A Travel Price Comparison for Australia Surfers Paradise vs. Hobart for Nightlife, Families, Backpackers, and Attractions

Should you visit Surfers Paradise or Hobart?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Surfers Paradise or Hobart, 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.

Surfers Paradise

Surfers Paradise is a high energy, thrilling, and active city. Visitors also love the shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Surfers Paradise travel costs.

Hobart

Hobart is a historical, charming, and fascinating city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food. See Hobart travel costs.

Surfers Paradise and Hobart: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Surfers Paradise or Hobart?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Surfers Paradise. Although Surfers Paradise and Hobart are both popular with visitors, Surfers Paradise has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Surfers Paradise is more popular for its nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and shopping, while Hobart is known for its hiking. Surfers Paradise is more touristy than Hobart and is known for its long sandy beaches, glamourous party scene, colorful amusement parks, and active water sports. It is also home to the SkyPoint Observation Deck. Hobart is popular for its quaint historical center, fresh seafood, and nearby hiking and biking trails.

How is Surfers Paradise different from Hobart?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Surfers Paradise or Hobart?

You'll find a number of high quality museums and attractions in both Hobart and Surfers Paradise.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Surfers Paradise can be an interesting and educational experience. For the best views of the coastline head to the SkyPoint Observation Deck at the Q1 Resort and Spa. It's in Australia's tallest residential tower. You can also visit the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, or the Sea World Marine Park, as well as countless other amusement parks or entertainment centers.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Hobart. The town has many landmarks and museums such as Port Arthur, the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), Mawson's Huts Replica Museum, and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. A highlight of the city is Battery Point, which is like an open-air museum. Make sure you explore the Battery Point Sculpture Trail.

Is the Food Better in Surfers Paradise or Hobart? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Local dishes at restaurants are fun to try in both Surfers Paradise and Hobart.

Surfers Paradise has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. There's a trendy food scene with a number of award winning restaurants in the area. There are high end seafood restaurants, modern international eateries, and niche food bars that all cater to the tourist crowd.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Hobart makes for a great culinary experience. The town has seen a surge in its culinary scene in recent years. Local chefs like to highlight the regional flavors and ingredients such as octopus, kingfish, abalone, and leatherwood honey.

Is Surfers Paradise or Hobart Better for Nightlife?

Surfers Paradise is renowned for nightlife and partying. Also, Hobart is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its evening party scene.

Surfers Paradise is a destination that you simply have to visit at least once for nightlife. This high energy area is filled with glitzy nightclubs and trendy cocktail bars. There are parties that last until the early morning hours and you'll find the most active nightlife scene along the famous Surfers Paradise glitter strip.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Hobart. While it's a smaller city, there is still a good mix of local bars, trendy lounges, and elegant wine bars. you'll also find some great venues for live music.

Is Surfers Paradise or Hobart Better for Resorts?

Surfers Paradise is renowned for its luxury resorts. However, Hobart is not a resort destination.

Surfers Paradise is a world class resort vacation destination. The high-rise skyline is filled with luxury resorts and trendy hotels. Fancy pools and rooftop views make this is a glitzy and lively place to stay.

Hobart is not a resort destination.

Is Surfers Paradise or Hobart Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Surfers Paradise is great for its diving and snorkeling. However, Hobart is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Surfers Paradise is an extremely popular place to visit for scuba diving and snorkeling. There's no shortage of scuba diving and snorkeling excursions that leave from the area. You'll see a diversity of marine life and interesting undersea reefs.

Hobart is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Surfers Paradise or Hobart Better for Beaches?

Surfers Paradise is renowned for the beach. However, Hobart is not a beach destination.

Surfers Paradise is considered to be a world-class beach destination. It's at the heart of the Gold Coast, and you'll enjoy two kilometers of golden sand and beautiful surf. The beaches are lined with high rise buildings and there's plenty of energy and amenities for visitors. This is a popular tourist destination and there is no shortage of water sports and other activities along the beaches.

Hobart is not a beach destination.

Is Surfers Paradise or Hobart Better for Hiking?

Hobart is a very popular place for its hiking trails. Also, Surfers Paradise is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its hiking experiences.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Hobart. The city is surrounded by bushland reserves as well as nearby Mount Wellington. The area offers many diverse hiking and walking trails and there are a wide range to choose from so whatever your hiking level, you'll find something of interest.

Plenty of visitors go hiking around Surfers Paradise. Outside of town you'll find many coastal hikes and inland trails. You can see waterfalls or breathtaking views of the water.

Is the Shopping Better in Surfers Paradise or Hobart?

Surfers Paradise is renowned for its shopping opportunities. Also, Hobart is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its shopping areas.

Known for shopping, Surfers Paradise draws large crowds to its stores. Beachside markets sell local items. There are also large shopping malls that are filled with international fashion brands and boutique shops that sell unique items.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Hobart. It has some of the best shopping in Tasmania. You'll find a great shopping experience along Elizabeth Street, which is lined with boutiques and quirky shops. The city also has a couple of outdoor flea markets that offers a unique shopping experience.

Is Surfers Paradise or Hobart Better for Families?

Surfers Paradise is renowned for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Hobart is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

Surfers Paradise is an extremely popular city to visit for families. It's filled with activities that kids and adults will enjoy. There's everything from sandy beaches to amusement park rides and entertainment centers. Check out Infinity, Ripley's Believe It Or Not, or the view from Q1 SkyPoint. There's also countless minigolf places, kayaking, and other water sports.

Hobart is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. Kids who love animals will enjoy a visit to the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. There are also fruit farms to visit and vineyards to explore in the area, as well as great hiking. For an interactive museum, head to the Tasmanian Transport Museum and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery has some toddler-friendly displays.

Is Surfers Paradise or Hobart Better for Couples?

Surfers Paradise and Hobart are both high quality to visit as a couple.

Surfers Paradise makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Walk along the beach or take in the view from Q1 SkyPoint. There are also many fun-filled adventure activities as well as restaurants and a lively party scene.

Couples visit Hobart frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Couples will enjoy exploring the waterfront and Sullivans Cove. There are also outdoor markets and breweries around town. Botanical gardens and quaint neighborhoods also make this a lovely town to visit.

Is Surfers Paradise or Hobart Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Surfers Paradise is renowned for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Hobart is not as popular, but is still a nice city for backpackers.

With so many budget-friendly offerings, Surfers Paradise is extremely popular for backpackers. Backpackers who want fun entertainment, a lively beach scene, and water sports will find their place here. There are also hostels with reasonable rates and plenty of backpackers to hang out with.

Plenty of backpackers visit Hobart. There are a handful of hostels around town and many great hiking trails.

Is Surfers Paradise or Hobart Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Visitors will find good public transit in both Surfers Paradise and Hobart.

Surfers Paradise has some public transit options. Without a car, you can use the shuttle buses, public buses, and light rail to get around.

You'll find some public transit in Hobart, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There's a public bus system and many of the buses leave from Elizabeth Street (between Macquarie and Collins Streets) or Franklin Square.

Is Surfers Paradise or Hobart a more walkable city?

Hobart is a very popular place for its ease of walking around. Also, Surfers Paradise is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its walkability.

Hobart is a very walkable destination. It has a compact city center that many people enjoy exploring on foot.

Surfers Paradise is somewhat walkable. There are walking and bike paths around town.

For even more information, also check out Is Surfers Paradise Worth Visiting? and Is Hobart Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Hobart or Surfers Paradise?

How long in Surfers Paradise or Hobart?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Surfers Paradise and Hobart. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Surfers Paradise than in Hobart. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Surfers Paradise, and 2-3 days is enough time in Hobart.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Surfers Paradise than Hobart 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 Surfers Paradise.

One day in Surfers Paradise or Hobart?

Many travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the destination of Surfers Paradise. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

You'll find food and shopping around the historical destination of Hobart. Hikers are also drawn to this area. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

A weekend in Surfers Paradise or Hobart?

Surfers Paradise is a great place to explore. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

You'll find shopping and museums around the quaint city of Hobart. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Five days in Surfers Paradise or Hobart?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Surfers Paradise. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Most people come for the beaches. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Hobart is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

A week in Surfers Paradise or Hobart?

Many travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the glamourous destination of Surfers Paradise. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting 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.

Hobart is a great place to explore. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Australia, The Best Adventure Tours to Australia, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Australia, and The Best Scuba Diving Tours in Australia.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Surfers Paradise and Hobart, we can see that Hobart 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 Hobart would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hobart than you might in Surfers Paradise.

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

Which is Bigger, Surfers Paradise or Hobart?

Hobart has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Surfers Paradise. When comparing the sizes of Surfers Paradise and Hobart, 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 Surfers Paradise or Hobart?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.

Should I visit Surfers Paradise or Hobart in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Surfers Paradise and Hobart. The beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Surfers Paradise this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Hobart for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

In January, Surfers Paradise is generally a little warmer than Hobart. Daily temperatures in Surfers Paradise average around 25°C (77°F), and Hobart fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Hobart this time of the year. In Surfers Paradise, it's very sunny this time of the year. Surfers Paradise usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Hobart during summer. Surfers Paradise gets 256 hours of sunny skies, while Hobart receives 259 hours of full sun in the summer.

Surfers Paradise gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Surfers Paradise usually receives more rain than Hobart. Surfers Paradise gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Hobart receives 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Surfers Paradise or Hobart in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Surfers Paradise as well as Hobart. Many travelers come to Surfers Paradise for the hiking trails and the shopping scene. Also, many visitors come to Hobart in the autumn for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.

Surfers Paradise is much warmer than Hobart in the autumn. The daily temperature in Surfers Paradise averages around 22°C (71°F) in April, and Hobart fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Surfers Paradise this time of the year. In the autumn, Surfers Paradise often gets more sunshine than Hobart. Surfers Paradise gets 214 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hobart receives 178 hours of full sun.

Surfers Paradise receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Surfers Paradise usually gets more rain in April than Hobart. Surfers Paradise gets 101 mm (4 in) of rain, while Hobart receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Surfers Paradise or Hobart in the Winter?

Both Hobart and Surfers Paradise are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Surfers Paradise in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Hobart for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

In the winter, Surfers Paradise is much warmer than Hobart. Typically, the winter temperatures in Surfers Paradise in July average around 15°C (59°F), and Hobart averages at about 9°C (47°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Surfers Paradise. Surfers Paradise usually receives more sunshine than Hobart during winter. Surfers Paradise gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Hobart receives 152 hours of full sun in the winter.

In July, Surfers Paradise usually receives more rain than Hobart. Surfers Paradise gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Hobart receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Surfers Paradise or Hobart in the Spring?

Both Hobart and Surfers Paradise during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Surfers Paradise for the beaches during these months.

In October, Surfers Paradise is generally much warmer than Hobart. Daily temperatures in Surfers Paradise average around 21°C (69°F), and Hobart fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

In Hobart, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Surfers Paradise. In the spring, Surfers Paradise often gets more sunshine than Hobart. Surfers Paradise gets 259 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hobart receives 209 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Surfers Paradise. Surfers Paradise usually gets more rain in October than Hobart. Surfers Paradise gets 103 mm (4 in) of rain, while Hobart receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Hobart and Surfers Paradise