Travel · Oceania
🇦🇺Australia
Near-cashless society — zero-forex cards work perfectly, Surcharge culture to watch.
Australia is one of the world's most cashless societies. Cards and tap-and-go are universal. Australia has a unique 'surcharge' culture where merchants legally add 0.5–2% card surcharges — this is separate from your forex fee. Zero-forex cards still save you 2–3% versus standard bank cards.
Best cards for Australia
ATM guide
Commonwealth Bank, NAB, Westpac, and ANZ ATMs are plentiful. Foreign cards work at all of them. Most charge A$2–5 per withdrawal. CommBank and NAB have the widest networks. Avoid convenience store ATMs with higher fees.
Card acceptance
Excellent. Contactless ('tap-and-go') is universal in Australia — it's the default payment method. Cards accepted everywhere including markets, taxis, and food trucks.
Money tips for Australia
Card surcharges are legal in Australia — some merchants add 0.5–2%. This is disclosed at point of sale.
Up and ING Australia have zero ATM fees Australia-wide — ideal for Australian travellers/residents.
Uber Eats, Deliveroo, and all ride-shares are card-only.
Opal card (Sydney) and Myki (Melbourne) top-ups now accept contactless bank card.
Rural and regional Australia: card acceptance is high but ATMs can be scarce. Plan ahead.
Cards and options to avoid
Travelex — high margins
Frequently asked questions
Cash in Australia
A$50–100 as backup. Even markets and small stalls typically have card readers now.
Local currency
Wise Card
Mid-market rate with transparent fees — one of the lowest true costs for spending abroad.