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Bookmark & sharePerhaps the best way to carry most of your money is in the form of a plastic card, especially if that's the way you do it at home. Australia is well and truly a card-carrying society - it's becoming unusual to line up at a supermarket checkout, petrol station or department store in cities and see someone actually paying with cash these days. Credit cards such as Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted for everything from a hostel bed or a restaurant meal to an adventure tour, and a credit card is pretty much essential (in lieu of a large deposit) if you want to hire a car. They can also be used to get cash advances over the counter at banks and from many ATMs, depending on the card, but be aware that these incur immediate interest. Charge cards such as Diners Club and American Express (Amex) are not as widely accepted.
Australians love convenience, so debit cards are widely used here. You can draw money directly from your home bank account using ATMs, banks or Eftpos machines around the country. Any card connected to the international banking network - Cirrus, Maestro, Plus and Eurocard - should work, provided you know your PIN. Fees for using your card at a foreign bank or ATM vary depending on your home bank, so ask before your leave.
Travellers cheques generally enjoy a better exchange rate than foreign cash in Australia, plus they have the added bonus of being easily replaced if they are lost or stolen. There is, however, a fee for buying travellers cheques (usually 1% of the total amount) and there may be fees or commissions when you exchange them. Amex, Thomas Cook and other well-known international brands of travellers cheques are easily exchanged; you will need to present your passport for identification when cashing them.
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Currency
- Name
- Australian Dollar
- Symbol
- A$
Notes come in denominations of $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100.
Coins come in denominations of 5¢, 10¢, 20¢, 50¢, and gold $1 and $2 coins.
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Changing Your Money
Changing foreign currency or travellers cheques is usually no problem at banks in Sydney.
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Money Tips
If you're travelling from Europe or the USA, Australia is pretty easy on the wallet. Food, in particular, is great value. Accommodation is also reasonably priced, and if you're staying in hostels, on-site caravans (trailers) or camping, and making your own meals, you could conceivably get by on about A$45.00 a day. Travel will be your biggest expense - distances are huge - so if you're moving around a bit, eating out once or twice a day and staying in budget hotels, plan for upwards of A$90.00 a day. If you're only staying for a couple of weeks and plan to take a few internal flights, you'll be looking at more like A$170.00 a day.
Credit cards (particularly Visa and MasterCard) are widely accepted (and pretty much compulsory if you're going to rent a car), and ATMs all over the country accept credit and Cirrus cards.
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Sample Price Guide
- litre of milk
- A$ 1.80
- small bottle of water
- A$ 2.00
- small bottle of beer
- A$ 2.30
- movie ticket
- A$ 15.00
- cup of coffee
- A$ 2.80
- ferry ticket
- A$ 4.80
- newspaper
- A$ 1.40
- cocktail at Longrain
- A$ 15.00
- dance class with Sydney Dance Company
- A$ 18.00
- hour-long session with personal trainer
- A$ 75.00
- car parking per hour
- A$ 2.00
- litre of petrol
- A$ 1.30
- disposable camera
- A$ 20.00
Average Room Prices
Low Mid High Deluxe A$30-50 A$50-150 A$150-400 A$400+ Average Meal Prices
Low Mid High Deluxe A$6-15 A$15-45 A$45-75 A$75+ -
Tipping
Most services don't expect a tip, but you can tip porters, waiters and waitresses (10%) and taxis (10% or a round-up to the nearest dollar). However, you won't be looked down upon if you don't tip. If you get your hair cut, it's always a nice gesture to give a few dollars to the underpaid apprentice who washed your hair. This also goes for those in the beauty therapy trade, who rarely see much of the money they bring into their places of work.
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Disclaimer: We've tried to make the information on this web site as accurate as possible, but it is provided 'as is' and we accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information. You should verify critical information (like visas, health and safety, customs and transportation) with the relevant authorities before you travel.
