Wise Best exchange rate
Wise debit card
45k0.43%-0.65% conversion fee
The best travel card for New Zealand
Cards, cash and FX fees for Australian travellers.
Cards, cash and FX fees for Australian travellers. Close to parity with the AUD, so mental maths is easy. Card is accepted almost everywhere.
Yes - cards work almost everywhere in New Zealand, and you can get by on tap alone.
5 travel card options for New Zealand, compared
Revolut No weekday FX fee
Revolut Standard
30k0% FX fee
Compare only
ING Orange Everyday ATM fees rebated
ING Orange Everyday
22k0% FX fee
ubank Spend
ubank Spend account
9k0% FX fee
Macquarie Transaction Account
Macquarie Transaction Account
6k0% FX fee
Prices are indicative, shown in AUD and refreshed from provider APIs where available. Always confirm the final price on the provider's site - it is the price that applies. We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never changes what you pay. Partners are listed before providers who pay us nothing, as our terms set out; sorting by price ignores all of that and orders on the number alone. How we make money.
Compared side by side
| Card | FX fee | ATM | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise Partner | 0.43%-0.65% conversion fee | 2 free withdrawals/month up to $350, then 1.75% | $0 |
| Revolut | 0% on weekdays, up to 1% on weekends | $350/month fee-free, then 2% | $0 |
| ING Orange Everyday | 0% with monthly criteria met | International ATM fees rebated with criteria met | $0 |
| ubank Spend | 0% international transaction fee | No ubank fee; operator fees still apply | $0 |
| Macquarie Transaction Account | 0% foreign transaction fee | No Macquarie fee; operator fees still apply | $0 |
Paying for things in New Zealand
Can you pay by card in New Zealand?
Card and contactless are accepted almost everywhere, including buses and small cafés.
Cash and ATMs in New Zealand
Widely available. Expect NZD $3-$8 in local ATM fees plus whatever your Australian bank charges.
Very little. Carry NZD $50-$100 for rural markets and small-town parking.
Do you tip in New Zealand?
Not expected. There's no tipping culture and no service charge; round up only if you want to.
Worth knowing about paying in New Zealand
Card surcharges of 2-3% are common and legal - look for the sign at the counter.
Before you pay for anything in New Zealand
Pay in New Zealand dollar or Australian dollars?
The terminal will offer you both. One of them is materially more expensive.
Travel card, debit card or credit card?
Why the card sold hardest at the airport is usually the one that loses.
What is a foreign transaction fee?
Around 3%, charged by your own Australian bank. Removable before you fly.
What one Australian dollar buys in New Zealand
$1.23 NZD per AUD
Last recorded rate
These are mid-market rates - the rate banks trade at, published by the European Central Bank. It is not what you will be offered. Expect a card or exchange service to take 0.5% to 5% off it, which is exactly what our travel money comparison is for. Past movement doesn't predict future rates, and none of this is financial advice.
View the numbers as a table
More New Zealand essentials
New Zealand visa and entry rules
Passport, visa, arrival cards and customs rules for Australian passport holders.
Flights to New Zealand
Search fares from Australia, then sort the rest of the trip.
New Zealand eSIM plans
Instant data, no physical SIM required.
New Zealand travel insurance
Medical, cancellation and luggage cover for Australian travellers.
New Zealand airport transfers
Trains, buses, private transfers and taxis compared.
Driving in New Zealand
International Driving Permit rules and car hire for Australians.
New Zealand travel essentials
Adapters, plugs, tap water, tipping and health basics.
Things to do in New Zealand
Attractions, tours and passes worth booking ahead.
Further reading: Travel money for Australians: cards, cash and the fees nobody mentions
How these comparisons are made
Cards are compared on the three fees that actually cost travellers money - the FX margin, ATM fees and account fees - using each issuer's published rates. Jamie has personally spent on travel cards recommended here while overseas. Cash-versus-card guidance is researched per destination rather than copied between pages, because a card strategy that works in Stockholm fails in Osaka. Read the full editorial policy.
New Zealand money & payments FAQs
Do Australians need a visa for New Zealand?
No. Australian citizens travelling on an Australian passport don't need a visa or an NZeTA - you're granted a resident visa on arrival. Australian permanent residents who hold another country's passport do need an NZeTA and must pay the NZD $100 International Visitor Levy before travelling.
Does Medicare cover me in New Zealand?
Partly. The Reciprocal Health Care Agreement covers immediately necessary treatment in New Zealand public hospitals. It doesn't cover ambulance callouts, medical evacuation, ongoing care or repatriation, so travel insurance is still worth having.
Planning New Zealand?
We will send you the New Zealand guide as it grows - what to book before you go, which eSIM and travel card are worth it there, and what things actually cost in Australian dollars.