Auckland

In Auckland, two streets in the center bring together the country's LGBTQ+ scene. Karangahape Road, known to everyone as K' Road, is the alternative, queer heart of the city, lined with bars, clubs and cafés. A little further west is Ponsonby with Ponsonby Road, where boutiques, galleries and restaurants create a more relaxed setting that is just as close to the scene. If you want to stay within walking distance, look for a place around K' Road or Ponsonby. For a central alternative with a view of the water, try the Viaduct/Britomart harbor area.

Gay nightlife mostly happens along K' Road. The best-known address is Family Bar & Club, probably the most famous gay club in the city; there's also the Eagle Bar and Phoenix, which has made a name for itself with campy drag shows. The mix ranges from loud club nights to smaller, quieter bars. On weekends the street fills up late, and it's easy to walk from one place to the next.

Auckland is in the Southern Hemisphere, so the seasons are reversed. The New Zealand summer from December to February brings warm, often sunny weather and the longest days. That's also when the Auckland Pride Festival takes place, the biggest 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 draws more than 10,000 people every year. If you want to be there for the festival, plan for February and book early.

From London there's no way around a connection, for example in Asia, the Middle East or Australia, and the trip to Auckland Airport adds up to around 24 hours. From New York it takes about 18 hours. With travel times like these, a stopover of a few days is a good idea. US and UK citizens need no visa, but you must get an electronic travel authority (NZeTA) and pay the tourism levy (IVL) online before you fly; check the current entry requirements before you travel. The airport is about 20 kilometers from the center, which you can cover by airport bus, shuttle or taxi.

New Zealand is one of the most progressive countries for queer travelers. Same-sex marriage has been legal since 2013, discrimination is prohibited, and social acceptance is high. In Auckland you can move around openly, and hostility is rare even outside the gay neighborhoods. At night, a bit of awareness is wise, as anywhere, but the city's overall safety level is considered good.