Bear Essentials 29 - Free to Bee - Event Accessibility

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 Oxford in Darlinghurst, 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!

The Oxford 134 Oxford Street Darlinghurst	The Oxford has 4 floors, connected by stairs. There is no elevator. The ground floor has 2 steps to get inside the main entrance doors. There is an accessible ramp into the ground floor via the V.I.P. Lounge next door. Enter via this ramp and go to the end of the corridor and turn right to enter the main bar. The Furry Friday events will have an Auslan interpreter.
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.
Beach Day 1 Little Congwong Beach	There is a fair walk, approximately 15 minutes, from the beach entry to Little Congwong Beach and there are many stairs involved. The path has stairs down from the entry to Congwong Beach, then some rock-cut stairs up and over to Little Congwong Beach. The stairs are often wet and slippery. Shade is limited on the beach, and the Australian sun can be very harsh, so bring some shade and sunscreen.
Bearaoke Ginger's Bar	The Karaoke is in Ginger's Bar on the upper level of The Oxford, which requires stairs to access. Ginger's has terraced areas, so there are small stairs inside the bar.
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.
Bear Walk Throughout Sydney	This is a long walk throughout various parts of Sydney. You will walk approximately 7.5km (4.6 miles) during this event. 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. The walk will cross the Sydney Harbour Bridge on foot. The bridge has some open latticework, and so you will be able to see down to the water from the footpath- this triggers a fear of heights in some people. There will be a ride in a glass-walled lift, which may be another trigger for vertigo. The city end of the bridge crossing is via a ramp, but the northern end exit is via stairs or a glass lift/elevator. The route will return to Circular Quay before and after the bridge walk, so you may skip the bridge if this is a concern, and wait for the group to return.
Beach Day 2 Obelisk Beach	Obelisk Beach is a short walk, approximately 3 minutes, from the beach entry. There are some stairs required. 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 slightly 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.
Underbear XXX Arq 16 Flinders Street Darlinghurst	Arq nightclub is split over 3 floors. There are stairs from the entry level up and down to the two club areas. The hotdog hallway has stairs at both ends.
Game Night Archie Bros Cirque Electrique O'Riordan Street Alexandria	TBA
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. 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.
Mardi Gras Afterparty Oxford Underground Club	The afterparty is in the basement bar of The Oxford. Access is only via stairs, it is not wheelchair accessible. The toilets are only accessible via stairs. There is a lowered dancefloor, 2 steps lower than the rest of the venue.