A Travel Price Comparison for Australia Darwin vs. Coffs Harbour for Beaches, Families, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit Darwin or Coffs Harbour?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Darwin or Coffs Harbour, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Darwin

Darwin is a multicultural, authentic, and local town. Other reasons to visit include hiking, shopping, and museums.

Coffs Harbour

Coffs Harbour is a fun, nature-filled, and lively vacation town. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the hiking, shopping, and museums.

Darwin and Coffs Harbour: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Darwin or Coffs Harbour?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Coffs Harbour than Darwin. While Darwin is larger than Coffs Harbour, Coffs Harbour has more sights and attractions for tourists. Coffs Harbour is more touristy than Darwin and is popular 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. Darwin is famous for its outdoor markets and tropical weather.

How is Darwin different from Coffs Harbour?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Plenty of people visit the nice sights and museums in both Darwin and Coffs Harbour.

Darwin offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. You can check out the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, explore the city's Waterfront Precinct, and spend some time at the Darwin Military Museum.

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 Darwin or Coffs Harbour? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Coffs Harbour is notable for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Darwin is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its restaurants.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Coffs Harbour. 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.

Darwin is becoming an appealing option for foodies. There are plenty of local restaurants that serve seafood or local twists on international flavors. Many restaurants offer Barramundi that is prepared in unique ways. You can try the Barramundi Bibimbap or the Crispy Baby Barramundi.

Is Darwin or Coffs Harbour Better for Nightlife?

Coffs Harbour is notable for nightlife and partying. Also, Darwin is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its evening party scene.

Coffs Harbour has plenty to do after the sun goes down. 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.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Darwin. You'll find the most bars along Mitchell Street or in the Waterfront Precinct area. There are also some popular nightclubs and music venues in town.

Is Darwin or Coffs Harbour Better for Resorts?

Coffs Harbour is notable for its resorts. However, Darwin is not a resort destination.

Coffs Harbour is a popular resort destination that attracts visitors from everywhere. 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.

Darwin is not a resort destination.

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

Coffs Harbour is notable for its diving and snorkeling. However, Darwin is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Many visitors go to Coffs Harbour to enjoy 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.

Darwin is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Darwin or Coffs Harbour Better for Beaches?

Coffs Harbour is terrific for the beache. Also, Darwin is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for the beach.

The beaches in Coffs Harbour are among the best in the world. 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.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Darwin. Most people don't swim at the beaches because of the saltwater crocodiles and jellyfish. You can hang out in the sand though and Mindil Beach is a favorite spot for locals.

Is Darwin or Coffs Harbour Better for Hiking?

Darwin and Coffs Harbour are both places where visitors can find high quality hiking trails.

Darwin is a popular spot for hiking. In addition to city walks, there are many national parks that make great day trips from town. Litchfield National Park has many hikes as does Mary River National Park. The town is also known as the gateway to Kakadu National Park.

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.

Is the Shopping Better in Darwin or Coffs Harbour?

Coffs Harbour is notable for its shopping opportunities. Also, Darwin is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its shopping areas.

Coffs Harbour is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. The city has many shopping centers and markets where you can enjoy leisurely shopping or pick up any essentials that you may have forgotten.

Darwin has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There are shopping malls, art galleries, and trendy boutiques around town.

Is Darwin or Coffs Harbour Better for Families?

Coffs Harbour is terrific for its family-friendly activities. Also, Darwin is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Coffs Harbour is an amazing family-friendly vacation town to visit. 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 family-friendly things to do in Darwin. Kids will enjoy the many outdoor activities in town and in the surrounding areas. There are wildlife parks and several national parks in the area like Litchfield National Park. For many families, this is a stop off on there way to Kakadu National Park.

Is Darwin or Coffs Harbour Better for Couples?

Coffs Harbour is notable for its romantic activities. Also, Darwin is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for couples.

Coffs Harbour is a very popular place to visit for couples. 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.

Darwin is a good town for couples to visit. The beautiful weather means that you can spend most of your time outdoors. Sunset picnics are popular, but for many visitors, it's all about the day trips to nearby parks.

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

Coffs Harbour is notable for backpackers. Also, Darwin is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Coffs Harbour is a great vacation town to visit for backpackers. 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.

Darwin is a good town to visit for backpackers. There are a handful of hostels in town that make this an easy place to spend a night or two for backpackers.

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

Darwin 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.

Darwin has some public transit options. There are public buses around town. There's also a waterfront shuttle.

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 Darwin or Coffs Harbour a more walkable city?

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

Darwin is somewhat walkable. There are biking and walking paths around town.

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 Darwin Worth Visiting? and Is Coffs Harbour Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Coffs Harbour or Darwin?

How long in Darwin or Coffs Harbour?

Both Darwin 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 Darwin. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Darwin, and 3-7 days is enough time in Coffs Harbour.

Families should spend more time in Coffs Harbour than Darwin. 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 Darwin. 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 Darwin 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 Darwin or Coffs Harbour?

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the multicultural destination of Darwin. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Your budget might influence how long you stay. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

Many travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the destination of Coffs Harbour. Hikers are also drawn to this area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Darwin or Coffs Harbour?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Darwin. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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.

Coffs Harbour is a great place to explore. Don't miss the beaches, as that's what most people do. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Darwin or Coffs Harbour?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the authentic destination of Darwin. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Coffs Harbour. Don't miss the beaches, as that's what most people do. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Darwin or Coffs Harbour?

You'll find food and shopping around the town of Darwin. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. 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.

Many travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the fun destination of Coffs Harbour. This vacation town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Walking Tours in Australia, The Best Eco Tours in Australia, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Australia, and The Best Water Sports Tour Packages in Australia.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Darwin and Coffs Harbour, we can see that Coffs Harbour is more expensive. And not only is Darwin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Darwin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Darwin 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 Darwin.

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

Which is Bigger, Darwin or Coffs Harbour?

Darwin has a larger population, and is about 48% larger than the population of Coffs Harbour. When comparing the sizes of Darwin 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 Darwin or Coffs Harbour?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.

Should I visit Darwin or Coffs Harbour in the Summer?

Both Coffs Harbour and Darwin during the summer are popular places to visit. The beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Darwin this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Coffs Harbour for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.

In January, Darwin is generally a little warmer than Coffs Harbour. Daily temperatures in Darwin average around 29°C (83°F), and Coffs Harbour fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).

In Coffs Harbour, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Darwin often gets less sunshine than Coffs Harbour. Darwin gets 173 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Coffs Harbour receives 237 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 Darwin. Darwin usually gets more rain in January than Coffs Harbour. Darwin gets 437 mm (17.2 in) of rain, while Coffs Harbour receives 187 mm (7.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Darwin or Coffs Harbour in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Darwin and Coffs Harbour. Many travelers come to Darwin for the hiking trails and the shopping scene. Also, many visitors come to Coffs Harbour in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

Darwin is a little warmer than Coffs Harbour in the autumn. The daily temperature in Darwin averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Coffs Harbour fluctuates around 20°C (67°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Coffs Harbour this time of the year. In Darwin, it's very sunny this time of the year. Darwin usually receives more sunshine than Coffs Harbour during autumn. Darwin gets 267 hours of sunny skies, while Coffs Harbour receives 203 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Coffs Harbour receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In April, Darwin usually receives less rain than Coffs Harbour. Darwin gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Coffs Harbour receives 215 mm (8.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Darwin or Coffs Harbour in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Darwin as well as Coffs Harbour. Many visitors come to Darwin in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Coffs Harbour for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

In the winter, Darwin is much warmer than Coffs Harbour. Typically, the winter temperatures in Darwin in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Coffs Harbour averages at about 13°C (55°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Coffs Harbour. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Darwin this time of the year. In the winter, Darwin often gets more sunshine than Coffs Harbour. Darwin gets 312 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Coffs Harbour receives 219 hours of full sun.

Darwin usually gets less rain in July than Coffs Harbour. Darwin gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Coffs Harbour receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Darwin or Coffs Harbour in the Spring?

Both Coffs Harbour and Darwin are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Darwin for the beaches during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Coffs Harbour because of the beaches and the natural beauty.

In October, Darwin is generally much warmer than Coffs Harbour. Daily temperatures in Darwin average around 29°C (85°F), and Coffs Harbour fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

It's quite sunny in Coffs Harbour. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Darwin. Darwin usually receives more sunshine than Coffs Harbour during spring. Darwin gets 291 hours of sunny skies, while Coffs Harbour receives 257 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Coffs Harbour. In October, Darwin usually receives less rain than Coffs Harbour. Darwin gets 76 mm (3 in) of rain, while Coffs Harbour receives 103 mm (4.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Coffs Harbour and Darwin