Benchmarked strictly across TripTiming's 5 empirical pillars: Crowds, Weather, Vibes, Prices, and Safety.
Gold Coast emerges as the optimal December destination with an overall TripTiming Index of 70/100 vs 62/100 for Sydney (+8 point advantage). Gold Coast experiences substantially lower visitor footfall and shorter landmark queues (moderate footfall vs heavy visitor congestion in Sydney). Sightseeing is further aided by comfortable outdoor weather (30°C feels-like). Travelers also benefit from lower accommodation costs (~$230/night vs ~$322/night in Sydney, saving ~$644 over a week). While Sydney retains an edge in City Vitality (68/100 vs 54/100), Gold Coast's commanding performance in Space & Crowds secures the overall December recommendation.