Should you visit Adelaide or Fraser Island?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Adelaide and Fraser Island can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Adelaide
Adelaide is the often overlooked capital city of the State of South Australia. It's also the fifth largest city in the country. Despite being skipped by most travelers, Adelaide is an interesting city to explore and has a decent amount to offer open minded travelers. It has some fascinating architecture, unique shopping, and wonderful cafes and restaurants. Part of the appeal of Adelaide is its location in the midst of Australia's wine regions, including McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, and Clare Valley. Any of these destinations could be visited as a day trip from Adelaide.
Fraser Island
Fraser Island, located off Australia's eastern Queensland coast, is the world's largest sand island. It is best known as a camping and ecotourism destination, with a number of panoramic viewpoints, beaches, lakes, and freshwater pools. Hervey Bay, a beachside city on the nearby mainland, is a primary gateway to the island.
Which city is cheaper, Fraser Island or Adelaide?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Adelaide is $99, while the average daily cost in Fraser Island is $187. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Adelaide and Fraser Island in more detail.
Accommodation
Travelers usually pay around $118 for a double occupancy room in Adelaide If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $184 for a double occupancy room in Fraser Island.
Food
The price of a meal in Adelaide can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $28 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $11 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
While meal prices in Fraser Island can vary, the average travelers spends about $43 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Fraser Island should cost around $17 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Fraser Island is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
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Food
Meals for one day
Adelaide $28
Fraser Island $43
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Adelaide
For Adelaide, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
The F Factor: Adelaide food tour:
$36
-
Private Pizza Making Class in Hunter Valley:
$48
-
Pizza Paddle Sunset Kayak Tour in Bateman's Bay:
$66
-
Dinner Cruise at Sydney Harbour with Optional Mast Climb Experience:
$72
-
Cairns Dinner Cruise by Spirit of Cairns:
$73
-
Australian Outback Spectacular Dinner Show Ticket:
$74
-
Charles Darwin Dinner Cruise:
$75
-
Sydney Harbour Sunset Dinner Cruise by Captain Cook:
$77
-
Dumpling Cooking Class in Melbourne:
$80
-
Cairns Aquarium Twilight Tour with 3-Course Dinner:
$88
-
Pinnacles Sunset Dinner and Stargazing Tour:
$109
-
Private Cooking School in the Hunter Valley:
$114
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Fraser Island
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Fraser Island.
-
Private Pizza Making Class in Hunter Valley:
$48
-
Pizza Paddle Sunset Kayak Tour in Bateman's Bay:
$66
-
Dinner Cruise at Sydney Harbour with Optional Mast Climb Experience:
$72
-
Cairns Dinner Cruise by Spirit of Cairns:
$73
-
Australian Outback Spectacular Dinner Show Ticket:
$74
-
Charles Darwin Dinner Cruise:
$75
-
Sydney Harbour Sunset Dinner Cruise by Captain Cook:
$77
-
Dumpling Cooking Class in Melbourne:
$80
-
Cairns Aquarium Twilight Tour with 3-Course Dinner:
$88
-
Pinnacles Sunset Dinner and Stargazing Tour:
$109
-
Private Cooking School in the Hunter Valley:
$114
-
Mexican Cooking Class in Melbourne:
$122
Local Transportation
To get around in Adelaide, the average visitor spends $17 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
The average price of local transportation around Fraser Island is $84 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Adelaide
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Adelaide are as follows:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Adelaide
Also for Adelaide, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Shared City Transfers from Darwin to Stokes Hill Wharf:
$6.65
-
SkyBus Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) Express Transfer Ticket:
$11
-
Shared Sunshine Coast Airport Transfers (MCY) for Sunshine Coast:
$12
-
Shared Cairns Airport Transfer (CNS) from and to Cairns, Port Douglas, Palm Cove:
$13
-
Shared Sydney Airport Transfers (SYD) for Sydney:
$13
-
Hobart International Airport (HBA) Express Bus Transfers by SkyBus:
$14
-
Sea World Shared Shuttle Transfer from Gold Coast Hotels:
$15
-
Shared Brisbane Airport Transfers (BNE) for Brisbane :
$15
-
Avalon Airport (AVV) Express Transfer by SkyBus for Melbourne City:
$15
-
Shared Gold Coast Airport Transfers (OOL) for Gold Coast:
$17
-
Paradise Country Shared Shuttle Transfer from Gold Coast Hotels:
$18
-
Harbour Town Premium Outlets Shared Shuttle Transfer from Gold Coast Hotels:
$18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Fraser Island
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Fraser Island:
-
[Promotion: Adult at Kids Price] Hot Air Balloon Experience with Round-trip Transfers & Vineyard Champagne Breakfast in Gold Coast:
$191
-
[Promotion: Adult at Kids Price] Hot Air Balloon Experience in Cairns with Round-trip Transfers:
$176
-
Wet'n'Wild Return Shared Shuttle Transfer from Gold Coast Hotels:
$18
-
Thredbo Day Trip with Round Trip Transfer from Sydney by Brighton Coach:
$81
-
SkyBus Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) Express Transfer Ticket:
$11
-
Shared Sydney Airport Transfers (SYD) for Sydney:
$13
-
Shared Sunshine Coast Airport Transfers (MCY) for Sunshine Coast:
$12
-
Shared Shuttle Bus Transfers from Kings Canyon to Alice Springs:
$133
-
Shared Shuttle Bus Transfers between Ayers Rock and Kings Canyon:
$110
-
Shared Shuttle Bus Transfers between Alice Springs and Ayers Rock:
$133
-
Shared Perth Airport (PER) Transfers for Perth and Fremantle:
$22
-
Shared Gold Coast Airport Transfers (OOL) for Gold Coast:
$17
Is it cheaper to fly into Adelaide or Fraser Island?
Prices for flights to both Fraser Island and Adelaide change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Entertainment
In Adelaide, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $12 per person, per day.
Fraser Island's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $40 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Tours and Activities in Adelaide
For Adelaide, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
North Stradbroke Island Water Taxi Ferry Ticket:
$7.95
-
Searoad Ferry Tickets between Queenscliff and Sorrento:
$8.85
-
Bridestowe Lavender Estate Tour:
$8.85
-
Koala Conservation Reserve Tickets in Phillip Island:
$9.95
-
Hunter Valley Wine Theatre Experience:
$11
-
Margaret River Region Lighthouse Tours:
$11
-
Australian Wine Discovery Tour Ticket:
$12
-
Sydney Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour with Mobile App:
$12
-
Adelaide Scavenger Hunt: Adelaide Adventure:
$12
-
Phillip Island Chocolate Factory Ticket:
$13
-
Melbourne Sports Lovers Tours:
$13
-
Kuranda Koala Gardens General Admission Ticket in Cairns:
$13
Tours and Activities in Fraser Island
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Fraser Island are as follows:
-
Abseiling Adventure in Adelaide :
$73
-
Half Day Kayak Tour in Bateman's Bay + FREE Paddle Pack:
$95
-
Hunter Valley Scenic Wine and Cheese Tour from Sydney:
$125
-
Nowra Treetop and Zipline Adventure:
$32
-
Yarra Valley Hot Air Balloon Flight and Winery Tour:
$385
-
'Have a Go' Clay Target Shooting Experience in Brisbane:
$110
-
12 Apostles, Otways & Great Ocean Road Hiking Adventure from Melbourne:
$132
-
1D1N Kangaroo Island Road to Recovery Tour:
$514
-
2D Best of Tasmania Sightseeing Tour: Hobart & Bruny Island :
$126
-
2D Ultimate Marine Adventure from Port Lincoln:
$405
-
2D1N Reefsleep Under the Stars Great Barrier Experience:
$416
-
2D1N at the Wilderness Lodge with Walking Tours of Bungles and Cathedral Gorge:
$1,068
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Adelaide spend on average $20 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
The average person spends about $19 on alcoholic beverages in Fraser Island per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in Adelaide
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Adelaide:
-
Savannah Estate Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley:
$3.69
-
Hunter’s Dream Estate Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley:
$3.69
-
Misty Glen Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley:
$3.69
-
Tintilla Estate Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley:
$3.69
-
Pokolbin Estate Wine Tasting Experience:
$3.69
-
Tempus Two Wine Tasting Experience:
$3.69
-
Hanging Tree Wines Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley:
$3.69
-
Capercaillie Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley:
$3.69
-
Hungerford Hill Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley :
$7.39
-
Glandore Estate Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley:
$7.39
-
Wine Tasting at Tulloch Wines in Hunter Valley:
$7.39
-
Wine Tasting at Wine House in Hunter Valley:
$7.39
Sample the Local Flavors in Fraser Island
Also in Fraser Island, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Savannah Estate Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley:
$3.69
-
Tempus Two Wine Tasting Experience:
$3.69
-
Hanging Tree Wines Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley:
$3.69
-
Capercaillie Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley:
$3.69
-
Misty Glen Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley:
$3.69
-
Tintilla Estate Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley:
$3.69
-
Hunter’s Dream Estate Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley:
$3.69
-
Pokolbin Estate Wine Tasting Experience:
$3.69
-
Wine Tasting at Horner Wines in Hunter Valley:
$7.39
-
Talits Estate Cellar Door Wine Tasting Experience:
$7.39
-
Wine Tasting at Wine House in Hunter Valley:
$7.39
-
Glandore Estate Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley:
$7.39
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Adelaide and Fraser Island, we can see that Fraser Island is more expensive. And not only is Adelaide much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Adelaide would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Adelaide and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Fraser Island would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Fraser Island than you might in Adelaide.
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