A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Koh Lipe vs. Wollongong for Beaches, Couples, Food, and Hiking

Should you visit Koh Lipe or Wollongong?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Koh Lipe and Wollongong can help you decide which place is right for you.

Koh Lipe

Koh Lipe is a idyllic, small, and local island. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. It's also popular because of the hiking, food, and scuba diving and snorkeling.

Wollongong

Wollongong is a trendy, vibrant, and student-friendly coastal city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for nightlife, food, and beaches.

Koh Lipe and Wollongong: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Koh Lipe or Wollongong?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Wollongong than Koh Lipe, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Wollongong is better known for its museums, food, nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Koh Lipe is more popular for its resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, and impressive beauty. Wollongong is more touristy than Koh Lipe and is popular for its surrounding nature and urban beaches. Also, Wollongong is famous for Grand Pacific Drive. Koh Lipe is well known for its world class scuba diving and snorkeling, as well as its small and local atmosphere.

How is Koh Lipe different from Wollongong?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Wollongong and Koh Lipe. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Koh Lipe or Wollongong?

Wollongong is a great destination for its museums and landmarks. However, Koh Lipe is a island with minimal options for its historical sights.

Many visitors head to Wollongong specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. There are several museums like the Wollongong Science Centre and Wollongong Planetarium and the railway museum Trainworks. There's also the Illawarra Museum, which is housed in the former post and telegraph office.

If you're looking to pass the time, head to a museum or historic sight in Koh Lipe. The island is small and all about beaches and the undersea world, so you won't find any temples or museums here.

Is the Food Better in Koh Lipe or Wollongong? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Wollongong is a great destination for its restaurant scene. Also, Koh Lipe is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Wollongong makes for a great culinary experience. In recent years a younger crowd of entrepreneurs and self-starters has moved into the city, and with them has come a growing food scene. You'll find local cafes, fine dining restaurants, and many great beachfront restaurants where you can dine.

Koh Lipe has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. There's enough of a restaurant selection that you'll find good local food and freshly caught seafood. The options change frequently as the tourist crowds have varied dramatically over the years, making it difficult for businesses to stay open.

Is Koh Lipe or Wollongong Better for Nightlife?

Wollongong is a great destination for nightlife. However, Koh Lipe is a island with minimal options for nightlife and partying.

The people in Wollongong know how to have a good time. The nightlife scene has seen a revitalization in recent years, and in addition to the standard bars and pubs, you'll find local venues that range from quirky to lively.

The nightlife scene is quiet in Koh Lipe This is a small island that attracts tourists who want nature, beauty, and a serene and tranquil environment. You won't find much of a nightlife scene here.

Is Koh Lipe or Wollongong Better for Resorts?

Koh Lipe is great for its luxury resorts. However, Wollongong is not a resort destination.

Koh Lipe is known as a popular and fun resort destination. There are a number of locally owned hotels on the island. Many have snorkeling gear for rent.

Wollongong is not a resort destination.

Is Koh Lipe or Wollongong Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Koh Lipe is an unbeatable place for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Wollongong is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

The clear water and abundant marine life make Koh Lipe a world-class scuba diving and snorkeling destination. Although it is no longer the undiscovered island paradise that it once was, the snorkeling and diving on Koh Lipe remains some of the best in the country.

Wollongong is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Koh Lipe or Wollongong Better for Beaches?

Koh Lipe is an unbeatable place for the beach. Also, Wollongong is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for its beaches.

Travelers come from around the world to visit the beaches in Koh Lipe. Despite the island's small size, the beaches are truly spectacular. They have white sand and the undersea world is just steps away, so don't forget your mask and snorkel.

Wollongong is a very popular place to visit for its beaches. There are urban beaches, as well as more hidden coastal areas that attract locals and visitors alike. In the heart of the city you'll find North Wollongong Beach and Wollongong City Beach, both of which have picnic areas and are popular with locals.

Is Koh Lipe or Wollongong Better for Hiking?

Koh Lipe is great for hiking. Also, Wollongong is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for the nearby hiking options.

Many visitors go to Koh Lipe for the hiking trails. The island of Koh Lipe doesn't have any hiking, but nearby Adang Island has some impressive hikes that offer views and small waterfalls. You can take a longtail boat for just a short ride to the nearby island.

Many people include a hike when visiting Wollongong. The surrounding area has many great hikes that can be done as a day trip or even a half day trip. There are waterfalls, city views, and forest walks. Some of the most popular trails include Brokers Nose and Clover Hill Trail.

Is the Shopping Better in Koh Lipe or Wollongong?

Wollongong is very good for shopping. However, Koh Lipe is a island with minimal options for its shopping opportunities.

Wollongong is a great destination for shopping. The most popular shopping area is Wollongong Central Shopping Centre, which has international brands and all of the big fashion names.

If you're looking to go shopping, Koh Lipe has some nice offerings. The Walking Street is the main street through the island. Its where you'll find the island's shops and restaurants. Most are closed during the morning hours, but people begin to gather in the afternoon.

Is Koh Lipe or Wollongong Better for Families?

You'll find great kid-friendly activities in either Koh Lipe or Wollongong.

Koh Lipe is a very family-friendly place to visit. This is a perfect island to explore with kids. There are beautiful beaches, great snorkeling, and plenty of opportunities to check out wildlife. Your kids will also enjoy seeing the Sea la vie fire show.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Wollongong is very family-friendly. The beaches, nearby nature, and ubiquitous bike trails make this a fun coastal city to explore with kids. There are also interactive museums such as Discovery Space and plenty of playgrounds. Kid-friendly surf lessons as well as the Nan Tien Temple make this a fun and fascinating family destination.

Is Koh Lipe or Wollongong Better for Couples?

Koh Lipe is an unbeatable place for couples. Also, Wollongong is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for romance.

Koh Lipe makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. With its stunning beaches and beautiful nature, this is a great couple's destination. The island has wonderful snorkeling and white sandy beaches that are perfect for exploring with a loved one.

Wollongong is a very popular place to visit for couples. The scenic natural areas, including the Grand Pacific Drive or the many bush walks, make this a wonderful couples retreat. There are water sports like surfing as well as horseback riding and even helicopter rides. In the evening, enjoy a nice meal and a sunset view.

Is Koh Lipe or Wollongong Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Koh Lipe and Wollongong are notable places to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Koh Lipe is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. The island has become more popular than it was in years past, but it still offers a tranquil setting for those who are a bit jaded by the backpacker scene in Thailand.

It's common for backpackers to visit Wollongong. There are a couple of hostels as well as many outdoor areas to explore, so backpackers who want to escape the traditional backpacker scene will appreciate some time here.

Is Koh Lipe or Wollongong Better for Students?

Wollongong is very good for students. However, Koh Lipe is not popular with students.

Wollongong is popular with students. It's not too far from Sydney and has a smaller, more laid back coastal vibe that appeals to many students.

Koh Lipe is not popular with students.

Is Koh Lipe or Wollongong Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Wollongong is a great destination for its public transit. However, Koh Lipe is a island with minimal options for times when you don't have a car.

Visitors to Wollongong can move around easily with public transportation. There's a free Gong shuttle bus that travels around the city center. It runs a loop from Wollongong Station to Wollongong University in both directions. There are also other bus services in town.

Public transit is mostly limited in Koh Lipe. There are longtail boats, motorbike taxis, and golf cart taxis that you can hire.

Is Koh Lipe or Wollongong a more walkable city?

Koh Lipe and Wollongong both are great when exploring on foot.

Koh Lipe is very walkable. It's an easy island to explore on foot and you can walk from one end of the island to the other in about half an hour.

Wollongong is a very walkable island. There are walking paths in the city center so it's possible to walk to many tourist destinations.

For even more information, also check out Is Koh Lipe Worth Visiting? and Is Wollongong Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Wollongong or Koh Lipe?

How long in Koh Lipe or Wollongong?

It's fun to spend time in either Koh Lipe or Wollongong. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Koh Lipe due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Koh Lipe, and 2-4 days is enough time in Wollongong.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Wollongong than Koh Lipe 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 Wollongong.

One day in Koh Lipe or Wollongong?

With scuba diving and snorkeling and food around the local island of Koh Lipe, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. 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.

The coastal city of Wollongong offers food and shopping. Most people come for the beaches. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Koh Lipe or Wollongong?

With food and scuba diving and snorkeling around the destination of Koh Lipe, there's plenty to do. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. It offers something for everyone. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything.

Wollongong is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this coastal city makes for a great vacation. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Wollongong, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Koh Lipe or Wollongong?

Koh Lipe, a popular island, 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 island. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Wollongong is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Koh Lipe or Wollongong?

Koh Lipe is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have one week, this island makes for a great vacation. One week should give you a good understanding of everything this island has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Wollongong is a great place to explore. It's also a great beach destination, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This coastal city offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Australia, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Australia.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Koh Lipe or Wollongong?

Wollongong has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Koh Lipe experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Koh Lipe or Wollongong in the Summer?

Both Wollongong and Koh Lipe during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Lipe because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Wollongong because of the beaches, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Koh Lipe is generally a little warmer than Wollongongin January. Daily temperatures in Koh Lipe average around 27°C (81°F), and Wollongong fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Lipe. Koh Lipe usually gets more rain in July than Wollongongin January. Koh Lipe gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Wollongong receives 97 mm (3.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koh Lipe or Wollongong in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Lipe and Wollongong. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Lipe year-round. Furthermore, the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, and the shopping scene are the main draw to Wollongong this time of year.

Koh Lipe is much warmer than Wollongong in the autumn. The daily temperature in Koh Lipe averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Wollongong fluctuates around 18°C (64°F)in April.

Koh Lipe gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Koh Lipe usually receives more rain than Wollongongin April. Koh Lipe gets 281 mm (11.1 in) of rain, while Wollongong receives 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn. December to April in Koh Lipe is the dry season. Also, May to October is the rainy season in Koh Lipe.

Should I visit Koh Lipe or Wollongong in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Koh Lipe as well as Wollongong. Koh Lipe attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to Wollongong for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In the winter, Koh Lipe is much warmer than Wollongong. Typically, the winter temperatures in Koh Lipe in January average around 27°C (80°F), and Wollongong averages at about 10°C (50°F)in July.

Koh Lipe usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Wollongongin July. Koh Lipe gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Wollongong receives 47 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koh Lipe or Wollongong in the Spring?

Both Wollongong and Koh Lipe are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Lipe throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Wollongong in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city.

In April, Koh Lipe is generally much warmer than Wollongongin October. Daily temperatures in Koh Lipe average around 29°C (85°F), and Wollongong fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

It's quite rainy in Koh Lipe. In April, Koh Lipe usually receives more rain than Wollongongin October. Koh Lipe gets 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Wollongong receives 76 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the spring. The dry season in Koh Lipe is December to April. The rainy season in Koh Lipe is May to October.

Typical Weather for Wollongong and Koh Lipe