If you've ever wanted to experience Pride in a different country, now could be the time to book in a trip.
As New Zealand's Pride events wind down and the rainbow baton is passed on to Sydney, those keen to travel further afield have a plethora of festivals all over the world to choose from, and it won't break the bank to get there.
Cathay Pacific is offering airfares to Pride festival destinations as far away as New York and Amsterdam, most of which are under $2000 return, while Air New Zealand offers a special themed party flight to Sydney's events at a very reasonable price.
New York: June 14 - 28:
The origin of the historic 1969 Stonewall Riots, New York is the birthplace of the Pride marches and festivals we celebrate all around the world today.
Visitors can learn about the historic gay liberation movements which started in this city and spread around the world as well as partake in the massive parties and public events.
Must see:
The Stonewall Inn
This is where it all began in 1969 - the riots that took place here are widely considered to be one of the most important events in LGBTQ history and snowballed into the historic fight for liberation across the United States.
London: June 27
London Pride is one of the UK's biggest celebrations, with a community and event list befitting of the size of the historic city. The parade takes place on June 27.
Tel Aviv: June 7 - 13
You may not think of the Middle East being a continent that would celebrate Pride, but the Tel Aviv festival attracts more than 250,000 people.
Amsterdam: July 25 - August 2
This is a Pride parade with a difference: it takes place on a canal, with crowds lining the waterways as the floats literally float past.
Must see:
Reguliersdwarsstraat is the heart of Amsterdam where you'll find most of the bars, clubs and retail. But nearby lies Homomonument, a memorial paying respect to members of the LGBTIQ community who were persecuted due to their identity.
Taipei: October 31
Making history in 2019 as the first Asian nation to legalise marriage equality, Taiwan is now making its mark on the international LGBTQ scene.
Hosted in October, Taiwan Pride attracts tens of thousands of visitors to its capital city.
San Francisco: June 27
This event should be on the bucket list for everyone, not just those in the Rainbow community. Although New York can probably claim the title of gay capital of the world, San Francisco would come a close second.
The event aims to educate, celebrate and liberate, with events including comedy shows, boat parties and its iconic parade.
Must see:
The Castro
Everything in it and about it is Rainbow-friendly. If you've ever wondered what it'd be like to live in a world where most people are gay and heterosexuals are the minority, this is as close to that as you could get.
There are more clubs, diners, cafes, restaurants and parties in the Castro than I've ever experienced before.
For those who want to stay a bit closer to home, there's still a few seats left on Air New Zealand's 'Party Gras' flight from Auckland to Sydney in time for Mardi Gras.
Drag divas Buckwheat and Tess Tickle will be onboard providing the entertainment, and a festive crew will be serving specially themed cocktails.
It departs Auckland on February 28.
Which Rainbow-friendly cities have you been impressed by? Join in the conversation on our Newshub Travel Facebook group.
