A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Fraser Island vs. Yakushima for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Fraser Island or Yakushima?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Fraser Island and Yakushima. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Fraser Island or Yakushima?

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.

Yakushima

Yakushima, Japan is a UNESCO World Heritage island located north of Okinawa and off the south east of of Kyushu. The island is well-known to Japanese tourists but not so much to international ones, making it a bit of a hidden gem to international tourists. This also means that English isn't spoken as much as in larger cities, so make sure to brush up on your Japanese and bring a dictionary.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Australia, The Best Walking Tours in Australia, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Japan, and The Best Luxury Tours to Japan.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Fraser Island and Yakushima, we can see that Fraser Island is more expensive. And not only is Yakushima much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Fraser Island is in Pacific and Yakushima is in Asia, 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 Yakushima would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Yakushima 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 Yakushima.

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

When is the best time to visit Fraser Island or Yakushima?

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

Should I visit Fraser Island or Yakushima in the Summer?

Both Yakushima and Fraser Island are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Fraser Island this time of year.

Fraser Island is around the same temperature as Yakushima in the summer. The daily temperature in Fraser Island averages around 26°C (78°F) in January, and Yakushima fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in July.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Yakushima. It's quite rainy in Fraser Island. In January, Fraser Island usually receives less rain than Yakushimain July. Fraser Island gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 189 mm (7.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Fraser Island or Yakushima in the Autumn?

Both Yakushima and Fraser Island during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Fraser Island for the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Fraser Island is around the same temperature as Yakushima. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Fraser Island in April average around 22°C (72°F), and Yakushima averages at about 22°C (71°F)in October.

Yakushima gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Fraser Island usually gets less rain in April than Yakushimain October. Fraser Island gets 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Fraser Island or Yakushima in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Fraser Island and Yakushima. Many visitors come to Fraser Island in the winter for the cuisine.

In July, Fraser Island is generally a little warmer than Yakushimain January. Daily temperatures in Fraser Island average around 15°C (59°F), and Yakushima fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

Yakushima receives a lot of rain in the winter. In July, Fraser Island usually receives less rain than Yakushimain January. Fraser Island gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 106 mm (4.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Fraser Island or Yakushima in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Fraser Island as well as Yakushima. Most visitors come to Fraser Island for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months.

Fraser Island is a little warmer than Yakushima in the spring. The daily temperature in Fraser Island averages around 21°C (71°F) in October, and Yakushima fluctuates around 18°C (64°F)in April.

It's quite rainy in Yakushima. Fraser Island usually gets less rain in October than Yakushimain April. Fraser Island gets 75 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 207 mm (8.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Yakushima and Fraser Island