A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Sendai vs. Coffs Harbour for Beaches, Families, Attractions, and Food

Should you visit Sendai or Coffs Harbour?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Sendai or Coffs Harbour, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Sendai

Sendai is a lively, high energy, and vibrant city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include nightlife, food, and beaches.

Coffs Harbour

Coffs Harbour is a nature-filled, lively, and relaxing vacation town. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. Visitors also love the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Sendai and Coffs Harbour: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Sendai or Coffs Harbour?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Coffs Harbour than Sendai. While Sendai is larger than Coffs Harbour, Coffs Harbour has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Coffs Harbour is very popular for its food, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, and impressive beauty, while Sendai attracts visitors for its museums and big city activities. Sendai is famous for the Tanabata Festival, which is the largest of its kind and held every August. Coffs Harbour is famous for its popularity as a holiday destination, diverse marine environment, and the iconic "Big Banana". It is also well known for the Solitary Islands Marine Park.

How is Sendai different from Coffs Harbour?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Sendai or Coffs Harbour?

Sendai is an excellent place to visit for its museums and history. Also, Coffs Harbour is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Sendai. The city grew up as a castle town, and today the castle ruins are a popular tourist destination. A park surrounds the area, Aobayama Park, and while only the stonewalls remain, you can visit the Sendai City Museum in the park as well. Zuihoden Temple is another landmark worth visiting, as is the AER observation terrace.

Coffs Harbour offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. The town is home to the infamous Big Banana Fun Park. It's a large amusement park that's become recognized for the "Big Banana" at the entrance - which is the first of the "Big Things" found in Australia. The town also has several other landmarks to check out such as the Forest Sky Pier, the North Coast Regional Botanic Garden, and the Butterfly House.

Is the Food Better in Sendai or Coffs Harbour? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Coffs Harbour is an excellent place to visit for its restaurants. Also, Sendai is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Coffs Harbour has a huge number of terrific restaurants. It's a popular tourist destination, and there are plenty of cafes and restaurants that cater to families, couples, and all types of vacations. There are quaint cafes as well as fine dining restaurants and the cuisine ranges from local seafood to modern Australian favorites, or international treats.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Sendai area. There are a number of local specialties in the area and if you're an adventurous eater, then this is your place. Many of the dishes are influenced by the city's proximity to the ocean. Make sure you try the harako-meshi (rice with fish eggs), sea squirts, and sashimi. Another local favorite is beef tongue.

Is Sendai or Coffs Harbour Better for Nightlife?

Both Sendai and Coffs Harbour have high quality vibes after the sun sets.

Sendai has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. Head to Kokubuncho for the best nightlife scene in the area. This downtown neighborhood is filled with bars, clubs, and karaoke that come alive in the evening. For live music, check out Rensa, which is one of the city's largest live music venues.

The people in Coffs Harbour know how to have a good time. It's a vacation spot that attracts visitors who want to enjoy the evening activities. The Jetty Strip is popular for its nightlife scene, but you'll find no shortage of bars and pubs in other areas as well.

Is Sendai or Coffs Harbour Better for Resorts?

Coffs Harbour is an excellent place to visit for its luxury resorts. However, Sendai is not a resort destination.

Coffs Harbour is a popular resort destination that attracts visitors from everywhere. There's a huge range of accommodation types in the area with everything from camping to luxury resorts. There are also budget-friendly hostels and family-friendly hotels.

Sendai is not a resort destination.

Is Sendai or Coffs Harbour Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Coffs Harbour is an excellent place to visit for its diving and snorkeling. However, Sendai is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Many visitors go to Coffs Harbour to enjoy scuba diving and snorkeling. Scuba diving and snorkeling is popular in the area, as this is where the Solitary Islands Marine Park begins. The area sees a mix of the warm water from the Great Barrier Reef and the cooler waters from around Sydney, so the marine life is diverse. There are sheltered areas that offer snorkeling for all ages and you'll see a great mix of tropical and sub-tropical marine life, as well as both soft and hard corals.

Sendai is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Sendai or Coffs Harbour Better for Beaches?

Coffs Harbour is renowned for the beache. Also, Sendai is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for the beach.

The beaches in Coffs Harbour are among the best in the world. People come for the beaches, and they won't disappoint. You can enjoy everything from surfing, swimming, fishing, or simply walking and taking in the beauty. Popular beaches in the area include Emerald Beach, Woolgoolga, and the family-friendly Jetty Beach.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Sendai. There are a number of beaches in the area, but for the best options you'll want to head a bit out of town.

Is Sendai or Coffs Harbour Better for Hiking?

Coffs Harbour is an excellent place to visit for its hiking trails. However, Sendai is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Coffs Harbour. There are many national parks and natural areas nearby with excellent hiking and bush walks. The Coffs Creek Walk is a walking and biking path that's in town and connects the city center to many of the top sights that are nearby. Out of town, there's the Solitary Islands Coastal Walk, the Gumgali Track, Sherwood Nature Reserve and Ulidarra National Park.

Sendai is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Sendai or Coffs Harbour?

Shoppers can find a variety of high quality stores in both Sendai and Coffs Harbour.

Sendai is well-known for its shopping. You'll find shopping arcades in the downtown area like Ichibancho, which is one of the most popular shopping districts in the city. If you head out of town towards the suburbs, you'll find malls and other outlet stores.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Coffs Harbour. The city has many shopping centers and markets where you can enjoy leisurely shopping or pick up any essentials that you may have forgotten.

Is Sendai or Coffs Harbour Better for Families?

Coffs Harbour is renowned for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Sendai is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Coffs Harbour is an amazing family-friendly vacation town to visit. There are great beaches where kids can swim or learn to surf. There are also water parks, including the famous Big Banana Fun Park, as well as amusement parks, nature reserves, and wildlife sanctuaries. Kids and adults alike will enjoy going dolphin or whale watching, or putting on a mask and going snorkeling.

Sendai is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. The city has a number of green spaces that kids will enjoy including parks and playgrounds. There are also kid-focused museums like the Anpanman Children's Museum and the 3M Sendai City Science Museum. If the young ones really need a break from the history, you can check out Yagiyama Beny Land.

Is Sendai or Coffs Harbour Better for Couples?

Coffs Harbour is an excellent place to visit for its romantic activities. Also, Sendai is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for couples.

Coffs Harbour makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It's a beautiful city and a popular honeymoon destination. Couples will enjoy the impressive beaches and fun activities. There are places to explore nature as well as restaurants and fun evening activities. There's also great scuba diving and snorkeling at the Solitary Islands Marine Park.

Sendai is a good city for couples to visit. The city boasts beautiful temples as well as nice natural areas, parks, and gardens. If you have time to get out of town, Okama is a volcanic lake that is one of the most beautiful spots in the region, and well worth the excursion.

Is Sendai or Coffs Harbour Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Coffs Harbour is an excellent place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Sendai is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

Many backpackers visit Coffs Harbour. There are a number of hostels around town as well as great water activities and a lively atmosphere, making this a nice stop off for backpackers.

Sendai is a good city to visit for backpackers. There are a couple of hostels around the town and many of the activities are free as they involve strolling through parks or wandering down shopping streets.

Is Sendai or Coffs Harbour Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Sendai is an excellent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Coffs Harbour is lacking in options for its public transit.

Public transit in Sendai is fairly effecient and thorough. There are two subway lines the north-south Namboku Line and the east-west Tozai Line. These lines cross at Sendai Station.

Public transit is generally limited in Coffs Harbour. This is a very car dependent area and public transit is very limit. While there are buses, the area is spread out and you need the freedom of having your own vehicle to explore.

Is Sendai or Coffs Harbour a more walkable city?

Sendai is an excellent place to visit for its walkability. However, Coffs Harbour is lacking in options for its high level of walkability.

Sendai is very walkable. There are many parts of the city that are walkable, especially around Sendai Station as well as in the Chuo-dori arcade and the the Kokubuncho neighborhood.

Coffs Harbour is not a walkable city. Most visitors arrive with a car and you'll struggle to fully experience the area if you don't have your own form of transportation.

For even more information, also check out Is Sendai Worth Visiting? and Is Coffs Harbour Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Coffs Harbour or Sendai?

How long in Sendai or Coffs Harbour?

Both Sendai and Coffs Harbour have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Coffs Harbour than in Sendai. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Sendai, and 3-7 days is enough time in Coffs Harbour.

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

Couples should spend more time in Coffs Harbour than Sendai. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Coffs Harbour that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Coffs Harbour than Sendai 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 Coffs Harbour.

One day in Sendai or Coffs Harbour?

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the vibrant destination of Sendai. Your budget might influence how long you stay. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

Many travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the destination of Coffs Harbour. Hikers are also drawn to this area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Sendai or Coffs Harbour?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Sendai. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Coffs Harbour is a great place to explore. Don't miss the beaches, as that's what most people do. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Sendai or Coffs Harbour?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the high energy destination of Sendai. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Coffs Harbour. Don't miss the beaches, as that's what most people do. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Sendai or Coffs Harbour?

You'll find food and shopping around the city of Sendai. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Many travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the relaxing destination of Coffs Harbour. This vacation town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo, The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo, The Best Adventure Tours to Australia, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Australia.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Sendai or Coffs Harbour?

Sendai has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Coffs Harbour. When comparing the sizes of Sendai and Coffs Harbour, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Sendai or Coffs Harbour?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Coffs Harbour is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Sendai has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Sendai or Coffs Harbour in the Summer?

Both Coffs Harbour and Sendai are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Sendai this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Coffs Harbour for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Sendai is generally around the same temperature as Coffs Harbourin January. Daily temperatures in Sendai average around 23°C (73°F), and Coffs Harbour fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).

It's quite sunny in Coffs Harbour. Sendai usually receives less sunshine than Coffs Harbour during summer. Sendai gets 124 hours of sunny skies, while Coffs Harbour receives 237 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Coffs Harbour. It's quite rainy in Sendai. In July, Sendai usually receives less rain than Coffs Harbourin January. Sendai gets 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Coffs Harbour receives 187 mm (7.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Sendai or Coffs Harbour in the Autumn?

Both Coffs Harbour and Sendai during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Sendai for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Also, many visitors come to Coffs Harbour in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

Sendai is cooler than Coffs Harbour in the autumn. The daily temperature in Sendai averages around 15°C (59°F) in October, and Coffs Harbour fluctuates around 20°C (67°F)in April.

In Coffs Harbour, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Sendai often gets less sunshine than Coffs Harbourin April. Sendai gets 149 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Coffs Harbour receives 203 hours of full sun.

Coffs Harbour gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Sendai. Sendai usually gets less rain in October than Coffs Harbourin April. Sendai gets 103 mm (4.1 in) of rain, while Coffs Harbour receives 215 mm (8.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Sendai or Coffs Harbour in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Sendai and Coffs Harbour. Many visitors come to Sendai in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Coffs Harbour for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Sendai can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Sendai is much colder than Coffs Harbour. Typically, the winter temperatures in Sendai in January average around 2°C (35°F), and Coffs Harbour averages at about 13°C (55°F)in July.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Coffs Harbour this time of the year. Sendai usually receives less sunshine than Coffs Harbour during winter. Sendai gets 149 hours of sunny skies, while Coffs Harbour receives 219 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Sendai usually receives less rain than Coffs Harbourin July. Sendai gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Coffs Harbour receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Sendai or Coffs Harbour in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Sendai as well as Coffs Harbour. Most visitors come to Sendai for the beaches and the activities around the city during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Coffs Harbour because of the beaches and the natural beauty.

In April, Sendai is generally much colder than Coffs Harbourin October. Daily temperatures in Sendai average around 10°C (51°F), and Coffs Harbour fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Coffs Harbour. In the spring, Sendai often gets less sunshine than Coffs Harbourin October. Sendai gets 188 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Coffs Harbour receives 257 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Coffs Harbour. Sendai usually gets less rain in April than Coffs Harbourin October. Sendai gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Coffs Harbour receives 103 mm (4.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Coffs Harbour and Sendai