A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Gold Coast vs. Milford Sound for Hiking, Families, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit Gold Coast or Milford Sound?

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

Should I visit Gold Coast or Milford Sound? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Gold Coast

Gold Coast is a vibrant, colorful, and high energy coastline. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Milford Sound

Milford Sound is a iconic, breathtaking, and world renowned fiord. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. It's also popular because of the skiing and hiking.

Gold Coast and Milford Sound: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Gold Coast or Milford Sound?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Gold Coast. Although Gold Coast and Milford Sound are popular destinations, Gold Coast has more sights and attractions for tourists. Gold Coast is very popular for its museums & sights, food, nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, shopping, and big city activities, while Milford Sound attracts visitors for its skiing, hiking, and impressive beauty. Gold Coast is more touristy than Milford Sound and is known for its colorful theme parks, thrilling water sports, and nearby rainforests. It is also well known for the long sandy beaches. Milford Sound is famous for its iconic hiking trails, stunning boat tours, and dramatic mountains.

How is Gold Coast different from Milford Sound?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Milford Sound and Gold Coast. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Is Gold Coast or Milford Sound Better for Skiing?

Milford Sound is a great fiord for skiing. However, Gold Coast is not a skiing destination.

Milford Sound draws a large crowd in the winter for its impressive snow skiing opportunities. Many locals head to the snow-capped peaks to enjoy skiing, but if you're unfamiliar with the area, a ski tour is your best option.

Gold Coast is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Gold Coast or Milford Sound?

Gold Coast is an excellent place to visit for its museums and history. However, Milford Sound does not have museums and landmarks.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Gold Coast. The views from the observation deck at the Q1 Resort and Spa are a not-to-be-missed experience. You'll also find many amusement parks and wildlife sanctuaries in the area.

Milford Sound does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Gold Coast or Milford Sound? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Gold Coast is an excellent place to visit for its restaurants. However, Milford Sound is lacking in options for its restaurant scene.

Gold Coast has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The coastline is filled with modern Australian restaurants that serve locally caught seafood and modern twists on traditional dishes. There are wine bars, fine dining restaurants, and more casual options. You'll also find plenty of international eateries as well.

While Milford Sound is not famous for its food, you'll find what you need there. You'll find a restaurant or two in the small town of Milford Sound. Your best option is the Milford Sound Lodge. In the park you'll want to come prepared with your own food. Many organized tours include a picnic lunch.

Is Gold Coast or Milford Sound Better for Nightlife?

Gold Coast is an amazing coastline to visit for its evening party scene. However, Milford Sound is lacking in options for nightlife.

Gold Coast has a colorful and one-of-a-kind nightlife scene. The nightlife scene is filled with ritz and glam, but you'll also find wild beach parties and lively nightclubs. There are backpackers and students that keep the parties going until the morning hours.

Things get quiet in the evenings in Milford Sound. Things get quiet at night and there's little in the form of nightlife.

Is Gold Coast or Milford Sound Better for Resorts?

Gold Coast is an amazing coastline to visit for its luxury resorts. However, Milford Sound is not a resort destination.

Vacationers flock to Gold Coast for its luxury resorts. Resorts range from family-friendly to backpacker-focused with everything in between. There are many high rise resorts that have luxury pools and beachfront views.

Milford Sound is not a resort destination.

Is Gold Coast or Milford Sound Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Gold Coast is an excellent place to visit for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Milford Sound is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

There are many scuba diving and snorkeling spots near Gold Coast. There are many dive shops and snorkeling excursions. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced diver, there are excursions that will not disappoint. There are also many places that offer certification courses.

Milford Sound is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Gold Coast or Milford Sound Better for Beaches?

Gold Coast is an amazing coastline to visit for the beach. However, Milford Sound is not a beach destination.

Gold Coast offers stunning beaches that attract visitors from around the world. This stretch of beachline is perfect for surfing, swimming, and sunbathing. There are miles of coastline that are sandy and beautiful and some of the most popular beaches include the Main Beach, Surfers Paradise, and Broadbeach.

Milford Sound is not a beach destination.

Is Gold Coast or Milford Sound Better for Hiking?

Milford Sound is a world-class destination for hiking. Also, Gold Coast is not as popular, but is still a nice coastline for the nearby hiking options.

People visit Milford Sound specifically for its hiking, as the natural beauty is well-known. The Milford Track has long been considered one of the world's best hikes. It's also, arguably, the most famous hike in New Zealand. The 53 kilometer trek takes you from Lake Te Anau through stunning scenery, alpine settings, and across spectacular suspension bridges.

Gold Coast is a popular spot for hiking. The Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk connects the area's diverse and lush rainforests through the Numinbah Valley. It's a World Heritage Area with subtropical rainforest as well as warm temperate rainforest, and Antarctic beech cool temperate rainforest.

Is the Shopping Better in Gold Coast or Milford Sound?

Gold Coast is an excellent place to visit for its shopping areas. However, Milford Sound is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Gold Coast. There are large outlet malls, outdoor markets, and designer shopping centers. You'll find trendy fashion designers as well as the typical souvenir shops.

Milford Sound is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Gold Coast or Milford Sound Better for Families?

Gold Coast is an amazing coastline to visit for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Milford Sound is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

With a huge array of activities for kids, Gold Coast is very family-friendly. It's filled with popular theme parks and other adrenaline-filled activities. There are surfing lessons, wildlife sanctuaries, ropes courses, and water sports. Kids of all ages will appreciate this fun-filled setting with its many family-friendly resorts and restaurants.

Milford Sound is a very family-friendly place to visit. The outdoor wonders will impress the kids as much as the adults. There are shorter walks that are family-friendly and the boat rides are also fun for the whole family. You can take a scenic flight or visit the stunning Mirror Lakes. This really is a playground for both kids and adults.

Is Gold Coast or Milford Sound Better for Couples?

Gold Coast is an amazing coastline to visit for couples. Also, Milford Sound is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for romance.

Gold Coast is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. Couples that energy high energy activities, water sports, theme parks, and parties that last into the morning, will love a stay at this vibrant coast. There's no shortage of great restaurants, entertaining shows, and fun activities that you can experience.

Couples visit Milford Sound frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. This is one of the most stunning natural areas in the world, and the romance comes from the spectacular beauty, world class hikes, and breathtaking surroundings that will leave you awed and inspired.

Is Gold Coast or Milford Sound Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Gold Coast is an amazing coastline to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Milford Sound is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

A large number of backpackers visit Gold Coast, as it is a very popular coastline for budget travelers. Backpackers flock to this vibrant coastline. There are hostels and budget-friendly places to stay, and there's a huge nightlife scene. The many activities and long sandy beaches make this a well established stop on Australia's backpacker circuit.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Milford Sound. The area's remoteness and high price tag make it a bit challenging for backpackers and budget travelers. If you have plenty of time and enough money, it is truly a not to be missed destination.

Is Gold Coast or Milford Sound Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Gold Coast is an excellent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Milford Sound is lacking in options for its public transit.

Gold Coast offers a very effecient public transportation network. There's a bus, train, and tram network that's operated by TransLink and runs along the coast.

Public transit is generally limited in Milford Sound. There are buses in the area, but private vehicles or organized tours are your best option for getting around.

Is Gold Coast or Milford Sound a more walkable city?

Gold Coast is a good destination for its ease of walking around. However, Milford Sound is lacking in options for its walkability.

Gold Coast is a somewhat walkable coastline. There are parts of the area that can be explored on foot.

Milford Sound is not a walkable coastline. This is one of the most remote places in New Zealand so you really must have a car or organized transportation to get around.

For even more information, also check out Is Gold Coast Worth Visiting? and Is Milford Sound Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Milford Sound or Gold Coast?

How long in Gold Coast or Milford Sound?

Gold Coast and Milford Sound both offer a nice selection of activities for visitors. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Gold Coast than Milford Sound because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Gold Coast, and 2-6 days is enough time in Milford Sound.

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

Couples should spend more time in Gold Coast than Milford Sound. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Gold Coast that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Gold Coast than Milford Sound 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 Gold Coast.

One day in Gold Coast or Milford Sound?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the glamourous destination of Gold Coast. It's also a relaxing resort destination. 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.

With skiing around the breathtaking fiord of Milford Sound, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. One of the main draws to the area is the hiking. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Gold Coast or Milford Sound?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Gold Coast. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

With skiing around the destination of Milford Sound, there's plenty to do. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. One of the main draws to the area is the hiking. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this fiord.

Five days in Gold Coast or Milford Sound?

Many travelers enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the colorful destination of Gold Coast. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. This coastline offers a variety of activities to choose from. If you have five days, this is a great place to go. Five days is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Milford Sound, a popular fiord, is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for five days. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. In five days, you should have a good grasp of this fiord. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Gold Coast or Milford Sound?

Many travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the coastline of Gold Coast. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. Plenty of people spend one week in the area when traveling.So, one week is just the right amount of time to spend here. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Milford Sound is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One of the main draws to the area is the hiking. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Melbourne, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Australia, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in New Zealand, and The Best Luxury Tours to New Zealand.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Gold Coast and Milford Sound, we can see that Milford Sound is more expensive. And not only is Gold Coast much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Gold Coast would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Gold Coast 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 Milford Sound would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Milford Sound than you might in Gold Coast.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Gold Coast Expensive? and Is Milford Sound Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Gold Coast or Milford Sound?

Gold Coast has a larger population, and is about 1210 times larger than the population of Milford Sound. When comparing the sizes of Gold Coast and Milford Sound, 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.