How can you not love a country that has gifted us with gods like Hugh Jackman, Ian Thorpe, and Russell Crowe? We love anything and everything Australian and therefore a trip down under is required at least once. That is, if you can bear the long flights and steep ticket prices.

Sydney’s huge gay scene is centered on Oxford Street in the Darlinghurst neighborhood. The Street is lined with restaurants, cafes, and clubs that stay open late into the night. It’s a wicked time, but we prefer to trek a bit outside the city to the Imperial Hotel. This drag queen hot spot was made famous in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and the ladies there put on a wallop of a show.

We like the Aussie beaches, too but worship the hunky lifeguards even more. But if you plan to feign distress in the ocean just to get rescued by a lifeguard, think twice. There are sharks in them waters. Yeah, that bitch Jaws herself.

For those not worried about letting it all hang out (Richard Hatch!), hit up the super gay-friendly Lady Jane Nude Beach. Besides, you’ll probably have better luck here than with any of the young straight lifeguards.

Of course you can’t tan and party the entire time. And a trip to Sydney would not be complete without a stop by the world famous Opera House. The Symphony performs through early December.

Qbeds.com has an extensive listing of lodging options specifically for gays going down, um, under.