A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Wollongong vs. Khao Yai National Park for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Wollongong or Khao Yai National Park?

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

Should I visit Wollongong or Khao Yai National Park? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Wollongong or Khao Yai National Park?

Wollongong

Wollongong is south of Sydney in New South Wales. It is also the third largest city in the state. Wollongong has a unique geography in that it is only six kilometers wide at its widest point and is forty kilometers long. It is squeezed in between the mountains and the ocean and in the process of growth, has swallowed several coastal towns between Dapto and Port Kembla. Wollongong is home to the University of Wollongong and has a diverse population that includes people of Serbian, Croatian, Italian, and Turkish descent among other nationalities. The influence of these cultures is obvious in the city's restaurant and entertainment options. Throughout the city you'll find some wonderful beaches with few crowds and some decent surfing opportunities.

Khao Yai National Park

Adventurous travelers are always in search of new terrain to conquer. At over 2,000 square kilometers, Khao Yai National Park is Thailand's second largest national park, and just full of jungles to trek through. In the southwest of Thailand is a sanctuary of mountains and waterfalls.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Coach Bus Tours in Australia, The Best Water Sports Tour Packages in Australia, The Best Adventure Tours to Thailand, and The Best Eco Tours in Thailand.

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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Wollongong Expensive? and Is Khao Yai National Park Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Wollongong or Khao Yai National Park?

Wollongong has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Khao Yai National Park experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Wollongong or Khao Yai National Park in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Wollongong and Khao Yai National Park. Many travelers come to Wollongong for the beaches, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Khao Yai National Park attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the summer, Wollongong is cooler than Khao Yai National Park. Typically, the summer temperatures in Wollongong in January average around 23°C (74°F), and Khao Yai National Park averages at about 28°C (83°F)in July.

In Wollongong, it's very sunny this time of the year. Wollongong usually receives more sunshine than Khao Yai National Park during summer. Wollongong gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Yai National Park receives 176 hours of full sun in the summer.

Khao Yai National Park receives a lot of rain in the summer. In January, Wollongong usually receives less rain than Khao Yai National Parkin July. Wollongong gets 97 mm (3.8 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 315 mm (12.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Wollongong or Khao Yai National Park in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Wollongong as well as Khao Yai National Park. Many visitors come to Wollongong in the autumn for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, and the shopping scene. The warm climate attracts visitors to Khao Yai National Park throughout the year.

In April, Wollongong is generally much colder than Khao Yai National Parkin October. Daily temperatures in Wollongong average around 18°C (64°F), and Khao Yai National Park fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Khao Yai National Park. In the autumn, Wollongong often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Khao Yai National Parkin October. Wollongong gets 195 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Yai National Park receives 206 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Khao Yai National Park. Wollongong usually gets less rain in April than Khao Yai National Parkin October. Wollongong gets 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 173 mm (6.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Wollongong or Khao Yai National Park in the Winter?

Both Khao Yai National Park and Wollongong are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Wollongong for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Plenty of visitors come to Khao Yai National Park because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Wollongong is much colder than Khao Yai National Park in the winter. The daily temperature in Wollongong averages around 10°C (50°F) in July, and Khao Yai National Park fluctuates around 26°C (78°F)in January.

It's quite sunny in Khao Yai National Park. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Wollongong. Wollongong usually receives less sunshine than Khao Yai National Park during winter. Wollongong gets 208 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Yai National Park receives 276 hours of full sun in the winter.

In July, Wollongong usually receives more rain than Khao Yai National Parkin January. Wollongong gets 47 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Wollongong or Khao Yai National Park in the Spring?

Both Khao Yai National Park and Wollongong during the spring are popular places to visit. The spring months attract visitors to Wollongong because of the beaches and the activities around the city. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Khao Yai National Park year-round.

In the spring, Wollongong is much colder than Khao Yai National Park. Typically, the spring temperatures in Wollongong in October average around 17°C (63°F), and Khao Yai National Park averages at about 30°C (87°F)in April.

In Khao Yai National Park, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Wollongong. In the spring, Wollongong often gets less sunshine than Khao Yai National Parkin April. Wollongong gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Yai National Park receives 262 hours of full sun.

Khao Yai National Park gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Wollongong usually gets less rain in October than Khao Yai National Parkin April. Wollongong gets 76 mm (3 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 128 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Khao Yai National Park and Wollongong