Photos in order: Getty Images; McCarton Ackerman (2)
Story by McCarton Ackerman
With a population of 1.3 million, more people reside in Auckland, by far the largest city in New Zealand, than in the entire South Island of the country. The trendy commercial center, gorgeous harbour and high fashion shopping from up-and-coming New Zealand designers along High Street and O’Connell Street also mean that Auckland can be used strictly for the city or as a great base to also explore the beautiful coast and nearby islands like Waiheke.
You can still get your gay on in Auckland though. Most of the gay nightlife runs along flamboyant Karangahape Road (known as K Road to the locals here), the hipster section of the city. Most of the gay bars only operate on weekends, but Family Bar (270 Karangahape Road), the gay staple of Auckland, is open seven days a week.
Urge (490 Karangahape Road) runs the most notoriously debaucherous gay parties in Auckland, while Caluzzi Cabaret and Restaurant (461 Karangahape Road) hosts over the top drag parties every weekend.
