Best travel cards for Australian travellers in 2026

Australian travellers have strong domestic options in Up Bank and ING Orange Everyday, plus excellent global options in Wise and Revolut. The key difference: domestic travel uses Australian bank ATMs for free; international travel requires a zero-forex card. Here's the full breakdown.

Up Bank: best for domestic + international

Up Bank is a digital bank built on the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank infrastructure. For Australian residents, it reimburses ATM fees at any Australian ATM automatically. Internationally, Up charges a 1.3% foreign transaction fee — not zero, but competitive versus the typical 3% charged by major Australian banks (CommBank, ANZ, Westpac, NAB). For a single card that covers both Australian and international travel, Up is the most convenient option.

ING Orange Everyday: best free ATM nationally

ING Orange Everyday reimburses all ATM fees in Australia and internationally, with zero foreign transaction fees — provided you make at least 5 card purchases per month and deposit A$1,000+ per month. These conditions are easy to meet for regular users. When the conditions are met, ING is arguably the best all-around Australian travel card: free ATMs everywhere, zero forex fees. The conditions caveat makes it slightly less reliable for infrequent travellers.

Wise: best for international multi-currency

Wise is available in Australia and offers the same mid-market rate product globally. For Australians travelling internationally — particularly to the UK, Europe, USA, and Asia — Wise gives the best exchange rate. Two free ATM withdrawals per month. The Wise AUD account also serves as an excellent receiving account for international payments. For frequent international travellers who manage multiple currencies, Wise is the clear choice.

Revolut Australia: growing but limited

Revolut launched in Australia and is growing rapidly. Zero forex fees on weekdays, competitive ATM allowances on paid plans. As a newer entrant in the Australian market, it has fewer features than Revolut UK/EU but is expanding. For Australians who already use Revolut and trust the brand, it's a workable option. For the best Australian experience, Up or ING remain the primary recommendations.

Card surcharges: the Australian quirk

Australia permits merchants to add card surcharges of 0.5–2% on Visa/Mastercard transactions. This applies to everyone — locals and visitors alike — and is a merchant fee, not a forex fee. A zero-forex card eliminates the currency conversion cost but doesn't avoid the merchant surcharge. In practice, most major retailers (supermarkets, chain restaurants) absorb the surcharge; smaller businesses and some petrol stations add it. It's disclosed on the terminal before you confirm.

The optimal Australian setup

For Australian residents: ING Orange Everyday as the primary domestic card (free ATMs, zero forex when conditions met) and Wise as the international multi-currency card for overseas trips. This covers free ATM access in Australia, free ATM access overseas (via Wise's monthly allowance), and the best exchange rates on international spending.

Australia's neobank landscape for travellers

Australia's neobank market has had turbulent years — Up Bank, Volt, Xinja, and 86 400 have all entered and some exited or been acquired. The remaining options for Australians seeking zero-fee travel cards are fewer than for UK or EU residents. Wise operates in Australia and provides the best all-round solution for Australian travellers: mid-market exchange rates, a debit card, and AUD as a supported currency for receiving and holding. Revolut has an Australian product with similar functionality to its global offering. Citibank Australia's fee-free account (now rebranded under NAB after acquisition) had zero overseas fees and remains available to some existing customers.

ING Australia's travel-friendly account

ING Australia's Orange Everyday account offers fee-free ATM withdrawals internationally and zero currency conversion fees, subject to meeting monthly criteria (deposit AUD 1,000+ and make 5+ card purchases per month). For Australians with regular income, meeting these criteria is straightforward. This makes ING Orange Everyday one of the best-value options for Australian travellers who want a mainstream bank account rather than a neobank. HSBC Australia also offers fee-free international ATM withdrawals on their Everyday Global account, with no monthly criteria requirements — making it simpler for irregular income situations.

Qantas Points and travel rewards for Australians

Australia has a particularly well-developed airline points ecosystem, centred on Qantas Frequent Flyer and Velocity Frequent Flyer (Virgin Australia). Several Australian credit cards earn Qantas or Velocity points on overseas spending. The American Express Qantas Ultimate card earns Qantas Points on all spending (including international) but charges a foreign transaction fee — meaning you pay more in fees than you earn in points value on overseas purchases unless the base earn rate is high. Cards worth considering for international use: the Bankwest Zero Platinum Mastercard (zero forex fee, no annual fee, earns points) or the 28 Degrees Mastercard (zero forex fees, no annual fee, no rewards).

ATM strategy from Australia

Australian high street banks (CBA, Westpac, ANZ, NAB) all charge significant fees for overseas ATM withdrawals — typically AUD 5 per transaction plus a 3% currency conversion fee. The ING Orange Everyday account reimburses ATM fees globally when criteria are met. Wise's AUD account and debit card converts at mid-market rates; ATM withdrawals are free up to AUD 350/month. For extended overseas travel, switching to ING or Wise specifically for the ATM policy can save hundreds of dollars on a long trip. A practical setup: ING Orange Everyday as primary (zero ATM fees when criteria met), Wise as a backup for multi-currency flexibility.

Superannuation and tax while travelling

For Australian travellers becoming long-term expats or working holidaymakers, superannuation and tax residency become important considerations. Australia taxes residents on worldwide income. Working holiday visa holders (417/462) are taxed at 15% on the first AUD 45,000 earned in Australia under the backpacker tax — a different rate from residents. If you leave Australia permanently, you can claim your superannuation under the Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP) scheme, but significant tax is withheld (35–65% depending on account type). These financial planning questions are separate from your daily spending card choice but significant for those planning extended overseas stays.

Australian traveller summary

For Australian travellers, the combination that minimises overseas costs: ING Orange Everyday account (zero forex fees, international ATM fee reimbursement when monthly criteria met) as primary, Wise as secondary (multi-currency flexibility for complex itineraries or international income). Enable international payments on your ING card before departure. Add both cards to Apple Pay and Google Pay for contactless payments. Withdraw local currency at major bank ATMs in each destination country — avoid independent machines. Decline DCC at every terminal and ATM that offers it. For frequent US travel, Wise's USD account eliminates repeated conversions. For travel to Asia, hold local currency balances in Wise when rates are favourable. The ING Orange Everyday account is often cited as the best-kept secret in Australian travel banking — the ATM reimbursement policy makes it uniquely powerful for cash-heavy destinations like Japan, Thailand, and Indonesia.

Superannuation and international travel

For Australian permanent residents spending extended time overseas, superannuation (Australia's mandatory pension system) continues to be contributed by employers for Australian-resident employees working for Australian entities. The Superannuation Guarantee requires employers to contribute 11% (as of 2024) of ordinary time earnings. If you're working for an Australian employer while temporarily overseas, this obligation continues. If you've moved overseas permanently and are no longer an Australian tax resident, your relationship with superannuation changes significantly — the DASP (Departing Australia Superannuation Payment) scheme allows you to claim your superannuation when you leave Australia permanently on a temporary visa, though substantial withholding tax applies. These are material financial planning considerations for Australian travellers at the 'becoming an expat' decision point, not for short-term travellers.

Maintaining your Australian account while living abroad

Australian travellers on extended overseas trips face the question of whether to keep their Australian bank account active. Most Australian banks allow accounts to remain open indefinitely while overseas — they don't require proof of Australian residency the way some UK banks do. However, some accounts become dormant if unused for 12+ months, and dormant accounts can be transferred to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission under the unclaimed money rules. Set up a small regular direct debit or make a periodic transfer to keep accounts active. For Australians living abroad long-term, an Australian bank account remains useful for managing any Australian income, superannuation, and property-related finances.

The Qantas-Velocity points question for overseas spending

The Australian frequent flyer ecosystem divides between Qantas Frequent Flyer and Velocity Frequent Flyer (Virgin Australia). Both have co-branded credit cards that earn points on spending, including overseas purchases. However, most cards that earn Qantas or Velocity points charge foreign transaction fees — typically 3% — and earn points at a rate that doesn't cover the fee cost at typical redemption values. Exceptions exist (the Bankwest Zero Platinum earns some points with zero forex fees) but are rare. For most Australian travellers, the financially rational approach is a zero-fee card for overseas spending plus separately accumulating airline points through flights, not card spending. The small earn rate on card spend in a foreign currency almost never justifies a 3% fee overhead.

Key takeaways