Best Place to Exchange Money in Gold Coast

Where to change money in Gold Coast

Experience Gold Coast points visitors to Pacific Fair, Australia Fair and Surfers Paradise for currency exchange, and to many hotels. Crown Currency Exchange, which advertises no commission or fees, lists further branches at Australia Fair in Southport, Coolangatta, Elanora and Harbour Town at Biggera Waters.

• Kings Currency, Surfers Paradise - 1/38 Orchid Ave, at the foot of the Monte Carlo Apartments. Crown lists it as its Kings Currency store and suggests parking at the Chevron Renaissance car park.
• Crown Currency Exchange, Pacific Fair - Kiosk K4A, ground level, beneath the escalator outside Myer.
• Travelex and Crown, Robina Town Centre - Travelex's Kiosk 2.10 faces the Commonwealth Bank on the lower ground floor and opens 9am to 5pm on weekdays, 9am to 4pm on Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday. Crown lists Shop B473 at the same address.

Changing money at the airport

Gold Coast Airport's website lists Interchange Travel Money at a counter in the domestic departures lounge, on the ground floor past security and opposite The Sand Bar (7am to 6pm), and at a kiosk in the international arrivals hall with no published hours. The airport's FAQ says the terminal's multi-currency ATMs dispense Australian and New Zealand dollars and Japanese yen, with fees of $2 to $25.

ATMs and cards in Gold Coast

Finder says independent ATMs in pubs, clubs and convenience stores charge at least $2 or $3 a withdrawal, and that the big four banks' fee waiver is for Australian cards, so a card from home may still pay a fee. At Broadbeach restaurants or theme-park ticket desks, a card reader may also show a price in pounds; pick Australian dollars, as MoneySavingExpert says your own card's conversion usually wins. Card surcharges on eftpos, Mastercard and Visa payments are barred from 1 October 2026 by each network's new no-surcharge rules, which the Reserve Bank cleared by lifting its prohibition on them, and American Express removes surcharging from the same day, so Gold Coast businesses should then stop adding them.

Paying for transport in Gold Coast

Translink charges a flat 50 cents a journey in every zone and mode, G:link trams and Gold Coast buses included, by go card, bank card or paper ticket. On the G:link you can pay with a Visa or Mastercard contactless card, a phone or a smartwatch: tap on as you begin and off as you finish, with the same card or device throughout, or a default fare may apply. Every G:link platform has machines selling paper tickets for notes, coins or EFTPOS. Fares can change.

Good to know

• Tipping isn't expected in Australia; Monito says rounding a taxi fare up to the next dollar is common and 10% for excellent restaurant service counts as generous.
• Australia's 10% GST, and wine equalisation tax, can be reclaimed under the Tourist Refund Scheme when you leave: the ATO requires original tax invoices totalling A$300 or more (GST included) from one business, bought in the 60 days before departure, with the goods carried on board.