A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Similan Islands vs. Coffs Harbour for Scuba Diving & Snorkeling, Beaches, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Similan Islands or Coffs Harbour?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Similan Islands and Coffs Harbour can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Similan Islands

Similan Islands is a remote, spectacular, and idyllic island chain. It's considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. Other reasons to visit include scuba diving and snorkeling, beaches, and hiking.

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 museums, nightlife, and food.

Similan Islands and Coffs Harbour: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Similan Islands or Coffs Harbour?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Coffs Harbour. Although Similan Islands and Coffs Harbour are popular destinations, Coffs Harbour has more sights and attractions for tourists. Coffs Harbour is very popular for its museums, food, nightlife, resorts, hiking, and shopping, while Similan Islands attracts visitors for its scuba diving & snorkeling and impressive beauty. Coffs Harbour is more touristy than Similan Islands and is known 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. Similan Islands is famous for its world class diving and remote setting.

How is Similan Islands different from Coffs Harbour?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Coffs Harbour is a vacation town with good options for its museums and history. However, Similan Islands does not have museums and landmarks.

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.

Similan Islands does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Coffs Harbour is an excellent place to visit for its restaurants. Also, Similan Islands 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 Similan Islands area. Most people visit the islands as part of an organized tour, which usually provides meals as part of the package.

Is Similan Islands or Coffs Harbour Better for Nightlife?

Coffs Harbour is an excellent place to visit for nightlife and partying. However, Similan Islands is lacking in options for its evening party scene.

Coffs Harbour has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. 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.

Things get quiet in the evenings in Similan Islands. Peace and tranquility is what makes these islands special, and you'll find very limited amenities and no nightlife on the islands.

Is Similan Islands or Coffs Harbour Better for Resorts?

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

In Coffs Harbour, you'll find some of the region's top resorts. 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.

Similan Islands is not a resort destination.

Is Similan Islands or Coffs Harbour Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Similan Islands is very popular for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. Also, Coffs Harbour is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its diving and snorkeling.

Similan Islands is a world class destination for scuba diving and snorkeling. These islands offer one of the world's most famous and impressive diving spots. World class divers travel great distances to experience the undersea world here. There are liveaboard boat trips that range in length from 4 to 6 nights and leave from either Khao Lak or Phuket. These trips will take you to the many great dive spots in the area. Do take note that the islands close every year from May until October.

There are many scuba diving and snorkeling spots near Coffs Harbour. 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.

Is Similan Islands or Coffs Harbour Better for Beaches?

Both Similan Islands and Coffs Harbour are considered to be world-class beach destinations.

Similan Islands is considered to be a world-class beach destination. The world class beaches have white sand and stunningly blue waters. The setting is challenging enough to reach that you'll likely have few people to share the beaches with. The undersea world is also among the best and most vibrant around.

Coffs Harbour offers stunning beaches that attract visitors from around 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.

Is Similan Islands or Coffs Harbour Better for Hiking?

Coffs Harbour is an excellent place to visit for its hiking trails. Also, Similan Islands is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its hiking experiences.

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.

Similan Islands offers some nice hiking trails. There are hikes through the jungle and to various viewpoints on several of the islands.

Is the Shopping Better in Similan Islands or Coffs Harbour?

Coffs Harbour is an excellent place to visit for its shopping opportunities. However, Similan Islands is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Coffs Harbour is well-known for its shopping. The city has many shopping centers and markets where you can enjoy leisurely shopping or pick up any essentials that you may have forgotten.

Similan Islands is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Similan Islands or Coffs Harbour Better for Families?

Coffs Harbour is an amazing vacation town to visit for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Similan Islands is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Coffs Harbour is an extremely popular vacation town to visit for families. 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.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Similan Islands. It's a remote setting, but it's spectacularly beautiful with great snorkeling and sandy beaches that kids and adults alike will enjoy.

Is Similan Islands or Coffs Harbour Better for Couples?

Similan Islands is very popular for romance. Also, Coffs Harbour is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its romantic activities.

Similan Islands is a great island chain for couples, as it has plenty to offer. Couples who want to escape the tourist crowds will appreciate this remote and beautiful beach setting. The blue water and sandy beaches make for a true paradise.

Couples visit Coffs Harbour frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. 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.

Is Similan Islands or Coffs Harbour Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Coffs Harbour is an excellent place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Similan Islands is lacking in options 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.

Similan Islands is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's remote setting makes it challenging to reach on a budget, but if you're willing to devote a day or more to travel, then you'll be well rewarded.

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

Visitors will find reasonable public transit in both Similan Islands and Coffs Harbour.

Public transit is mostly limited in Similan Islands. The national park operates boats between the islands. You can also charter private longtail boats, however these must be secured in advance and availability is not guaranteed.

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 Similan Islands or Coffs Harbour a more walkable city?

Similan Islands is a island chain with good options for its walkability. However, Coffs Harbour is lacking in options for its high level of walkability.

Similan Islands is somewhat walkable. There are footpaths that connect the points of interest on some of the islands.

Coffs Harbour is not a walkable island chain. 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 Similan Islands Worth Visiting? and Is Coffs Harbour Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Coffs Harbour or Similan Islands?

How long in Similan Islands or Coffs Harbour?

Both Similan Islands and Coffs Harbour have a number of activities to choose from. In our opinion, Coffs Harbour has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Coffs Harbour than Similan Islands. In general, 4-7 days is a good amount of time for Similan Islands, and 3-7 days is enough time in Coffs Harbour.

Families should spend more time in Coffs Harbour than Similan Islands. 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.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Coffs Harbour than Similan Islands 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 Similan Islands or Coffs Harbour?

Many travelers enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the spectacular destination of Similan Islands. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. 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.

The relaxing destination of Coffs Harbour offers food and scuba diving and snorkeling. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. It's no surprise that beaches is why people visit. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in Similan Islands or Coffs Harbour?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Similan Islands. Most people come for the beaches. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

The vacation town of Coffs Harbour offers scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.

Five days in Similan Islands or Coffs Harbour?

Many travelers enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the spectacular destination of Similan Islands. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. This island chain offers a variety of activities to choose from. If you have five days, this is a great place to go. Five days is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Coffs Harbour is a great place to explore. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. It's no surprise that beaches is why people visit. This vacation town offers something for everyone. It is common to spend five days here. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

A week in Similan Islands or Coffs Harbour?

Many travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and food when visiting the beautiful island chain of Similan Islands. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. Plenty of people spend one week in the area when traveling.So, one week is just the right amount of time to spend here. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

The fun vacation town of Coffs Harbour offers museums and nightlife. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. For many, it makes a great getaway for one week. Because of this, one week is usually enough time for a trip here.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bangkok, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Phuket, 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 Similan Islands and Coffs Harbour, we can see that Similan Islands is more expensive. And not only is Coffs Harbour much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Similan Islands 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 Coffs Harbour would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Coffs Harbour 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 Similan Islands would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Similan Islands than you might in Coffs Harbour.

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

When is the best time to visit Similan Islands or Coffs Harbour?

Coffs Harbour has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Similan Islands experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Similan Islands or Coffs Harbour in the Summer?

Both Coffs Harbour and Similan Islands are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Similan Islands throughout the year. Also, the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Coffs Harbour this time of year.

In July, Similan Islands is generally a little warmer than Coffs Harbourin January. Daily temperatures in Similan Islands average around 28°C (82°F), and Coffs Harbour fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).

It's quite sunny in Coffs Harbour. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Similan Islands. Similan Islands usually receives less sunshine than Coffs Harbour during summer. Similan Islands gets 206 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 Similan Islands. In July, Similan Islands usually receives more rain than Coffs Harbourin January. Similan Islands gets 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain, while Coffs Harbour receives 187 mm (7.4 in) of rain each month for the summer. The rainy season in Similan Islands is June to September.

Should I visit Similan Islands or Coffs Harbour in the Autumn?

Both Coffs Harbour and Similan Islands during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Similan Islands because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Coffs Harbour for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

Similan Islands is a little warmer than Coffs Harbour in the autumn. The daily temperature in Similan Islands averages around 27°C (81°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, Similan Islands often gets less sunshine than Coffs Harbourin April. Similan Islands gets 181 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 Similan Islands. Similan Islands usually gets more rain in October than Coffs Harbourin April. Similan Islands gets 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain, while Coffs Harbour receives 215 mm (8.5 in) of rain this time of the year. October to May is the dry season in Similan Islands.

Should I visit Similan Islands or Coffs Harbour in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Similan Islands and Coffs Harbour. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Similan Islands year-round. Also, many visitors come to Coffs Harbour in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In the winter, Similan Islands is much warmer than Coffs Harbour. Typically, the winter temperatures in Similan Islands in January average around 27°C (80°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. In Similan Islands, it's very sunny this time of the year. Similan Islands usually receives more sunshine than Coffs Harbour during winter. Similan Islands gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while Coffs Harbour receives 219 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Similan Islands usually receives less rain than Coffs Harbourin July. Similan Islands 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 Similan Islands or Coffs Harbour in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Similan Islands as well as Coffs Harbour. Similan Islands attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, most visitors come to Coffs Harbour for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months.

In April, Similan Islands is generally much warmer than Coffs Harbourin October. Daily temperatures in Similan Islands average around 29°C (83°F), and Coffs Harbour fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Coffs Harbour. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Similan Islands this time of the year. In the spring, Similan Islands often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Coffs Harbourin October. Similan Islands gets 249 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Coffs Harbour receives 257 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Coffs Harbour. Similan Islands receives a lot of rain in the spring. Similan Islands usually gets more rain in April than Coffs Harbourin October. Similan Islands gets 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain, while Coffs Harbour receives 103 mm (4.1 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, October to May in Similan Islands is the dry season. June to September in Similan Islands is the rainy season.

Typical Weather for Coffs Harbour and Similan Islands