A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Rockhampton vs. Khao Sok National Park for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Rockhampton or Khao Sok National Park?

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

Should I visit Rockhampton or Khao Sok National Park? 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.

Where Should I go: Rockhampton or Khao Sok National Park?

Rockhampton

Rockhampton is a city in Queensland, Australia with a population of around 75,000. It dates back to 1855 and historically the economy was driven by gold, mining, and agriculture. Today it feels more bustling than you would expect in an "outback town." There's traffic, suburban sprawl, and continuing growth and development. The city sits on the Fitzroy River about 45 kilometers from the river's mouth.

Khao Sok National Park

In the south of Thailand, visitors will find a gorgeous getaway of pure nature. The Khao Sok National Park is a jungle reserve that covers over 700 square kilometers, and described as one of the most beautiful wildlife reserves in the country.

Many say this jungle is over 160 million years old making it one of the world's oldest rainforests. The lush environment of limestone, waterfalls and thickets of vegetation will make any wanderer eager to discover more. Keep your eyes peeled for bears, boars, gaurs, tapirs, gibbons, deer, marbled cats, wild elephants and more. Look to the sky for over 300 species of bird and 38 different types of bats.

You'll find the best time to book is from December to April, better known as the dry season. From June to October there is significantly more rain and the threat of monsoons. Not only does it rain on your parade, but also it causes the leeches to emerge.

To enter the park is a 300 baht fee for foreigners, 150 for children, and 40 for Thai citizens. If someone tries to sell you a ticket for more than that, simply buy one at the park entrance. When planning your stay remember that your entrance fee is only valid for 24 hours. If you're staying multiple days, you'll need to pay up front. Often if you're with a tour, the entrance fee is included in the tour price, but you should inquire about this to make sure.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Honeymoon Tours in Australia, The Best Photography Tours in Australia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Thailand, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Thailand.

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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Rockhampton Expensive? and Is Khao Sok National Park Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Rockhampton or Khao Sok National Park?

Rockhampton has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Khao Sok National Park experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Rockhampton or Khao Sok National Park in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Rockhampton as well as Khao Sok National Park. The summer months attract visitors to Rockhampton because of the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences. The warm climate attracts visitors to Khao Sok National Park throughout the year.

Rockhampton is around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park in the summer. The daily temperature in Rockhampton averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 28°C (82°F)in July.

It's quite rainy in Khao Sok National Park. Rockhampton receives a lot of rain in the summer. Rockhampton usually gets less rain in January than Khao Sok National Parkin July. Rockhampton gets 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Rockhampton or Khao Sok National Park in the Autumn?

Both Khao Sok National Park and Rockhampton are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the small town atmosphere are the main draw to Rockhampton this time of year. Plenty of visitors come to Khao Sok National Park because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the autumn, Rockhampton is cooler than Khao Sok National Park. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Rockhampton in April average around 23°C (74°F), and Khao Sok National Park averages at about 27°C (81°F)in October.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Khao Sok National Park. In April, Rockhampton usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Parkin October. Rockhampton gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Rockhampton or Khao Sok National Park in the Winter?

Both Khao Sok National Park and Rockhampton during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Rockhampton for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Khao Sok National Park year-round.

In July, Rockhampton is generally much colder than Khao Sok National Parkin January. Daily temperatures in Rockhampton average around 16°C (61°F), and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

Rockhampton usually gets less rain in July than Khao Sok National Parkin January. Rockhampton gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Rockhampton or Khao Sok National Park in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Rockhampton and Khao Sok National Park. Many visitors come to Rockhampton in the spring for the beaches and the small town charm. Khao Sok National Park attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Rockhampton is cooler than Khao Sok National Park in the spring. The daily temperature in Rockhampton averages around 23°C (74°F) in October, and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 29°C (83°F)in April.

Khao Sok National Park receives a lot of rain in the spring. In October, Rockhampton usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Parkin April. Rockhampton gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Khao Sok National Park and Rockhampton