Local Tip
New Zealand's big banks no longer handle foreign notes, so use a Queen Street bureau such as Lotus Foreign Exchange or No 1 Currency, or skip cash and tap your card on AT buses, trains and most ferries.
Where to change money in Auckland
New Zealand's main banks have quit the foreign-notes business: Kiwibank stopped in November 2019, ANZ in November 2020, BNZ in April 2021 and ASB in July 2021, and Westpac followed on 30 January 2026. That leaves specialist bureaux, several of them on Queen Street, and Travelex's suburban stores.
- Lotus Foreign Exchange Has several branches along Queen Street; listings disagree on the street numbers, so check the branch finder on Lotus's website first.
- No 1 Currency Also on Queen Street, and in suburban malls including Botany Town Centre and Shore City in Takapuna. It advertises no commission or fees, so the exchange rate itself is the figure to compare.
- Travelex Not at the airport, but it has stores at Sylvia Park, Westfield Albany, Botany and NorthWest in Massey, plus counters inside the Paper Plus shops in Takapuna and Orewa.
Changing money at the airport
Global Exchange runs the currency counters at Auckland Airport (AKL), and lists its counters in baggage claim and in public arrivals, in front of the Take Home convenience store, as open 24 hours. Cash machines throughout both terminals take Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Diners Club and Plus cards. Airport rates tend to be weaker than the city's, so consider changing little here; the AirportLink bus to Puhinui Station accepts contactless cards.
ATMs and cards in Auckland
Tourism New Zealand says every major credit card is taken, Visa and Mastercard most often, and foreign cards work in ATMs provided they carry a four-digit PIN. Check what your own bank charges for overseas withdrawals. Settle every bill in New Zealand dollars, since a terminal that converts the total into pounds generally applies a poorer rate than your own bank. Some businesses add a card surcharge, and a bill to ban in-store surcharges had still not become law by late September 2026.
Paying for transport in Auckland
AT buses, trains and most ferries take contactless Visa, Mastercard, American Express and UnionPay cards and phone wallets. Tag on and off with the same card or device; AT caps what you pay on buses, trains and ferries within the inner harbour at NZ$20 a day (fares and caps can change), though cards issued abroad may attract a transaction fee. AT buses take no cash, and Fullers360's Waiheke service and tourist ferries sit outside the contactless scheme. The NZ$50 seven-day cap needs an AT HOP card: NZ$5 in person plus at least NZ$1 of credit, or NZ$25 including NZ$20 of credit from a vending machine, such as the one at bus stop A by the international terminal.
Good to know
- Tipping is up to you: Tourism New Zealand says it isn't required, even at restaurants or bars.
- Shelf and menu prices already include New Zealand's 15% GST.
- SkyDrive's airport express to the Sky Tower takes no cash: pay the driver by card or book online.
Key Areas in Auckland
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Exchange bureaux, banks and cash machines, as mapped by OpenStreetMap. The map loads only when you ask for it.
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Auckland travel money FAQ
Where is the best place to exchange money in Auckland?
The Queen Street bureaux, such as Lotus Foreign Exchange and No 1 Currency, are the most central, with Travelex in suburban malls and Global Exchange at the airport. Ask each for the total in New Zealand dollars you'd receive and take the best offer.
Will an Auckland bank exchange my pounds?
No. All five of the big banks have stopped buying and selling foreign cash, Westpac most recently on 30 January 2026. Use a bureau, or withdraw New Zealand dollars from an ATM with your card.
Can I tap my UK bank card on Auckland's buses, trains and ferries?
Yes. Tag on and off AT buses, trains and most ferries with the same contactless card or phone, and a NZ$20 daily cap applies to bus, train and inner-harbour ferry fares; an overseas card may incur a transaction fee. Fullers360's Waiheke and tourist ferries are excluded.
Checked September 2026. Fees, fares and opening times change, so check locally before relying on them. Sources: ANZ New Zealand · NZ Herald · Westpac NZ · NZ Pocket Guide · White Pages NZ · Lotus Foreign Exchange
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