A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Atami vs. Coffs Harbour for Beaches, Families, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit Atami or Coffs Harbour?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Atami and Coffs Harbour can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Atami

Atami is a overlooked, nostalgic, and authentic town. Other reasons to visit include nightlife, food, and beaches.

Coffs Harbour

Coffs Harbour is a nature-filled, lively, and relaxing vacation town. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. Visitors also love the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Atami and Coffs Harbour: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Atami or Coffs Harbour?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Coffs Harbour. Although Atami and Coffs Harbour are popular destinations, Coffs Harbour has more sights and attractions for tourists. Coffs Harbour is more touristy than Atami and is known for its popularity as a holiday destination, diverse marine environment, and the iconic "Big Banana". It is also well known for the Solitary Islands Marine Park. Atami is famous for its onsen (hot springs) and sandy beaches.

How is Atami different from Coffs Harbour?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Coffs Harbour and Atami. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Atami or Coffs Harbour?

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Atami and Coffs Harbour.

Atami offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. The onsen, or hot springs, have historically been a big draw to this town. Places to experience them include Oedo Onsen Monogatari Atami, Otsuki Hotel Wafukan, and Myoraku-Yu. Other sights around town include Kaminiya Shrine and the MOA Museum of Art.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Coffs Harbour. The town is home to the infamous Big Banana Fun Park. It's a large amusement park that's become recognized for the "Big Banana" at the entrance - which is the first of the "Big Things" found in Australia. The town also has several other landmarks to check out such as the Forest Sky Pier, the North Coast Regional Botanic Garden, and the Butterfly House.

Is the Food Better in Atami or Coffs Harbour? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Coffs Harbour is a very popular place for its restaurants. Also, Atami is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Coffs Harbour has a huge number of terrific restaurants. It's a popular tourist destination, and there are plenty of cafes and restaurants that cater to families, couples, and all types of vacations. There are quaint cafes as well as fine dining restaurants and the cuisine ranges from local seafood to modern Australian favorites, or international treats.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Atami area. You'll find an authentic Japanese dining experience here, with a lot of seafood due to the city's coastal location. Popular dishes include sushi, dried fish, and fish boiled in broth.

Is Atami or Coffs Harbour Better for Nightlife?

Coffs Harbour is a very popular place for nightlife and partying. Also, Atami is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its evening party scene.

Coffs Harbour has a large number of nightlife venues. It's a vacation spot that attracts visitors who want to enjoy the evening activities. The Jetty Strip is popular for its nightlife scene, but you'll find no shortage of bars and pubs in other areas as well.

Atami has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The town was once a place to escape the city and enjoy a fun night out, but these days it's a bit quieter and has more of a nostalgic vibe. Head to Yushima Yugijo Yushima Amusement Center for some of the best nightlife in town.

Is Atami or Coffs Harbour Better for Resorts?

Coffs Harbour is a very popular place for its luxury resorts. However, Atami is not a resort destination.

In Coffs Harbour, you'll find some of the region's top resorts. There's a huge range of accommodation types in the area with everything from camping to luxury resorts. There are also budget-friendly hostels and family-friendly hotels.

Atami is not a resort destination.

Is Atami or Coffs Harbour Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Coffs Harbour is a very popular place for its diving and snorkeling. However, Atami is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Coffs Harbour is an extremely popular place to visit for scuba diving and snorkeling. Scuba diving and snorkeling is popular in the area, as this is where the Solitary Islands Marine Park begins. The area sees a mix of the warm water from the Great Barrier Reef and the cooler waters from around Sydney, so the marine life is diverse. There are sheltered areas that offer snorkeling for all ages and you'll see a great mix of tropical and sub-tropical marine life, as well as both soft and hard corals.

Atami is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Atami or Coffs Harbour Better for Beaches?

Coffs Harbour is renowned for the beache. Also, Atami is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for the beach.

Coffs Harbour is considered to be a world-class beach destination. People come for the beaches, and they won't disappoint. You can enjoy everything from surfing, swimming, fishing, or simply walking and taking in the beauty. Popular beaches in the area include Emerald Beach, Woolgoolga, and the family-friendly Jetty Beach.

Atami offers a nice beach destination. The most popular beach in the city is Atami Sun Beach, which is right in town. It's a place to relax in the sun, and there are sometimes fireworks throughout the year.

Is Atami or Coffs Harbour Better for Hiking?

Coffs Harbour is a very popular place for its hiking trails. However, Atami is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Coffs Harbour. There are many national parks and natural areas nearby with excellent hiking and bush walks. The Coffs Creek Walk is a walking and biking path that's in town and connects the city center to many of the top sights that are nearby. Out of town, there's the Solitary Islands Coastal Walk, the Gumgali Track, Sherwood Nature Reserve and Ulidarra National Park.

Atami is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Atami or Coffs Harbour?

Coffs Harbour is a very popular place for its shopping opportunities. Also, Atami is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping areas.

Coffs Harbour is well-known for its shopping. The city has many shopping centers and markets where you can enjoy leisurely shopping or pick up any essentials that you may have forgotten.

Many visitors go to Atami to go shopping. You'll find a couple of retro shopping streets in town such as Atami Ekimae Shopping Street, Nakamise Shopping Street, and Heiwadori Shopping Street. There are arcades and food stalls where you can sample local dishes.

Is Atami or Coffs Harbour Better for Families?

Coffs Harbour is renowned for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Atami is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Coffs Harbour is an extremely popular vacation town to visit for families. There are great beaches where kids can swim or learn to surf. There are also water parks, including the famous Big Banana Fun Park, as well as amusement parks, nature reserves, and wildlife sanctuaries. Kids and adults alike will enjoy going dolphin or whale watching, or putting on a mask and going snorkeling.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Atami. The city is a hot springs area, but you can also head to the nearby beaches and other family-friendly activities.

Is Atami or Coffs Harbour Better for Couples?

Coffs Harbour is a very popular place for its romantic activities. Also, Atami is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for couples.

Coffs Harbour makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It's a beautiful city and a popular honeymoon destination. Couples will enjoy the impressive beaches and fun activities. There are places to explore nature as well as restaurants and fun evening activities. There's also great scuba diving and snorkeling at the Solitary Islands Marine Park.

Atami is a good town for couples to visit. This is a beach and hot springs resort area, and in historic times it was a honeymoon destination. Today you'll find beaches, hot springs, shopping, and museums to explore, but most visitors use it as a base to explore the nearby areas, as the town itself doesn't have a lot to offer.

Is Atami or Coffs Harbour Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Coffs Harbour is a very popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Atami is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

Many backpackers visit Coffs Harbour. There are a number of hostels around town as well as great water activities and a lively atmosphere, making this a nice stop off for backpackers.

Plenty of backpackers visit Atami. While there aren't a huge number of hostels in the area, and backpackers often skip over this town, prices aren't particularly high so you should be able to find something affordable.

Is Atami or Coffs Harbour Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Atami is a town with good options for times when you don't have a car. However, Coffs Harbour is lacking in options for its public transit.

Atami has some public transit options. There are public buses, such as the YuYu Bus, which has two routes and passes by many of the town's attractions.

Public transit is generally limited in Coffs Harbour. This is a very car dependent area and public transit is very limit. While there are buses, the area is spread out and you need the freedom of having your own vehicle to explore.

Is Atami or Coffs Harbour a more walkable city?

Atami is a town with good options for its walkability. However, Coffs Harbour is lacking in options for its high level of walkability.

Atami is somewhat walkable. Some parts of the city are more walkable than others.

Coffs Harbour is not a walkable town. Most visitors arrive with a car and you'll struggle to fully experience the area if you don't have your own form of transportation.

For even more information, also check out Is Atami Worth Visiting? and Is Coffs Harbour Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Coffs Harbour or Atami?

How long in Atami or Coffs Harbour?

Both Atami and Coffs Harbour have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Coffs Harbour than in Atami. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Atami, and 3-7 days is enough time in Coffs Harbour.

Families should spend more time in Coffs Harbour than Atami. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Coffs Harbour, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Coffs Harbour than Atami. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Coffs Harbour that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Coffs Harbour than Atami if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Coffs Harbour.

One day in Atami or Coffs Harbour?

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the overlooked destination of Atami. Your budget might influence how long you stay. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then one day is just the right amount of time to spend here.

In Coffs Harbour, many people enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling that this lively destination offers. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. Lots of people come for the beaches. This vacation town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

A weekend in Atami or Coffs Harbour?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Atami. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Coffs Harbour. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Five days in Atami or Coffs Harbour?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the authentic destination of Atami. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

Coffs Harbour is a fun place to experience. In Coffs Harbour, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this destination offers. Lots of people come for the beaches. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. This would be the perfect place to spend five days, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A week in Atami or Coffs Harbour?

You'll find food and shopping around the town of Atami. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

In Coffs Harbour, many people enjoy the museums and nightlife that this lively destination offers. Plenty of people spend one week in the area when traveling. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Lots of people come for the beaches. One week is often enough time to do most activities.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo, The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo, The Best Adventure Tours to Australia, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Australia.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Atami and Coffs Harbour, we can see that Coffs Harbour is more expensive. And not only is Atami much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Atami is in Asia and Coffs Harbour is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Atami would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Atami 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 Coffs Harbour would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Coffs Harbour than you might in Atami.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Atami Expensive? and Is Coffs Harbour Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Atami or Coffs Harbour?

Coffs Harbour has a larger population, and is about 55% larger than the population of Atami. When comparing the sizes of Atami and Coffs Harbour, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Atami or Coffs Harbour?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Coffs Harbour is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Atami has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Atami or Coffs Harbour in the Summer?

Both Coffs Harbour and Atami are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Atami because of the beaches and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Coffs Harbour this time of year.

In July, Atami is generally a little warmer than Coffs Harbourin January. Daily temperatures in Atami average around 26°C (78°F), and Coffs Harbour fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).

It's quite sunny in Coffs Harbour. Atami usually receives less sunshine than Coffs Harbour during summer. Atami gets 140 hours of sunny skies, while Coffs Harbour receives 237 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Coffs Harbour. It's quite rainy in Atami. In July, Atami usually receives more rain than Coffs Harbourin January. Atami gets 202 mm (8 in) of rain, while Coffs Harbour receives 187 mm (7.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Atami or Coffs Harbour in the Autumn?

Both Coffs Harbour and Atami during the autumn are popular places to visit. The shopping scene are the main draw to Atami this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Coffs Harbour for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

Atami is cooler than Coffs Harbour in the autumn. The daily temperature in Atami averages around 18°C (64°F) in October, and Coffs Harbour fluctuates around 20°C (67°F)in April.

In Coffs Harbour, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Atami often gets less sunshine than Coffs Harbourin April. Atami gets 130 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Coffs Harbour receives 203 hours of full sun.

Coffs Harbour gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Atami. Atami usually gets less rain in October than Coffs Harbourin April. Atami gets 154 mm (6.1 in) of rain, while Coffs Harbour receives 215 mm (8.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Atami or Coffs Harbour in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Atami and Coffs Harbour. Many travelers come to Atami for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Coffs Harbour in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In the winter, Atami is much colder than Coffs Harbour. Typically, the winter temperatures in Atami in January average around 5°C (42°F), and Coffs Harbour averages at about 13°C (55°F)in July.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Coffs Harbour this time of the year. Atami usually receives less sunshine than Coffs Harbour during winter. Atami gets 162 hours of sunny skies, while Coffs Harbour receives 219 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Atami usually receives more rain than Coffs Harbourin July. Atami gets 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Coffs Harbour receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Atami or Coffs Harbour in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Atami as well as Coffs Harbour. Many visitors come to Atami in the spring for the beaches. Additionally, most visitors come to Coffs Harbour for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months.

In April, Atami is generally cooler than Coffs Harbourin October. Daily temperatures in Atami average around 14°C (57°F), and Coffs Harbour fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Coffs Harbour. In the spring, Atami often gets less sunshine than Coffs Harbourin October. Atami gets 161 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Coffs Harbour receives 257 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Coffs Harbour. Atami receives a lot of rain in the spring. Atami usually gets more rain in April than Coffs Harbourin October. Atami gets 163 mm (6.4 in) of rain, while Coffs Harbour receives 103 mm (4.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Coffs Harbour and Atami