Auckland

Trendy district

Two streets in the centre of Auckland bundle the country's LGBTQ scene. Karangahape Road, known to everyone as K' Road, is considered the alternative, queer heart of the city and is lined up with bars, clubs and cafés. A little further west is Ponsonby with its Ponsonby Road, where boutiques, galleries and eateries form a more laid-back, but equally trendy environment. If you want to live within walking distance, it's best to look for a place to stay around K' Road or Ponsonby. With a view of the water, the Viaduct/Britomart harbour district offers a central alternative.

Nightlife

Along K' Road, the gay nightlife is all about it. The most famous address is the Family Bar & Club, probably the most famous gay club in the city; in addition, there is the Eagle Bar and the Phoenix, which has a name for campy drag shows. The mix ranges from loud club nights to smaller bars where things are quieter. On weekends, the street fills up late. It is easy to switch between the restaurants on foot.

Best time to visit

Auckland is located in the southern hemisphere, so the seasons are reversed from Europe. Warm, often sunny weather and the longest days are brought by the New Zealand summer from December to February. This period also sees the Auckland Pride Festival, the largest in the country, with the Pride parade on Ponsonby Road, the PROUD party and the Big Gay Out, a family-friendly open-air festival in an inner-city park that attracts over 10,000 people annually. If you want to experience the festival, you should plan February and book early.

Arrival

From Europe, practically every route leads via a stopover, for example in Asia, the Middle East or Australia, before heading to Auckland Airport. Because the pure flight time adds up to around 24 hours, a stopover of a few days is a good idea. To enter the country, you need an electronic travel authorization, the NZeTA, which is applied for online before departure. From the airport to the center it is about 20 kilometers, which you can cover by airport bus, shuttle or taxi.

Safety & LGBT Rights

New Zealand is one of the most progressive countries for queer travelers. Since 2013, same-sex marriages have been legal, there is a ban on discrimination, and social acceptance is high. In Auckland you can move openly, and hostility is rare even outside the trendy districts. At night, as everywhere, a little attention is recommended. However, the general level of security in the city is considered good.