A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) vs. Surfers Paradise for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Surfers Paradise?

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 Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) and Surfers Paradise. 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: Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Surfers Paradise?

Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)

In the heart of the Anhui Province of China is the stunning Mount Huangshan, or Yellow Mountain. This UNESCO World Heritage Site draws in visitors from around the world to take in the stunning views and conquer a new challenge.

Mount Huangshan is one of the most popular destinations in China. Because of this, most of the towns and regions around it also use the name Huangshan. Even the closest town, Tunxi, has begun going by Huangshan City. Keep this in mind as it could potentially cause some confusion in transit.

The whole of Huangshan has 36 separate peaks rising approximately 1,800 meters into the air. It is often covered in a spiritual-feeling mist that makes the peaks appear to live in the clouds. It has inspired artists for centuries, and is often thought to be the model for the typical mountain ranges seen in ancient Chinese paintings.

Surfers Paradise

A tourist mecca, Surfers Paradise is one of the most popular travel destinations along Australia's famed Gold Coast. The beach stretches for miles and there is an endless supply of almost constant parties. You'll find high rise apartments lined up along the shore and plenty of shopping areas, restaurants, nightclubs, and bars. Travelers from around the world visit the area, and it's a right of passage for Australia's teens to vacation in or near Surfers Paradise. For many travelers, Surfers Paradise comes across as little more than a mass marketed, over commercialized, party destination, but for others it is a vacation dream. Prices are highly inflated so you have to keep your whits about you to avoid being ripped off. Surfers Paradise is a destination of extremes and it conjures up extreme emotions in many travelers, be it positive or negative.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in China, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China, The Best Contiki Tours to Australia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Australia.


Which place is cheaper, Surfers Paradise or Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is $57, while the average daily cost in Surfers Paradise is $104. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) and Surfers Paradise in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) $25
    Surfers Paradise $66
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) $50
    Surfers Paradise $132
Compare Hotels in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) and Surfers Paradise

Looking for a hotel in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Surfers Paradise? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)


Hotels in Surfers Paradise


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) $9.99
    Surfers Paradise $11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain):


  • Shuttle Bus to Tangkou for Two
    $3.59

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surfers Paradise

Also for Surfers Paradise, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Gold Coast Theme Parks: Shared Hotel Transfers: $14
  • Private Transfer from Gold Coast Airport - Surfers Paradise: $50
  • Luxury Private Transfer between Gold Coast Airport and Gold Coast city (1-7pax) : $89
  • Private Transfer from Brisbane Airports to Surfers Paradise: $106
  • Gold Coast Airport Transfers Corporate Chauffeurs Gold Coast: $119
  • All-Inclusive Dolphin & Tangalooma Wrecks Day Cruise (Gold Coast Transfer): $149
  • Private Transfer to Brisbane/BNE Airport from Gold Coast/OOL Airport( 1-7 pax): $229
  • Gold Coast Hot Air Balloon + Winery Breakfast + Return Transfers: $291

Is it cheaper to fly into Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Surfers Paradise?

Prices for flights to both Surfers Paradise and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) 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.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) $19
    Surfers Paradise $26

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Surfers Paradise

For Surfers Paradise, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Buffet Dinner Sightseeing Cruise: $78

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) $27
    Surfers Paradise $23
Typical Entertainment Prices in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) are as follows:


  • Two Entrance Tickets
    $63
  • Two Cable Car Passes
    $22

Typical Entertainment Prices in Surfers Paradise

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Surfers Paradise's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Surf Lesson
    $78

Tours and Activities in Surfers Paradise

For Surfers Paradise, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Skip the Line:Wax Museum Ticket-World in Wax & Guided Tour of Chamber of Horrors: $22
  • Gold Coast Hop On Hop Off Sightseeing Cruise Day Pass: $30
  • Gold Coast 1.5-Hour Sightseeing River Cruise from Surfers Paradise: $30
  • Gold Coast Afternoon River Cruise: $32
  • Guided Gold Coast Amphibious Bus Tour: $33
  • Gold Coast Quack'rDuck Amphibious Tour from Surfers Paradise: $33
  • Gold Coast City Lights Cruise: $37
  • Tropical Fruit World Farm Full Tour : $37
  • Surfers Paradise Sunset Kayak Tour: $46
  • Paradise SUP Tour: $47
  • Half-Day Whale Watching and Canal Cruise from Surfers Paradise: $52
  • Catch a Crab Tour with Optional Seafood Lunch: $53

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) $15
    Surfers Paradise $11


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) and Surfers Paradise, we can see that Surfers Paradise is more expensive. And not only is Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is in Asia and Surfers Paradise 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 Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) 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 Surfers Paradise would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Surfers Paradise than you might in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain).

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) Expensive? and Is Surfers Paradise Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Surfers Paradise?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Surfers Paradise is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Surfers Paradise in the Summer?

Both Surfers Paradise and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, most visitors come to Surfers Paradise for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is a little warmer than Surfers Paradise in the summer. The daily temperature in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) averages around 29°C (85°F) in July, and Surfers Paradise fluctuates around 25°C (77°F)in January.

Surfers Paradise gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) usually gets more rain in July than Surfers Paradisein January. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) gets 185 mm (7.3 in) of rain, while Surfers Paradise receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July and January
    Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) 29°C (85°F) 
    Surfers Paradise 25°C (77°F)

Should I visit Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Surfers Paradise in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) and Surfers Paradise. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Surfers Paradise because of the hiking trails and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is cooler than Surfers Paradise. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in October average around 19°C (65°F), and Surfers Paradise averages at about 22°C (71°F)in April.

Surfers Paradise receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) usually receives less rain than Surfers Paradisein April. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Surfers Paradise receives 101 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October and April
    Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) 19°C (65°F) 
    Surfers Paradise 22°C (71°F)

Should I visit Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Surfers Paradise in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) as well as Surfers Paradise. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Surfers Paradise this time of year.

The weather in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) can be very cold. In January, Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is generally much colder than Surfers Paradisein July. Daily temperatures in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) average around 4°C (40°F), and Surfers Paradise fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).

Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) usually gets less rain in January than Surfers Paradisein July. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Surfers Paradise receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January and July
    Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) 4°C (40°F) 
    Surfers Paradise 15°C (59°F)

Should I visit Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Surfers Paradise in the Spring?

Both Surfers Paradise and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Surfers Paradise for the beaches.

Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is cooler than Surfers Paradise in the spring. The daily temperature in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) averages around 17°C (62°F) in April, and Surfers Paradise fluctuates around 21°C (69°F)in October.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Surfers Paradise. It's quite rainy in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). In April, Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) usually receives more rain than Surfers Paradisein October. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) gets 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Surfers Paradise receives 103 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April and October
    Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) 17°C (62°F) 
    Surfers Paradise 21°C (69°F)

Typical Weather for Surfers Paradise and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)

Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) Surfers Paradise
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 4°C (40°F) 38 mm (1.5 in) 25°C (77°F) 167 mm (6.6 in)
Feb 6°C (42°F) 68 mm (2.7 in) 25°C (77°F) 157 mm (6.2 in)
Mar 10°C (51°F) 117 mm (4.6 in) 24°C (75°F) 140 mm (5.5 in)
Apr 17°C (62°F) 170 mm (6.7 in) 22°C (71°F) 101 mm (4 in)
May 22°C (71°F) 189 mm (7.4 in) 19°C (66°F) 91 mm (3.6 in)
Jun 26°C (78°F) 235 mm (9.2 in) 16°C (61°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Jul 29°C (85°F) 185 mm (7.3 in) 15°C (59°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)
Aug 29°C (84°F) 121 mm (4.7 in) 16°C (61°F) 46 mm (1.8 in)
Sep 24°C (75°F) 95 mm (3.7 in) 18°C (65°F) 30 mm (1.2 in)
Oct 19°C (65°F) 74 mm (2.9 in) 21°C (69°F) 103 mm (4 in)
Nov 13°C (55°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 23°C (73°F) 118 mm (4.6 in)
Dec 7°C (44°F) 36 mm (1.4 in) 24°C (76°F) 129 mm (5.1 in)