As the confetti and detritus was being cleared up from the city's streets, the crowd, an estimated 200,000, cleared off after a night celebrating diversity, dressing up and partying.

The floats were kick-started after 7.30 by the traditional Dykes on Bikes and the first official float was, appropriately, the 'First Australians' float following by the '78 float', with members of the LGBTIQ community that had marched in the first Mardi Gras to demostrate for gay rights in 1978.

What followed was assortment of floats that represented many sectors of society, as well an assortment of clubs, organisations and companies.

The biggest cheers of the night were reserved for the Armed Services and Police float which featured a female officer booming out a fine rendition of Bruno Mars' Just The Way You Are.

The Defence float was the biggest ever with high ranking officers and carrying the imprimatur of the armed forces, which have been marching since 2008, and in uniform since 2013

"The growing participation at this parade shows that Defence Force culture has changed for the better," president of the Defence LGBTI Information Service, Squadron Leader Vince Chong said.   "This record turnout of volunteers, on an amazing night like the Mardi Gras parade, shows what can be achieved with strong leadership pushing for cultural change, even in organisations like Defence that are steeped in tradition," he said.

A good night seemed to be had by all, as people teemed in from all parts of Australia, and the world, to come to the event.

"You probably won't see too many gay biologists at this parade, but here we all are," said Michael Homes, 28, a PhD student in biology at the University of Sydney.

"This is basically the gay community at the school of biology at USyd."

A tired looking Mr Holmes said that while the parade was "pretty good" he was struggling to see the floats.

"I'm just glad they were here and glad they are going past," he said.

Mario Sorrentino, visiting from Argentina, who was at his third Sydney Mardi Gras said that the event was better than other Mardi Gras' he has been at around the world, such as San Francisco or New Orleans.

"It's certainly different from the other ones, you get to see the people out on the streets here."

"I like the summer Mardi Gras," he said.

Twenty-six-year-old Travis Talbot, from Perth, was at his first Mardi Gras and he was a fan.

"I liked the 'out and proud soccer float and also the one that exploded confetti – that was pretty cool'," he said.

Josip Potocki, 24, from Fairfield also said that the parade was very important gathering of the LGBTIQ community, particularly for those from western Sydney "where it's a bit more conservative", than in the city.

"Just to have that day when we are all here together is sensational," he said. "It's just fabulous."