A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Torquay vs. Sado for Attractions, Food, Hiking, and Couples

Should you visit Torquay or Sado?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Torquay or Sado, 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.

Torquay

Torquay is a hip, thriving, and outdoorsy surf town. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. Torquay is a gorgeous place to visit. It's also known for nightlife, food, and beaches. See Torquay travel costs.

Sado

Sado is a cultural, off-the-beaten-path, and traditional island. Visitors also love the hiking, museums, and food. See Sado travel costs.

Torquay and Sado: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Torquay or Sado?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Torquay. Although Torquay and Sado are popular destinations, Torquay has more sights and attractions for tourists. Torquay is very popular for its nightlife, beaches, shopping, small town charm, and impressive beauty, while Sado attracts visitors for its museums and attractions and food. Torquay is more touristy than Sado and is popular for its world renowned surfing scene and its relaxed atmosphere. It is also well known for Bells Beach. Sado is famous for its beautiful scenery, traditional culture, and population of endangered crested ibis.

How is Torquay different from Sado?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Torquay or Sado?

Sado is great for its historical sights. Also, Torquay is not as popular, but is still a nice surf town for its sights and museums.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Sado can be an interesting and educational experience. The former gold mines are open to the public and fascinating to explore. For a traditional town, head to Shukunegi, which has narrow alleys and historic homes. Also worth a visit is the Sado History Museum.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Torquay. Surfing enthusiasts will appreciate a visit to the Australian National Surfing Museum, which goes into the sports history and influence on the region.

Is the Food Better in Torquay or Sado? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Sado is great for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Torquay is not as popular, but is still a nice surf town for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Sado has a huge number of terrific restaurants. You'll find great seafood including crab, tuna, and prawns. There are also fresh vegetables, rice, and other typical Japanese ingredients in the area.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Torquay area. You'll find all of the classic beach town options. There are pizza places, international restaurants, and seafood. All kinds of styles are available ranging from modern, upscale, and trendy to casual and affordable.

Is Torquay or Sado Better for Nightlife?

Torquay is a popular place for nightlife. However, Sado is a mediocre island for nightlife and partying.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Torquay. There's a laid back vibe with several great pubs, breweries, and clubs where people hang out.

Sado doesn't offer many options. This is a quiet island and doesn't have much in the form of nightlife.

Is Torquay or Sado Better for Beaches?

Torquay is an unbeatable place for its beaches. However, Sado is not a beach destination.

Travelers come from around the world to visit the beaches in Torquay. The town is along the Great Ocean Road, and there are a huge number of beaches that are popular for surfing. There are also nudist beaches as well as family-friendly areas. The most convenient beach is Torquay Surf Beach, which is popular with surfers. For calmer water, check out Torquay Front Beach, and for the most iconic surfing beach in the area, visit Bells Beach.

Sado is not a beach destination.

Is Torquay or Sado Better for Hiking?

Torquay and Sado are both places where visitors can find very good hiking trails.

Many visitors go to Torquay for the hiking trails. There are many coastal walks in the area that range from a few hours to several days. One of the more well known ones is the Surf Coast Walk, which goes on for days and passes by stunning viewpoints and beautiful landscapes.

Sado is a popular spot for hiking. There is wonderful hiking on the island. Head to the Osado Mountain Range for wildflowers and spectacular views and scenery.

Is the Shopping Better in Torquay or Sado?

Torquay is a popular place for shopping. However, Sado is a mediocre island for its shopping opportunities.

Torquay is a great destination for shopping. You'll find the standard shopping centers with everything from boutiques to major brands.

If you're looking to go shopping, Sado has some nice offerings. You'll find shops where you can pick up any necessities that you may have forgotten. There are also souvenir shops where you can find local items to remember your trip.

Is Torquay or Sado More Beautiful?

Torquay is a popular place for its scenery and beauty. However, Sado is not a destination known for its beauty.

Torquay is a gorgeous place to visit. There's a beautiful coastline with sandy beaches and nice coastal walks.

Sado is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Torquay or Sado Better for Families?

Torquay and Sado are both nice destinations for the whole family.

Torquay offers lots of family activities. Most people think of great surf when they think of this town, but there are some secluded places like Cozy Corner, which is good for kids. There are also many outdoor activities like walks and snorkeling at Point Danger Marine Sanctuary.

Sado is a family-friendly place to visit. The former gold mines are fascinating and open to the public. There are also parks and interesting wildlife such as the Japanese ibis that you can see.

Is Torquay or Sado Better for Couples?

Torquay is notable for romance. Also, Sado is not as famous, but is still a good island to visit for its romantic activities.

Torquay is a very popular place to visit for couples. With its amazing beaches, popular surfing, and countless outdoor activities, there's plenty for couples to enjoy around town. You can also head to the vineyards at Bellbrae Estate, check out the local breweries, or take a long walk along the coast.

Sado makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The area's history and nature make it a unique place for a couple's trip. There are museums, and outdoor spaces that you visit as well as the interesting mines.

Is Torquay or Sado Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Torquay and Sado are nice places to visit.

It's common for backpackers to visit Torquay. Surfing is the big draw for backpackers to the area. There are a handful of hostels and excellent beaches that make this a great stop off for anyone in the area.

Sado is a good surf town to visit for backpackers. There are a couple of hostels as well as guesthouses that backpackers can stay at while they're in town.

Is Torquay or Sado Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Torquay is a popular place for its public transit. However, Sado is a mediocre island for times when you don't have a car.

Torquay has a few public transit options. There are buses that travel to town from the surrounding areas.

Public transit is quite limited in Sado. There are no trains on the island and the bus routes are infrequent and slow. You really must have a car to explore the area.

Is Torquay or Sado a more walkable city?

Torquay is notable for its walkability. However, Sado is a mediocre island for its high level of walkability.

Torquay is very walkable. The Torquay Promenade Walk offers a great place to stroll along the waterfront. You'll pass by view points and many restaurants and cafes.

Sado is not a very walkable surf town. The island isn't particularly walkable, so you'll want to have a vehicle to explore.

For even more information, also check out Is Torquay Worth Visiting? and Is Sado Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Sado or Torquay?

How long in Torquay or Sado?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Torquay and Sado. In our opinion, Torquay has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Torquay than Sado. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Torquay than Sado 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 Torquay.

One day in Torquay or Sado?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Torquay. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

In Sado, you'll find food and museums. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. This island offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in Torquay or Sado?

Torquay is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the beaches. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It's also a great beach destination, too. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

In Sado, you'll find museums and food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Sado has to offer.

Five days in Torquay or Sado?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the laid back destination of Torquay. This surf town offers something for everyone. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Sado is a great place to explore. Hikers are also drawn to this area. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Torquay or Sado?

The outdoorsy surf town of Torquay offers nightlife and food. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week 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 Sado. Many people enjoy the museums and food when visiting Sado. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Australia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Australia, The Best Adventure Tours to Japan, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Japan.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Torquay or Sado?

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

Should I visit Torquay or Sado in the Summer?

Both Sado and Torquay during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Torquay in the summer for the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Sado for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In January, Torquay is generally around the same temperature as Sadoin July. Daily temperatures in Torquay average around 26°C (78°F), and Sado fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).

Sado gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Torquay. Torquay usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Sadoin July. Torquay gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Sado receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Torquay or Sado in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Torquay and Sado. Most visitors come to Torquay for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Sado because of the hiking trails and the shopping scene.

Torquay is a little warmer than Sado in the autumn. The daily temperature in Torquay averages around 22°C (72°F) in April, and Sado fluctuates around 16°C (60°F)in October.

Sado receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In April, Torquay usually receives less rain than Sadoin October. Torquay gets 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Sado receives 127 mm (5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Torquay or Sado in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Torquay as well as Sado. The winter months attract visitors to Torquay because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Sado this time of year.

It's quite cold in Sado in the winter. In the winter, Torquay is much warmer than Sado. Typically, the winter temperatures in Torquay in July average around 15°C (59°F), and Sado averages at about 3°C (37°F)in January.

It's quite rainy in Sado. Torquay usually gets less rain in July than Sadoin January. Torquay gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Sado receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Torquay or Sado in the Spring?

Both Sado and Torquay are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty are the main draw to Torquay this time of year.

In October, Torquay is generally much warmer than Sadoin April. Daily temperatures in Torquay average around 21°C (71°F), and Sado fluctuates around 10°C (51°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Sado. In October, Torquay usually receives less rain than Sadoin April. Torquay gets 75 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Sado receives 102 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Sado and Torquay