Tassie Top Travel Destination

Last year Tasmania’s Bay of Fires was named the world’s hottest travel destination by Lonely Planet. Now the Apple Isle has been nominated in the number two spot for the world’s top nine emerging gay travel destinations, pipped only by Punta del Este in Uruguay.

The list, compiled by Hotel Travel Club, looks at cities and regions not normally associated with gay travel and shines a rainbow spotlight on Nova Scotia, Indianapolis, Lisbon, Shanghai, Nashville, Mexico City, and San Luis Obispo County, California.

According to the Hotel Travel Club blog, Tasmania has come along way in the last few years in welcoming gay and lesbian travellers. Over the past few years, locals have put aside their conservative views and have welcomed lesbian and gay residents and travellers alike.

Tasmania celebrated its two-week TasPride Festival recently, attracting visitors from across the country.

Tas Pride Starts this Weekend

The TasPride Festival, Tasmania’s arts and cultural celebration for the GLBTIQ community, kicks off this Saturday with a Halloween opening party at Flamingos Dance Bar in Hobart.

The festival’s two-week program is a diverse mix of live music, picnics, stand-up, drag shows, bingo and film screenings. The opening party’s Halloween theme is The Bear, The Bitch and The Wardrobe. In keeping with the Narnia-esque theme, partygoers will enter the venue via a giant wardrobe filled with coats. Entertainment will be provided by Dolly Diamond, a host of DJs, and surprise special guests.

Revellers who come dressed as their favourite fantasy character will be in with the chance to win a swag of prizes.

For more information goto: www.taspride.com.au

Go South Young Man for Tas Pride

If you’ve been looking for an excuse for a quick break down south in Australia’s Apple Isle, Tasmania, now’s the perfect opportunity — the relatively young queer festival TasPride had a fantastic run in 2008, and is gearing up for an even bigger 2009.

The festival runs from October 31 to November 15, with a multitude of events on offer, from relaxed picnics to pumping all-night dance parties. Those from the mainland can head down for a long weekend to get a taste of what’s on offer, but with the festival so jam-packed with activities, it’s tempting to stay for the whole fortnight.

Festival coordinator Madi Peattie has been working hard for the past six months on this year’s festivities, and can’t wait to see the fruits of her labour.

The festival has been running for five years, although two years in its current format after rebranding. The festival encompasses a lot that Tasmania offers, including bushwalking.

The events include a pre-festival camping trip to picturesque Maria Island, several film screenings, a night of (costumed) life drawing for those with an artistic bent, and a relaxing meditation retreat.

Of course, it’s been a long road for Tasmania to become the inclusive state it is today. Only a decade or two ago, Tassie had a reputation as something of a backwater in terms of gay rights and acceptance.

The quiz night and drag bingo events are also always such a big hit, particularly for people in the community who aren’t as into dance parties. They were the two events we were turning people away from last year. Vonni, who was one of the original Les Girls, will be hosting, and we’ll be taking both events up to Launceston as well as Hobart.

TasPride runs from October 31 to November 15

For mor information, goto:
www.taspride.com