Should you visit Darwin or Fraser Island?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Darwin or Fraser Island, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Darwin
Darwin is a tropical city set against the Timor Sea in north central Australia. It is also the capital city of the Northern Territory. Despite being a relatively small city, Darwin is very diverse with residents from all over the world. The city itself has a very relaxed vibe with plenty to do. Visitors can enjoy everything from traditionally Asian style markets to culturally diverse events such as concerts, festivals or art shows.
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 Darwin?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Darwin is $98, while the average daily cost in Fraser Island is $183. 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 Darwin and Fraser Island in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in Darwin is about $110 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $180 for a double occupancy room in Fraser Island.
Food
Food in Darwin costs travelers about $33 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
While meal prices in Fraser Island can vary, the average travelers spends about $42 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
Darwin $33
Fraser Island $42
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Darwin is $10 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.
The average price of local transportation around Fraser Island is $82 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 Darwin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Darwin:
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Shuttle to Train Station
$11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Darwin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Darwin:
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Private Arrival Transfer: Darwin Airport to Hotel:
$142
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Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Darwin Airport:
$142
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Wildman Fishing Tours - Fishing + Scenic Flight Transfer:
$1,146
Is it cheaper to fly into Darwin or Fraser Island?
Prices for flights to both Fraser Island and Darwin 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
Darwin's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $14 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.
Fraser Island's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $39 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 Darwin
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Darwin are as follows:
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Royal Flying Doctor Service Tourist Facility: Two Iconic Territory Stories:
$20
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Darwin Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$20
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Crocosaurus Cove General Admission Ticket:
$28
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Darwin Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour:
$30
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Darwin Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tickets:
$33
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Darwin City Sightseeing Tour with Optional Sunset Cruise:
$52
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Darwin City + Northern Beaches Tour:
$56
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Discover the City of Half-Day City Coach Tour:
$77
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Darwin Half-Day City Sightseeing Tour:
$79
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1-Day Wildlife Park + Berry Springs experience:
$81
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Adelaide River Half-Day Jumping Crocs Cruise:
$81
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Jumping Crocs & Nature Adventure Cruise from Darwin:
$94
Alcohol
The average person spends about $11 on alcoholic beverages in Darwin per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
The average person spends about $18 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.
Typical Alcohol prices in Darwin
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Darwin from other travelers:
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Evening at a Bar
$17
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Glass of Wine
$5.05
Sample the Local Flavors in Darwin
Also in Darwin, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Heli Pub Crawl – 4 Pubs:
$782
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Darwin and Fraser Island, we can see that Fraser Island 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 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 Darwin.
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