin festival was on so we got the full force of the show being performed across the road, but that was finished by around 11pm at the latest so not really a big deal.
Found the location to be excellent, within easy walking distance to shops and restaurants and for that reason would totally stay here again and happily recommend Palms City to anyone looking for basic accommodation in a top location.
This is an interesting concept, they have villas grouped around a pool and hidden from each other with the clever use of shrubbery. Everyone in these villas feels a sense of privacy in tropical setting. The room itself is small but well arranged. The bathroom requires users to have full mobility and so there is one villa for the handicapped. There is noise from nearby bars and other hotel outside bars, but not enough to make it an issue. There are parking spaces for the villas and we did not have trouble finding them on the property, but ,one guy parked in 2 spaces all week. There are towels provided for the pool, which is nice. The breakfast room looked pretty nice and paid breakfast is optional.
How much does a room costs at Palms City Resort ?
Prices start 72 $/night for Standard Hotel Room. The Executive Villa is 131$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.
Features an indoor hot tub and veranda with barbecue facilities, or a private outdoor hot tub in the courtyard.
You can request a room with an indoor or outdoor hot tub in the Special Requests Box at the time of booking. Please note that your request is subject to availability.
Where to book online – Palms City Resort – LGBT Friendly Hotels Darwin – you can find the best hotels deals in Darwin during Darwin Festival which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Darwin on Booking.com or Trip.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.
