Comparison · Bali vs Gold Coast · Indonesia / Australia
Bali vs Gold Coast
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Paskuu, CC BY-SA 4.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Quick answer
Choose Bali for Hindu temples, Rice terraces, lower day-to-day costs and a milder winter; choose Gold Coast for Surfers Paradise, Surf beaches, free sights and a short break. Bali is generally less expensive, and the two are about 4,557 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 4,557 km
- Less expensive
- Bali
- Best time for Bali
- April–June and September–October
- Best time for Gold Coast
- April–May and September–November
Side by side
| Bali | Gold Coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Indonesia | Australia |
| Known for | Hindu temples, Rice terraces and Surfing | Surfers Paradise, Surf beaches and Theme parks |
| Best time to visit | April–June and September–October | April–May and September–November |
| Ideal stay | 10 days | 5 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $80–$180 | $150–$260 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Expensive |
| Warmest month | April, 32°C (90°F) | January, 28°C (82°F) |
| Coldest month | June, 30°C (86°F) | June, 21°C (70°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 1 | 7 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 5 |
| Beaches | Seminyak and Double Six Beach | Surfers Paradise Beach |
| Airports | DPS | OOL, BNE |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Bali for…
Hindu temples, Rice terraces, lower day-to-day costs and a milder winter. Bali is a Hindu island in mostly Muslim Indonesia, about 140 km across, where daily offerings sit on doorsteps and temple ceremonies close roads. The south — Seminyak, Canggu, Kuta, Uluwatu and Nusa Dua — has the beaches, surf breaks and beach clubs, while…
.jpg){kind=link}
Choose Gold Coast for…
Surfers Paradise, Surf beaches, free sights and a short break. The Gold Coast is a long strip of surf beaches and resort suburbs running south from The Spit at Main Beach through Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads and Coolangatta at the New South Wales border. Surfers Paradise has the high-rises and…
Top sights compared
| # | Bali | Gold Coast |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uluwatu Temple and Kecak dance | Surfers Paradise Beach |
| 2 | Tanah Lot | SkyPoint Observation Deck |
| 3 | Tegallalang Rice Terraces | Burleigh Head National Park |
| 4 | Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary | Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary |
| 5 | Tirta Empul | Sea World |
Food compared
| Bali | Gold Coast |
|---|---|
| Babi guling | Moreton Bay bugs |
| Bebek betutu | King prawns |
| Nasi campur Bali | Fish and chips on the beach |
| Sate lilit | Açaí bowl |
Which is cheaper?
Bali is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $80–$180 per person there, against $150–$260 in Gold Coast (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Bali on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 4,557 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 16 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Bali or Gold Coast cheaper?
Bali is usually less expensive: about $80–$180 a day mid-range against $150–$260 (estimates).
+Is Bali or Gold Coast better for a first trip?
Pick Bali for Hindu temples, Rice terraces, lower day-to-day costs and a milder winter, or Gold Coast for Surfers Paradise, Surf beaches, free sights and a short break.
+How far is Bali from Gold Coast?
About 4,557 km in a straight line.