Bear Essentials 30

Cruising

15 February 2026 - 1 March 2026

Accessibility

Bear Essentials

Not all the Bear Essentials are fully accessible. We've compiled some information about the different levels of accessibility for our events.

Our Home Bars

Harbour City Bears has 2 homes in Sydney- The Kings Cross Hotel in Kings Cross, and The Townie in Newtown. Note that there are several bars with the same name in Sydney, so make sure you head to the right one!

Kings Cross Hotel
244-248 William Street
Kings Cross
  • The Kings Cross Hotel has 5 floors, with elevators to each floor.
  • The Rooftop bar has a split level, with 4 steps between the two levels.
  • You can use the elevator to go between the split levels, however you must go down to the ground floor, change elevators and come back up.
  • The Furry Friday events will have an Auslan interpreter, and the trivia night will be auto-captioned with software. Additionally the trivia questions will be displayed on the screen.
The Town Hall Hotel (The Townie)
326 King Street
Newtown
  • The Town Hall Hotel has 3 floors.
  • They are connected by stairs, and there is an elevator to all floors.
  • The elevator is kept locked but can be unlocked on request to the bar staff.
Our Events

Our events are in a variety of locations, indoor and outdoor. Below each event is listed with its accessibility options.

Fair Day
Victoria Park
  • Victoria Park is a large outdoor park.
  • It is wheelchair accessible, however some areas are grassy and may be muddy and slippery if there is rain.
  • There are some areas where the ground is uneven and may be difficult to access via wheelchair.
Bearaoke
Kings Cross Hotel
  • The Karaoke is in the "Bordello" level of Kings Cross Hotel (Level 4).
  • The Bordello is accessible via elevator, and has no steps inside the level.
  • There is no accessible toilet on the Bordello level, however there are others inside the KXH, accessible via the lift.
Sauna Night
Sauna X
  • Sauna X is spread over three levels, connected by narrow, steep stairs.
  • There is no elevator, and the venue is not wheelchair accessible.
  • There are many small steps up and down within the venue.
  • There are wet areas, so the floor may be slippery.
Pub Crawl
Throughout Sydney
  • This is a long walk throughout various parts of Sydney.
  • Separate sections of the route will be connected using Sydney's public transport, all of which is wheelchair accessible. You will ride on a bus, a tram, a ferry and a train.
  • Parts of the walk will have stairs, and the footpath may be uneven in places.
Beach Day
Obelisk Beach
  • Obelisk Beach is a short walk, approximately 3 minutes, from the beach entry.
  • This location is not wheelchair accessible due to steep, uneven stairs leading from the road level down to the beach.
  • Shade is limited on the beach, and the Australian sun can be very harsh, so bring some shade.
  • Sunscreen is especially important since Obelisk is clothing-optional, and you will burn very quickly and painfully if you don't wear 50+ SPF.
Harbour Cruise
King Street Wharf
  • You will have to climb to board the boat.
  • There are stairs down to the water, for swimming.
  • The boat has two levels, with the upper level accessible only via a narrow staircase/ladder.
Elizabeth Bay House
7 Onslow Avenue
Elizabeth Bay<
  • As a heritage site, some surfaces may be uneven or worn.
  • Please take care when walking through the house, especially on staircases and thresholds.
  • Sensible footwear is recommended.
  • There are steps into the house via the front entrance but for people in wheelchairs or with limited mobility the house can open the back gate, which has level access into the house from the road. Please ask at reception or call beforehand to arrange.
  • Inside the house, only the ground floor is accessible to people with low mobility, and ground-floor only tours can be arranged on request.
  • For visitors who are unable to access other areas directly, folders with captioned images are provided.
  • Accessible toilets are located on the ground floor.
  • Videos in the house are subtitled.
Underbear XXX
Aura
16 Flinders Street
Darlinghurst
  • Aura nightclub is split over 3 floors.
  • There are stairs from the entry level up and down to the two club areas.
  • There is a chair-lift on both sets of stairs.
  • The hotdog hallway linking Aura and Sauna X has stairs at both ends.
Wet Furr
Cook + Phillip Park Pool
  • The Cook + Phillip Park Pool is fully accessible.
  • There are stairs or an elevator to enter the centre.
  • Both pools have ramp access and the leisure pool slopes gently, getting gradually deeper.
  • The leisure pool has a wave machine which will be on periodically during the event.
  • There are several lifeguards on duty at all times.
Mardi Gras Parade
  • The parade requires a long wait in the mustering area before the parade begins, with limited places to sit.
  • The parade itself is approximately 2km (1.2 miles), and proceeds at a brisk walking pace.
  • Harbour City Bears' float will have a truck with a flatbed, on which you may stand. Priority will be given to those with accessibility needs, however others may ride on the truck if there is still room available.
  • You cannot get on and off the truck once the parade has started. You will be either on the truck or off the truck for the entire duration, you cannot get on for a break.
  • It is unlikely you will be able to sit for the entire duration of the parade.
  • After the parade ends, you will likely have to walk to your next destination, as roads will be closed and transport options limited.
  • The Mardi Gras organisers do provide a shuttle for those with mobility issues, however you must book it with them directly, Harbour City Bears cannot book this on your behalf.

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