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

Should you visit Matsue 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 Matsue 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.

Matsue

Matsue is a quiet, peaceful, and pretty town. Matsue is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums. See Matsue travel costs.

Coffs Harbour

Coffs Harbour is a lively, relaxing, and fun vacation town. Coffs Harbour is a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the scuba diving and snorkeling, beaches, and hiking. See Coffs Harbour travel costs.

Matsue and Coffs Harbour: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Matsue or Coffs Harbour?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Coffs Harbour than Matsue. While Matsue is larger than Coffs Harbour, Coffs Harbour has more sights and attractions for tourists. Coffs Harbour is very popular for its nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, and shopping, while Matsue attracts visitors for its museums and attractions, historical sights, and impressive beauty. Matsue is famous for its 17th century castle and its quaint atmosphere. 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 Matsue different from Coffs Harbour?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Matsue 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 Matsue. Most people visit town specifically to see the Matsue Castle, which is one of the last original castles left in Japan. The city also has parks and gardens, as well as the Shimane Art Museum, Yaegaki Shrine, and Miho Shrine.

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 Matsue or Coffs Harbour? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dining out at restaurants in both Matsue and Coffs Harbour can be an enjoyable experience.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Matsue. There are peaceful restaurants and cafes around town where you can sample the local dishes. Many restaurants have beautiful gardens and set lunch menus, which is a great way to sample fine dining cuisine at a reasonable price.

Coffs Harbour has a number of nationally recognized food spots and 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.

Is Matsue or Coffs Harbour Better for Nightlife?

Coffs Harbour is a great destination for nightlife and partying. However, Matsue is a town with minimal options for its evening party scene.

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.

Matsue doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. It's a quiet town and there's not much of a nightlife scene, but if you spend the night you can probably find a quaint local bar where you can hang out.

Is Matsue or Coffs Harbour Better for Resorts?

Coffs Harbour is a great destination for its resorts. However, Matsue 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.

Matsue is not a resort destination.

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

Coffs Harbour is a great destination for its diving and snorkeling. However, Matsue is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Coffs Harbour is an extremely popular place to visit for 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.

Matsue is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Matsue or Coffs Harbour Better for Beaches?

Coffs Harbour is an unbeatable place for the beach. However, Matsue is not a beach destination.

Coffs Harbour is considered to be a world-class beach destination. 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.

Matsue is not a beach destination.

Is Matsue or Coffs Harbour Better for its Old Town?

Matsue is a town with good options for its historic old town. However, Coffs Harbour does not have a historic old town.

Matsue is a good destination for visiting its old town. The town has one of the last of the twelve original castles that are still in Japan. There are also many canals that cross the town.

Coffs Harbour does not have a historic old town.

Is Matsue or Coffs Harbour Better for Hiking?

Coffs Harbour is a great destination for its hiking experiences. However, Matsue is not a hiking destination.

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around 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.

Matsue is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Matsue or Coffs Harbour?

Coffs Harbour is a great destination for its shopping opportunities. Also, Matsue is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

Coffs Harbour is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. The city has many shopping centers and markets where you can enjoy leisurely shopping or pick up any essentials that you may have forgotten.

Matsue has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Kyomise Shopping District is a charming street near Ohashi Bridge. It is lined with shops and restaurants and tourists will enjoy visiting the souvenir and specialty stores in the area.

Is Matsue or Coffs Harbour More Beautiful?

Matsue is an excellent place to visit for its scenery and beauty. Also, Coffs Harbour is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its scenery and beauty.

Matsue is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. This is a pretty town with a peaceful atmosphere, beautiful gardens, and a lakefront setting.

Coffs Harbour is a beautiful place to visit, too. With its beautiful coastline and nice mountain landscapes, there is plenty of beauty to explore. There are also nature reserves and wildlife sanctuaries where you can immerse yourself in the natural environment.

Is Matsue or Coffs Harbour Better for Families?

Coffs Harbour is an unbeatable place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Matsue is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-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.

Matsue offers lots of family activities. Kids will enjoy the city's history as much as adults. There are several temples and shrines to explore as well as Lake Shinji. The best views of the lake are from the Shimane Art Museum.

Is Matsue or Coffs Harbour Better for Couples?

Coffs Harbour is a great destination for its romantic activities. Also, Matsue is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

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.

Matsue is a good town for couples to visit. Castles, gardens, and museums all make this a beautiful and romantic destination. Couples will enjoy immersing themselves in the city's history. There's also a beautiful lake and the impressive Matsue Vogel Park.

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

Coffs Harbour is a great destination for backpackers. Also, Matsue is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.

Coffs Harbour is a great vacation town to visit for backpackers. 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.

Plenty of backpackers visit Matsue. There are a couple of hostels and guesthouses as well as budget hotels around town for backpackers.

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

Matsue 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 Matsue is fairly effecient and thorough. There are city buses as well as Ichibata Bus. Tourists will mostly use the Lakeline loop, which connects the two railway stations with all of the city's major attractions. Buses run every 20 minutes.

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 Matsue or Coffs Harbour a more walkable city?

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

Matsue is very walkable. Most of the town's sights can be reached on foot. You can walk from the JR Matsue Station to the castle in half an hour and it's only 15 minutes from the Shinjiko Onsen Station.

Coffs Harbour is not a walkable town. 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 Matsue Worth Visiting? and Is Coffs Harbour Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Coffs Harbour or Matsue?

How long in Matsue or Coffs Harbour?

Both Matsue 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 Matsue. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Matsue, and 3-7 days is enough time in Coffs Harbour.

Families should spend more time in Coffs Harbour than Matsue. 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 Matsue. 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 Matsue 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 Matsue or Coffs Harbour?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and food when visiting the quiet destination of Matsue. 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 Matsue or Coffs Harbour?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Matsue. 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 Matsue or Coffs Harbour?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the peaceful destination of Matsue. This town 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 Matsue or Coffs Harbour?

You'll find museums and food around the beautiful town of Matsue. 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 nature-filled 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 Contiki Tours to Japan, The Best G Adventures Tours to Japan, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Australia, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Australia.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Matsue and Coffs Harbour, we can see that Coffs Harbour is more expensive. And not only is Matsue much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Matsue 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 Matsue would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Matsue 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 Matsue.

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

Which is Bigger, Matsue or Coffs Harbour?

Matsue has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Coffs Harbour. When comparing the sizes of Matsue 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 Matsue 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 Matsue has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Matsue or Coffs Harbour in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Matsue as well as Coffs Harbour. The summer months attract visitors to Matsue because of the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Coffs Harbour this time of year.

In July, Matsue is generally around the same temperature as Coffs Harbourin January. Daily temperatures in Matsue average around 25°C (78°F), and Coffs Harbour fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Coffs Harbour. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Matsue this time of the year. In the summer, Matsue often gets less sunshine than Coffs Harbourin January. Matsue gets 201 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Coffs Harbour receives 237 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Coffs Harbour. Matsue receives a lot of rain in the summer. Matsue usually gets more rain in July than Coffs Harbourin January. Matsue gets 268 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Coffs Harbour receives 187 mm (7.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Matsue or Coffs Harbour in the Autumn?

Both Coffs Harbour and Matsue are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Matsue this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Coffs Harbour for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

Matsue is cooler than Coffs Harbour in the autumn. The daily temperature in Matsue averages around 17°C (62°F) in October, and Coffs Harbour fluctuates around 20°C (67°F)in April.

It's quite sunny in Coffs Harbour. Matsue usually receives less sunshine than Coffs Harbour during autumn. Matsue gets 173 hours of sunny skies, while Coffs Harbour receives 203 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Coffs Harbour. It's quite rainy in Matsue. In October, Matsue usually receives less rain than Coffs Harbourin April. Matsue gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Coffs Harbour receives 215 mm (8.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Matsue or Coffs Harbour in the Winter?

Both Coffs Harbour and Matsue during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Matsue for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Coffs Harbour in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Matsue. In the winter, Matsue is much colder than Coffs Harbour. Typically, the winter temperatures in Matsue in January average around 4°C (39°F), and Coffs Harbour averages at about 13°C (55°F)in July.

In Coffs Harbour, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Matsue often gets less sunshine than Coffs Harbourin July. Matsue gets 84 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Coffs Harbour receives 219 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Matsue. Matsue usually gets more rain in January than Coffs Harbourin July. Matsue gets 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Coffs Harbour receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Matsue or Coffs Harbour in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Matsue and Coffs Harbour. Many visitors come to Matsue in the spring for the natural beauty. Also, most visitors come to Coffs Harbour for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months.

In April, Matsue is generally cooler than Coffs Harbourin October. Daily temperatures in Matsue average around 13°C (55°F), and Coffs Harbour fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Coffs Harbour this time of the year. Matsue usually receives less sunshine than Coffs Harbour during spring. Matsue gets 194 hours of sunny skies, while Coffs Harbour receives 257 hours of full sun in the spring.

Coffs Harbour receives a lot of rain in the spring. Matsue gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Matsue usually receives more rain than Coffs Harbourin October. Matsue gets 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Coffs Harbour receives 103 mm (4.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Coffs Harbour and Matsue