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

Should you visit Lombok or Fraser Island?

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 Lombok and Fraser Island. 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: Lombok or Fraser Island?

Lombok

Lombok is an island east of the well-tread Bali and west of lesser-developed Sumbawa. While Lombok is not as popular as its neighbor to the west, it is a great place to visit for that very reason. Less popularity means lower prices for accommodations, food, activities, and less-inundated tourist spots. Nonetheless, Lombok is rapidly developing in tourism, and the government is naming it and Sumbawa the number two tourism spots, following Bali.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Indonesia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Indonesia, The Best Water Sports Tour Packages in Australia, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Australia.


Which place is cheaper, Fraser Island or Lombok?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Lombok is $52, while the average daily cost in Fraser Island is $206. 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 Lombok and Fraser Island in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Lombok $29
    Fraser Island $102
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Lombok $58
    Fraser Island $204
Compare Hotels in Lombok and Fraser Island

Looking for a hotel in Lombok or Fraser Island? 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 Lombok


Hotels in Fraser Island


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.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Lombok Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Lombok $11
    Fraser Island $92

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lombok

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

  • Transfer Service to Lombok Airport : $22
  • Gili Trawangan, Air, or 1-Way Boat Transfer to Bali: $23
  • Airport transfer from Lombok Airport to Kuta Mandalika : $23
  • Private Transfer International Airport Lombok (LOP) To Hotel: $23
  • Airport Transfer: Airport To Kuta/kuta To Airport: $27
  • Lombok Airport Transfer : $27
  • Lombok to Lombok Int Airport (LOP) - Departure Private Transfer: $29
  • Private Transfer from Lombok Airport (LOP) to Mataram: $32
  • Private Transfer from Mataram to Lombok Airport (LOP): $32
  • Private Transfer from Mangsit to Lombok Airport (LOP): $32
  • Private Transfer from Lombok Airport (LOP) to Dusun Kerandangan: $32
  • Private Transfer from Lombok Airport (LOP) to Senggigi: $32

Is it cheaper to fly into Lombok or Fraser Island?

Prices for flights to both Fraser Island and Lombok 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
    Lombok $12
    Fraser Island $47

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lombok

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

  • Anggrek Putih Cooking Class & Garden Tour: $38
  • Love and Legends: The Ultimate Romantic Dinner on the beach : $47
  • Babah Peranakan Chinese Cuisine Dinner in Lombok: $60
  • Kids Cooking Class at Tugu Hotel Lombok: $63
  • Exquisite Dinner with Spectacular View at Tugu Hotel Lombok: $64
  • Traditional Cooking Class Experience With Recipes From The Past Generations: $67

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Lombok $10
    Fraser Island $44

Tours and Activities in Lombok

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Lombok.

  • Gili T Island: The Thrilling Sunset Snorkeling Adventure: $17
  • Lombok Private Custom Tour - Lombok Car Hire with Driver : $31
  • Mataram Lombok Historical City tour: $49
  • Complete your Lombok Holiday with Lombok Instagram Tour: $50
  • Private Lombok Hidden Beach Tour: Elak Elak, Sekotong, and Mekaki Beach: $50
  • Beach Tour in Lombok Indonesia: $51
  • Tiu Kelep and Sendang Gile Waterfall Trekking Tour: $55
  • Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep Waterfall Tour - Private Day Tour: $55
  • One Day Tour Pink Beach East Lombok Excursion: $55
  • Lombok Sasak Culture Tour from Mataram: $59
  • Private Lombok Cycling Tour : Lingsar Temple, Rice Field, Village & Market Tour: $59
  • Best Lombok Rice Terrace Walking Tour With Waterfall & Monkey: $60

Tours and Activities in Fraser Island

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Fraser Island are as follows:

  • 2 Hours Hervey Bay Funset Cruise: $52
  • Hervey Bay Ultimate Whale Watching Cruise: $72
  • Hervey Bay Whale Watching Cruise: $98
  • Hervey Bay: Best Value Half Day Whale Watching Cruise : $79
  • Hervey Bay: Half Day Whale watching & Island Stop Tour: $109
  • K'gari (Fraser Island) Day Tour: $180
  • K'gari/2-Day Tagalong Tour from Hervey Bay: $340
  • Remote Fraser Island Experience: $164
  • Remote K'gari (Fraser Island) & Whale Experience: $164

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Lombok $8.15
    Fraser Island $20


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

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



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

Fraser Island has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Lombok experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Lombok or Fraser Island in the Summer?

Both Fraser Island and Lombok during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Lombok because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Fraser Island this time of year.

Lombok is around the same temperature as Fraser Island in the summer. The daily temperature in Lombok averages around 26°C (79°F) in July, and Fraser Island fluctuates around 26°C (78°F)in January.

Fraser Island gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Lombok usually gets less rain in July than Fraser Islandin January. Lombok gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Fraser Island receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July and January
    Lombok 26°C (79°F) 
    Fraser Island 26°C (78°F)

Should I visit Lombok or Fraser Island in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Lombok and Fraser Island. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Lombok year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Fraser Island for the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Lombok is a little warmer than Fraser Island. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Lombok in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Fraser Island averages at about 22°C (72°F)in April.

Lombok gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Lombok usually receives more rain than Fraser Islandin April. Lombok gets 109 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Fraser Island receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October and April
    Lombok 28°C (82°F) 
    Fraser Island 22°C (72°F)

Should I visit Lombok or Fraser Island in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Lombok as well as Fraser Island. Lombok attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Fraser Island in the winter for the cuisine.

In January, Lombok is generally much warmer than Fraser Islandin July. Daily temperatures in Lombok average around 28°C (82°F), and Fraser Island fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).

Lombok usually gets more rain in January than Fraser Islandin July. Lombok gets 97 mm (3.8 in) of rain, while Fraser Island receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January and July
    Lombok 28°C (82°F) 
    Fraser Island 15°C (59°F)

Should I visit Lombok or Fraser Island in the Spring?

Both Fraser Island and Lombok are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Lombok throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Fraser Island for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months.

Lombok is a little warmer than Fraser Island in the spring. The daily temperature in Lombok averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Fraser Island fluctuates around 21°C (71°F)in October.

In April, Lombok usually receives more rain than Fraser Islandin October. Lombok gets 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Fraser Island receives 75 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April and October
    Lombok 28°C (82°F) 
    Fraser Island 21°C (71°F)

Typical Weather for Fraser Island and Lombok

Lombok Fraser Island
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 28°C (82°F) 97 mm (3.8 in) 26°C (78°F) 164 mm (6.5 in)
Feb 28°C (82°F) 122 mm (4.8 in) 25°C (78°F) 163 mm (6.4 in)
Mar 28°C (82°F) 135 mm (5.3 in) 24°C (76°F) 134 mm (5.3 in)
Apr 28°C (82°F) 92 mm (3.6 in) 22°C (72°F) 87 mm (3.4 in)
May 28°C (82°F) 60 mm (2.4 in) 19°C (66°F) 78 mm (3.1 in)
Jun 27°C (81°F) 27 mm (1.1 in) 16°C (61°F) 64 mm (2.5 in)
Jul 26°C (79°F) 18 mm (0.7 in) 15°C (59°F) 59 mm (2.3 in)
Aug 26°C (79°F) 4 mm (0.2 in) 16°C (61°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 28 mm (1.1 in) 19°C (65°F) 29 mm (1.1 in)
Oct 28°C (82°F) 109 mm (4.3 in) 21°C (71°F) 75 mm (2.9 in)
Nov 28°C (82°F) 216 mm (8.5 in) 23°C (74°F) 106 mm (4.2 in)
Dec 28°C (82°F) 140 mm (5.5 in) 25°C (77°F) 134 mm (5.3 in)