Getting Australian Dollars for Your Trip

Australia remains a dream destination for British travellers, offering incredible natural wonders, vibrant cities, unique wildlife, and a laid-back lifestyle. From the Sydney Opera House to the Great Barrier Reef and the vast Outback, Australia delivers once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

The Australian Dollar (A$ or AUD) is the sole currency. The excellent news for travellers is that Australia is one of the world's most card-friendly countries — many Aussies rarely carry cash at all. With the right travel card, you can explore Australia with virtually no cash.

Key insight for 2026: Australia has embraced cashless payments to an extreme degree. Even small businesses, markets, and food trucks accept cards. Many places actively prefer tap-to-pay over cash. However, be prepared for a high cost of living — prices are significantly higher than the UK.

Best Ways to Get Australian Dollars

1. Fee-free travel cards (Wise, Revolut) — Best option by far. Pay by card everywhere at real exchange rates. Minimal cash needed.
2. Australian bank ATMs — Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, ANZ, NAB don't charge foreign card fees. Use with your fee-free card.
3. Online currency order — If you want cash, order AUD online. Better rates than high street bureaux.
4. UK bureau de change — Poor rates for Australian Dollars. Avoid if possible.
5. Australian airport exchange — Travelex at Sydney/Melbourne airports has poor rates. Use ATMs instead.

Using Cards in Australia

Australia is a cashless paradise:

Where Cards Work (Almost Everywhere!)

• Restaurants and cafes — All accept cards, many prefer them
• Supermarkets — Woolworths, Coles, ALDI all card-friendly
• Public transport — Opal (Sydney), Myki (Melbourne), Go Card (Brisbane) can be linked to cards
• Food trucks and markets — Even small vendors accept card/tap
• Taxis and Uber — All card-based
• Hotels and accommodation — Cards universal
• Attractions and tours — All accept cards

Where You Might Need Cash

• Very remote Outback — Some tiny towns may have limited EFTPOS
• Small independent B&Bs — Occasional cash preferences
• Garage sales / private sellers — Obviously cash
• Tips — If you want to tip (not expected)

Apple Pay and Google Pay work excellently in Australia — perhaps better than anywhere else in the world.

ATMs in Australia

Great news: In 2017, Australia's "Big Four" banks abolished foreign ATM fees.

Fee-Free Bank ATMs

• Commonwealth Bank (CommBank) — Yellow, most widespread
• Westpac — Red, good coverage
• ANZ — Blue, nationwide
• NAB (National Australia Bank) — Red/black, good coverage

ATMs to Avoid

• Independent/non-bank ATMs — May still charge A$2-3 fees
• Casino and bar ATMs — Often have fees

With a fee-free travel card and fee-free Australian ATMs, you pay absolutely nothing to withdraw cash in Australia.

Cost of Living: Budget Tips

Australia is expensive. Here's what to expect:

• Coffee — A$5-7 (£2.50-3.50) for a flat white
• Casual meal — A$20-40 (£10-20)
• Restaurant dinner — A$50-100+ (£25-50+)
• Beer at a pub — A$10-14 (£5-7)
• Hostel dorm — A$40-60 (£20-30) per night
• Mid-range hotel — A$150-250 (£75-125) per night
• Public transport — A$5-20 (£2.50-10) per journey

Money-Saving Tips

• BYO restaurants — Bring your own wine to save significantly
• Happy hours — Many bars have cheap drinks 4-6pm
• Supermarket meals — Woolworths and Coles have good ready meals
• Free BBQs — Public electric BBQs in parks are free to use
• Free attractions — Many beaches, parks, and some museums are free

Tipping in Australia

Tipping is not expected in Australia:

• Restaurants — Not expected. Leaving 10% for exceptional service is generous but unusual.
• Cafes — No tip expected
• Taxis/Uber — No tip expected, maybe round up
• Hotels — No tip expected
• Bars — "Keep the change" occasionally, but not expected

Australian minimum wage is high, so service workers don't rely on tips as in the US. Save your money!