A Travel Price Comparison for Australia Katoomba vs. Whitsundays for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Katoomba or Whitsundays?

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 Katoomba and Whitsundays. 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: Katoomba or Whitsundays?

Katoomba

Designated an UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000, the Blue Mountains are located just west of Sydney in the highlands of New South Wales, Australia.

This area can be generally expensive, but is on par with other destinations in Australia and around Sydney. Plenty of luxury places can be found here that cost more than average, but plenty of cheaper places to stay can be found here, too. Expect to pay for various activities such as tours and entrance fees, too.

The landscape is sprawling with majestic scenery over a rugged terrain of steep cliffs, forests, waterfalls, and villages. Whether you come to hike, climb, bike, or drive to the scenic viewpoints, a curtain of tranquility falls upon the mountains in a blue haze from which they get their name.

Whitsundays

Just off the coast of Queensland, Australia is a cluster of 74 different islands. These islands, the Whitsunday Islands, welcome over a half a million visitors every year to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World - the Great Barrier Reef.

As one of the most famous destinations in the world, it's not uncommon to see expensive yachts sailing around among the private ferries. Most of the islands are designated as national parks with access to snorkeling and diving in the coral reefs, or just to lay in the sand on the famous Whitehaven Beach.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Australia, The Best 10-Day Tours in Australia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Australia, and The Best 3-Week Tours in Australia.

When comparing the travel costs between Katoomba and Whitsundays, we can see that Katoomba is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Pacific, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

When is the best time to visit Katoomba or Whitsundays?

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 Katoomba or Whitsundays in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Katoomba as well as Whitsundays. The hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Katoomba this time of year.

Katoomba is cooler than Whitsundays in the summer. The daily temperature in Katoomba averages around 24°C (74°F) in January, and Whitsundays fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Whitsundays. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Katoomba this time of the year. In the summer, Katoomba often gets less sunshine than Whitsundays. Katoomba gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whitsundays receives 285 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Whitsundays. Katoomba receives a lot of rain in the summer. Katoomba usually gets less rain in January than Whitsundays. Katoomba gets 105 mm (4.1 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 331 mm (13 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Katoomba or Whitsundays in the Autumn?

Both Whitsundays and Katoomba are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Katoomba for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Katoomba is cooler than Whitsundays. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Katoomba in April average around 18°C (65°F), and Whitsundays averages at about 23°C (73°F).

It's quite sunny in Whitsundays. Katoomba usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Whitsundays during autumn. Katoomba gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while Whitsundays receives 207 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Whitsundays. In April, Katoomba usually receives less rain than Whitsundays. Katoomba gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Katoomba or Whitsundays in the Winter?

Both Whitsundays and Katoomba during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Katoomba in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In July, Katoomba is generally much colder than Whitsundays. Daily temperatures in Katoomba average around 11°C (51°F), and Whitsundays fluctuates around 16°C (62°F).

In Whitsundays, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Katoomba. In the winter, Katoomba often gets less sunshine than Whitsundays. Katoomba gets 208 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whitsundays receives 226 hours of full sun.

Katoomba usually gets less rain in July than Whitsundays. Katoomba gets 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Katoomba or Whitsundays in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Katoomba and Whitsundays. Most visitors come to Katoomba for the small town charm and the natural beauty during these months.

Katoomba is cooler than Whitsundays in the spring. The daily temperature in Katoomba averages around 18°C (64°F) in October, and Whitsundays fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Whitsundays this time of the year. In Katoomba, it's very sunny this time of the year. Katoomba usually receives less sunshine than Whitsundays during spring. Katoomba gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while Whitsundays receives 298 hours of full sun in the spring.

In October, Katoomba usually receives more rain than Whitsundays. Katoomba gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Whitsundays and Katoomba