Auckland gay area
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The Auckland Pride Festival is a riot of fabulous color, culture, and community, while the Big Gay Out is the picnic you always dreamed of – if your dreams involve fabulous music, drag queens, and thousands of your new best friends.
If you stay in the city center, most major attractions will be within walking distance, including the Auckland Museum, highlighting the native Māori population and wider Polynesian culture.
Located above G.A.Y Bar and next to Family Bar (to the right if you're walking out of Family Bar).
Family Bar
270 Karangahape Road, Auckland Central, Auckland
Described as "perhaps the gayest place to dance the night away in the city centre", Family Bar features multiple bars under one roof with drag shows, with nights of live DJs, and karaoke.
Designer suites feature handmade ceramics, organic cotton linens, and built-in daybeds, creating a sophisticated urban sanctuary. Leading the pack is the magnificent Park Hyatt Auckland, which commands prime position on the harbour’s edge in Wynyard Quarter.
Auckland's LGBTQ+ scene centers around the vibrant Karangahape Road (also known as “K Road”), where rainbow communities have created inclusive spaces that celebrate diversity and welcome everyone from locals to travelers, drag queens to dancing queens.
Eagle Bar
259 Karangahape Road, Auckland Central, Auckland
Placed across the road from Family Bar, you’ll find Eagle Bar.
Hours: Sun - Wed: 4pm - 12am, Thur: 4pm - 2am, Fri - Sat: 4pm - 4am
Our Tip: Grab a few friends and come try one of their Long Island Iced Teas
Photo by www.instagram.com/latexpuptoro and www.instagram.com/tomoriole
G.A.Y Bar
Downstairs, 259 Karangahape Road, Auckland Central, Auckland
G.A.Y Bar is an energetic and welcoming LGBTQ+ club that offers an upbeat atmosphere and friendly staff with regular drag shows and themed events.
For something low-key, Cakes n Ladders is a friendly board game café for an easy daytime hang. However, there’s always plenty going on, as you’ll discover with our gay Auckland guide.
Trip Design
Where to stay in Auckland
Auckland’s luxury hotel scene has undergone a remarkable transformation, with several world-class properties now gracing the city’s stunning waterfront and central business district.
Whether you're into dancing, cocktails, or chilled conversations, here's a guide to some of the top gay bars in the city. Book ahead for hotels and tickets because it’s the busiest period. If you want a social sauna, Centurian Sauna offers steam, spa, and lounge areas. G.A.Y Auckland is the main gay club for late sets and drag shows, while Eagle Bar suits a simpler night with drinks, dancing, and karaoke.
This 10-story masterpiece holds the distinction of being New Zealand’s first 5 Green Star hotel, demonstrating that sustainability and luxury need not be mutually exclusive. Auckland Pride runs across February into early March with arts, parties, talks, and community events across town. You can leap off the Sky Tower (with a harness, of course), kayak to a volcanic island, or simply hike up Mount Eden for a panoramic selfie spot.
It continues to delighted both locals and visitors with unforgettable entertainment by fabulous Drag Queen waitresses who then take the stage for their traffic (they will get out on K Road) stopping performances.
Hours: Fri - Sat: 7pm - 11.30pm, Sun - Thur: Closed
Our Tip: A great way to start the night, embrace the interactive atmosphere and don't be shy about participating!
This is where you will find the best gay clubs in Auckland!
By international standards, the queer scene here is pretty relaxed, with a majority of the venues being a mixture of people rather than expressly LGBTQ+. The spacious guest chambers—starting at a generous 47 square metres—offer breathtaking water views through floor-to-ceiling windows, whilst the hotel’s impressive wellness facilities include a 25-metre infinity pool, spa, and hydrotherapy area.
You’ll get warm days and long evenings, and Pride gives you built-in plans. With a laid-back vibe and diverse crowd, it’s cosy and the bar tenders are friendly and attentive.