Which city is cheaper, Fraser Island or Surfers Paradise?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for Australia Surfers Paradise vs. Fraser Island for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Surfers Paradise or Fraser Island?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Surfers Paradise or Fraser Island, 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.
Where Should I go: Surfers Paradise or Fraser Island?
Surfers Paradise
A tourist mecca, Surfers Paradise is one of the most popular travel destinations along Australia's famed Gold Coast. The beach stretches for miles and there is an endless supply of almost constant parties. You'll find high rise apartments lined up along the shore and plenty of shopping areas, restaurants, nightclubs, and bars. Travelers from around the world visit the area, and it's a right of passage for Australia's teens to vacation in or near Surfers Paradise. For many travelers, Surfers Paradise comes across as little more than a mass marketed, over commercialized, party destination, but for others it is a vacation dream. Prices are highly inflated so you have to keep your whits about you to avoid being ripped off. Surfers Paradise is a destination of extremes and it conjures up extreme emotions in many travelers, be it positive or negative.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySurfers Paradise $106Fraser Island $211
The average daily cost (per person) in Surfers Paradise is $106, while the average daily cost in Fraser Island is $211. 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 city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Surfers Paradise and Fraser Island in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSurfers Paradise $68Fraser Island $104
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSurfers Paradise $136Fraser Island $208
Compare Hotels in Surfers Paradise and Fraser Island
Looking for a hotel in Surfers Paradise 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.
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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Surfers Paradise $11Fraser Island $95
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surfers Paradise
Also for Surfers Paradise, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- One-Way Shared Transfer to Byron Bay: $30
- Gold Coast: Airport to Hotel Return Transfer: $33
- Private Brisbane Airport Departure Transfer From Gold Coast: $177
Is it cheaper to fly into Surfers Paradise or Fraser Island?
Prices for flights to both Fraser Island and Surfers Paradise 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
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Food Meals for one daySurfers Paradise $27Fraser Island $48
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Surfers Paradise
For Surfers Paradise, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Surfers Paradise Sunset Kayak and Dinner: $40
- Dinner Buffet Cruise on the Gold Coast: $70
- Gold Coast: Spirits of the Red Sand Aboriginal Show & Dinner: $87
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Surfers Paradise $24Fraser Island $45
Typical Entertainment prices in Surfers Paradise
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Surfers Paradise's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Surf Lesson$80
Tours and Activities in Surfers Paradise
For Surfers Paradise, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Green Cabs Surfers Paradise Tours: $16
- Gold Coast Morning Tea Cruise from Surfers Paradise: $18
- Gold Coast 1.5-Hour Sightseeing River Cruise from Surfers Paradise: $20
- Gold Coast 1.5-Hour Sightseeing River Cruise from Surfers Paradise: $21
- Gold Coast Sightseeing Cruise: $23
- Infinity Attraction in Queensland Admission Ticket: $23
- Skip the Line:Wax Museum Ticket-World in Wax & Guided Tour of Chamber of Horrors: $25
- Gold Coast: Aquaduck City Tour and River Cruise: $29
- Aquaduck Gold Coast 1 hour City and River Tour: $32
- Gold Coast Quack'rDuck Amphibious Tour from Surfers Paradise: $32
- Stand Up Paddle Board Tour: $36
- Private Stand Up Paddle Tour: $46
Tours and Activities in Fraser Island
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Fraser Island are as follows:
- Fraser Island 4-Hour Eco-Sailing Adventure: $65
- From Hervey Bay: Fraser Island 2-Day Coach Tour: $360
- Rainbow Beach Drive 4WD Tour from Noosa to Mooloolaba: $711
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySurfers Paradise $11Fraser Island $21
Sample the Local Flavors in Surfers Paradise
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Surfers Paradise:
- Private Half Day Wine Tour from Gold Coast to Tamborine Mountain: $119
- Hipster Sipster Brewery and Distillery Tour: $154
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Surfers Paradise and Fraser Island, we can see that Fraser Island is more expensive. And not only is Surfers Paradise much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Surfers Paradise would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Surfers Paradise 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 Surfers Paradise.
When is the best time to visit Surfers Paradise or Fraser Island?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.
Should I visit Surfers Paradise or Fraser Island in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Surfers Paradise as well as Fraser Island.
In January, Surfers Paradise is generally around the same temperature as Fraser Island. Temperatures in Surfers Paradise average around 25°C (77°F), and Fraser Island stays around 26°C (78°F).
It's quite rainy in Fraser Island. Surfers Paradise receives a lot of rain in the summer. Surfers Paradise usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Fraser Island. Surfers Paradise gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Fraser Island receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuarySurfers Paradise 25°C (77°F)Fraser Island 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Surfers Paradise or Fraser Island in the Autumn?
Both Fraser Island and Surfers Paradise are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
Surfers Paradise is around the same temperature as Fraser Island in the autumn. The temperature in Surfers Paradise is usually 22°C (71°F) in April, and Fraser Island stays around 22°C (72°F).
It's quite rainy in Surfers Paradise. In April, Surfers Paradise usually receives more rain than Fraser Island. Surfers Paradise gets 101 mm (4 in) of rain, while Fraser Island receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilSurfers Paradise 22°C (71°F)Fraser Island 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Surfers Paradise or Fraser Island in the Winter?
Both Fraser Island and Surfers Paradise during the winter are popular places to visit.
In the winter, Surfers Paradise is around the same temperature as Fraser Island. Typically, the winter temperatures in Surfers Paradise in July are around 15°C (59°F), and Fraser Island is about 15°C (59°F).
Surfers Paradise usually gets more rain in July than Fraser Island. Surfers Paradise gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Fraser Island receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulySurfers Paradise 15°C (59°F)Fraser Island 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Surfers Paradise or Fraser Island in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Surfers Paradise and Fraser Island.
In October, Surfers Paradise is generally around the same temperature as Fraser Island. Temperatures in Surfers Paradise average around 21°C (69°F), and Fraser Island stays around 21°C (71°F).
Surfers Paradise gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Surfers Paradise usually receives more rain than Fraser Island. Surfers Paradise gets 103 mm (4 in) of rain, while Fraser Island receives 75 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberSurfers Paradise 21°C (69°F)Fraser Island 21°C (71°F)
Typical Weather for Fraser Island and Surfers Paradise
| Surfers Paradise | Fraser Island | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 157 mm (6.2 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 163 mm (6.4 in) |
| Mar | 24°C (75°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) |
| Apr | 22°C (71°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| May | 19°C (66°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jun | 16°C (61°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 15°C (59°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (61°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (65°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Oct | 21°C (69°F) | 103 mm (4 in) | 21°C (71°F) | 75 mm (2.9 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (73°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 106 mm (4.2 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (76°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) |
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