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The 6 Best Travel Money Cards for New Zealand in 2024

New Zealand is one of the most visited countries by Australians, being one of our closest neighbours. It is full of pristine and breathtaking wilderness including walks, snow covered mountains and majestic fjords.

In New Zealand you are likely to pay for accommodation, food, transport and entertainment as well as withdraw cash from ATMs with your card.

We have analysed a number of the best overseas travel cards to take to New Zealand for Australians in 2024 and have summarised their best points.

New Zealand Mountains

Best 6 Travel Money Cards for New Zealand in 2024:

Wise Travel Card - Best Exchange Rates

  • 40+ currencies available
  • Best exchange rates globally
  • One of the lowest conversion fee on the market
  • No international transaction fees
  • No annual or monthly fees
  • Extremely low costs to send money overseas
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Wise Travel Card

  • Cross currency conversion fees are between 0.24–3.69%. AUD to USD, EUR or GBP was 0.42%, which is one of the lowest on the market
  • Free cash withdrawals up to $350 every 30 days. However after that, Wise Card charge a fixed fee of $1.50 per transaction + 1.75%
  • Daily ATM withdrawal is $2,700
  • Issue up to 3 virtual cards for temporary usage
  • It takes between 7 to 14 business days to receive your card
  • Can be used wherever MasterCard is accepted

For those traveling to New Zealand, the Wise Travel Card offers a suite of benefits that are particularly well-suited for their travel needs. A standout feature of this card is the access it provides to over 40 currencies at the intermarket exchange rate, globally renowned for being the most cost-effective rate. However if you use ATMs frequently this is not the card to use due to the fees. Finally Wise Travel Card lets you transfer money to an overseas bank account with extremely low fees and the best exchange rate.

Revolut - Low Fees

  • 30+ currencies available
  • One of the best exchange rates globally
  • No international transaction fees
  • No annual or monthly fees for standard membership
  • No initial card fee
  • Instant access to a range of cryptocurrencies
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Revolut Travel Card

  • No fee ATM withdrawals up to A$350, or 5 ATM withdrawals, whichever comes first, per rolling 30 day period and 2% of withdrawal amount (minimum charge of A$1.50) after that
  • Exchanging currency on the weekend can incur a 1% mark-up fee
  • Fees on international money transfers were introduced in April 2021.
  • Can be used wherever Visa is accepted

The Revolut Travel Card is a decent option for those who travel a lot as it offers over 30 currencies at a great exchange rate, which is the cheapest rate globally. However if you exchange currency on the weekend you can incur a one-percent mark-up fee. In addition they have introduced fees for international transfers. Finally if you use ATMs frequently this is not the card to use due to the fees.

Travelex Money Card - Best All Rounder

Best Features

  • Unlimited free ATM withdrawals
  • 24/7 Emergency Assistance
  • Initial and replacement card are free
  • No international transaction fees
  • Lock in up to 10 currencies
  • Travelex Travel Money app
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Travelex Money Card

Minimum load of $100 and maximum load of $100,000

Can be used wherever Mastercard is accepted

Fees include a $10 closure fee, $5 for an additional card and $4 inactivity monthly fee.

While Travelex don't charge ATM fees, some ATM operators may charge their own fees.

Currencies that can be loaded are AU$, US$, EU€, GB£, NZ$, TH฿, CA$, HK$, JP¥, SG$

If your card is lost or stolen you can access cash in your account through Moneygram or Western Union agents, with no charge

Boingo hotspots offer free wifi and you can look at their number of free hotspots per country on this map

The Travelex Money Card is a good all-rounder no matter if you are heading to the vibrant cities of Auckland or Wellington, or exploring the stunning landscapes of the South Island.

You can use it to take money out of the ATM, for merchant purchases like restaurants and even for online shopping in foreign currency. While the exchange rates aren't as good as Wise or Revolut abroad, the support network if the card is lost or stolen is very good. This perk can be especially handy while experiencing the majestic sights of New Zealand.

Australia Post Travel Money Card - Platinum Mastercard

Best Features

  • Initial card and replacement cards are free
  • No fee on reloads via bank transfers
  • No monthly or inactivity fees
  • Increased protection with Mastercard Zero Liability
  • Access to cash from your account through the Global Emergency Assistance, if your card is lost or stolen
Australia Post Travel Money Card - Platinum Mastercard is one of the top 5 travel money cards to take to NZ
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Australia Post Travel Money Card - Platinum Mastercard

Currencies that can be loaded are NZD, AUD, USD, EUR, GBP, THB, CAD, HKD, JPY, SGD and AED

1.1% Admin fee for instore loads, including initial load

$5 fee for reloads via debit bank card

$10 closure fee

2.95% on withdrawals from Australian ATMs is expensive

$3.50 on withdrawals from overseas ATM is expensive

$3.99 + 5.95% fee on cross currency transactions

Can be used wherever Mastercard is accepted

Min load of $100 and max of $100,000

If your card is lost or stolen you can access cash that is in your account through MoneyGram or Western Union agents, with no charge

Boingo hotspots offer the free wifi and you can look at their number of free hotspots per country on this map

The Australia Post Travel Platinum travel money card is the best of the prepaid cards in New Zealand as its exchange rate for New Zealand dollars is best when compared to Travelex, Commonwealth bank, HSBC or Citibank travel cards.

To avoid the fees on this card we advise to deposit a small amount instore for your initial load and deposit the rest by bank transfer to avoid fees. In addition we recommend this card for tap, swipe or insert card transactions only like paying for hotels, restaurants and entertainment. Do not use it for ATM withdrawals as the fees are expensive and avoidable if you use a different card like the Macquarie Transaction card.

Westpac Travel Money Card

Best Features

  • Best New Zealand dollar exchange rate offered by the major 4 banks
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • No fee on initial card, load, unload or inactivity fees
  • No ATM fee at 50,000 Global Alliance ATMs worldwide
  • Free additional card
Westpac Travel Card is one of the top 5 travel money cards for NZ in 2022
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ANZ Rewards Travel Adventures Credit Card 11 Currencies can be loaded are NZD, AUD, USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, HKD, JPY, SGD, THB & ZAR $2,000 maximum limit on ATM withdrawals overseas within 24 hours $50,000 maximum limit on currencies loaded on to travel card No cross currency transactions fees Flight delay pass Lock in exchange rates before you leave $3 roughly for ATMs that are not within the Non Westpac Global Alliance Can be used wherever Mastercard is accepted According to the Westpac it can take up to 8 business days to receive the travel card Secure from fraudulent transactions with Mastercard Zero Liability protection 2 cards per account for free The Westpac Travel Money Card is the best card to take to New Zealand offered by the 4 major banks in Australia due to its low exchange rate for New Zealand dollars.

In addition it has very low fees, no foreign transaction fees, access to some free ATMs worldwide. Finally it has access to a flight delay pass in case your flights are delayed and you need to access airport lounges.

Macquarie Transaction Account Debit Card

Best Features

  • No ATM fees in New Zealand
  • No ATM fees in Australia
  • No monthly fees or initial card fee
  • No foreign transaction fee
  • Contactless limit with no PIN up to $200 per transaction
  • Joint accounts available
Macquarie Transaction Account Debit Card is one of the five top travel money cards for NZ in 2022
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Macquarie Transaction Account Debit Card Simple and easy to work out costs for account Can be used in Australia as an EFTPOS card Instant transfers can be made using PayID and OSKO Works with Apple Pay, Google Pay, Fitbit and Garmin Available to 14 year olds and older Easily lock and unlock your card in the app if your card is lost or stolen Multi award winning account including Mozo Best Everyday Savings for 2021 Get discounts of up to 10% on eGift cards to use at over 50 leading retailers $2,000 daily limit for ATM withdrawals Exchange rates are MasterCard exchange rates, which are normally 2% - 6%+ the market rate Added security with a mobile app that sends actionable push notifications for you to approve or deny online transactions and account activity Tools for spending each time you make a transaction, it’s automatically categorised into groups such as groceries, travel, leisure or technology. In addition you can see how you're spending at a glance and over time. Can be used wherever MasterCard is accepted If you want a debit card you can use in Australia or in New Zealand without paying fees at ATMs then the Macquarie Bank Transaction debit card is a good fit. It has no foreign transaction fees, no ATM fees in Australia or overseas and no monthly fees.

In addition the only fee you will pay is the currency conversion charged by Mastercard. The debit card works in Australia and the contactless limit is $200, which is super handy. It also works with Apple Pay, Google Pay, Fitbit and Garmin.

Finally this is an ideal back up card to take to New Zealand for ATM withdrawals that you can still use in Australia with no fees.

Learn more about the best credit, debit and prepaid cards for travel

FAQs

What is the best travel card to take to NZ?
The best travel money cards for New Zealand are the Wise Multi Currency card, the Australia Post Travel Platinum card, the Bankwest Breeze Platinum credit card, Westpac travel money card and the Macquarie Transaction debit card as they provide good exchange rates for the New Zealand dollar have low fees associated with the cards and no international transaction fees.

What is the best form of travel money for New Zealand?
For New Zealand the best form of travel money is a mix of card and cash. The cards can include credit, debit and prepaid depending on what suits you best. The best cards have no foreign transaction fees, saving you 3% straight away.

We recommend loading up your debit card or prepaid card before you leave so you are spending your money in New Zealand. Take a credit card for extra spending and a debit card like Macquarie Transaction or ING Orange to withdraw New Zealand dollars with no fees.

What is the advantage of a travel money card?
The advantages of a travel money card include increased security as no one can access your cash without your 4 digit pin code. In addition you can report your card stolen or lost quickly to stop unauthorised spending. Finally, it's less bulky than carrying large amounts of cash in your wallet.

Do you need a travel card for New Zealand?
Yes, as it will save you lots of money. If you only take your Australian debit card to New Zealand, up to 15% can be eaten up by fees including overseas ATM withdrawals, international transaction fees and poor currency exchange rates. This includes ANZ cards, they do not charge if you withdraw from an ANZ ATM but their currency exchange rates are some of the most expensive in the market for New Zealand currency.

Can I use an Australian debit card in New Zealand?
Yes and we recommend the best Australian debit cards to take to New Zealand which include Macquarie, Up Bank, ING, HSBC and Citibank. However if your Australian debit card charges for overseas ATM withdrawals fees and international transaction fees you can expect to add 10% to the cost of your trip to New Zealand.

Does ANZ card work in New Zealand?
Yes it does. ANZ does not charge for ATM withdrawals but they offer very poor exchange rates for New Zealand dollars and an overseas transaction fee of 3%. If you use your ANZ debit card in New Zealand expect to pay an additional 10% for your spending.

Can I use Australian dollars in New Zealand?
No you can not use Australian dollars in New Zealand. Best to take some New Zealand Dollars in cash, a debit or prepaid card and a credit card instead of Australian dollars.

Are credit cards widely accepted in New Zealand?
Yes credit cards are widely accepted in New Zealand, the most popular being Mastercard and Visa. American Express is accepted but in far fewer places. They work in a similar way to Australia where you need your 4 digit pin to authorise the purchase.

How much money do I need per day in New Zealand?
As a general rule, working out how much spending money will you need in New Zealand depends on where you go and your type of travel. If you travel on a budget it can cost $60 - $100 a day. If you travel in the middle range throughout New Zealand it can cost $100 - $300 per day. Finally if you travel with luxury throughout New Zealand it can cost anywhere from $400 per day.

More Travel Card Guides

Learn more about the best travel money cards for your holiday destination.

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