Is it cheaper to buy Australian dollars in Australia?

It’s best to sort your holiday money before heading off on an overseas trip because it is more convenient to have cash available when you arrive. You may also have to pay commission or other hidden fees that you wouldn't have paid in the UK to an Australian currency exchange service, and it can be harder to spot scammers and fraudulent currency exchanges in Australia.

Where can you use Australian dollars?

The Australian dollar is the currency of Australia and its surrounding territories. You can use the Australian dollar in the following places: Australia Australian Antarctic Territory Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Norfolk Island Nauru Tuvalu; alongside the Tuvaluan dollar Kiribati; alongside the Kiribati dollar Zimbabwe; alongside multiple other currencies The symbol for the Australian dollar is $. It can also be seen as A$ or AU$ in cases where it could be mistaken for the US or New Zealand dollar.

Should I exchange money before I travel to Australia?

Yes, you should exchange your money before you travel to Australia. Online rates will often be better than those available on the high street and at the airport. Choosing to get your travel money in Australia may result in additional fees or commissions to providers. And if you are planning a backpacking adventure across Australia, there will be fewer places for you to withdraw money outside of built-up areas.

What is the commission on currency exchange?

Commissions are a fee providers charge to exchange your money for any foreign currency. Different providers charge different levels of commission, so it's worth keeping an eye on this wherever you source your travel money. Some may offer 0% commission, but most charge in the region of 1%.

What is the best exchange rate for Australian dollar?

Online providers can often provide better rates than those on the high street. The table above shows you our best available rates. The results can be personalised according to your travel plans and whether you wish to collect the currency or have it delivered.

Who do we include in this comparison

We include every company that gives you the option of buying euros online. Discover how our website works.

How do we make money from our comparison?

We have commercial agreements with some of the companies in this comparison. We get paid a commission if we help you take out one of their products or services. Find out more here. You do not pay any extra and the deal you get is not affected.

<Travel Money

>
Travel Money>
Australian Dollar exchange rate

Find our best exchange rate for Australian Dollars

Convert GBP to AUD and find the best exchange rate for Australian Dollars

Use our comparison tables and currency calculator to find the best Australian dollar rate and work out how many pounds you need to exchange to buy the Australian dollars you need.

How to find the best rate Pros and cons Alternatives How far does money go in Australia?FAQs

Join our personal finance newsletter for top deals and insights

You can unsubscribe from emails at any time. For more information about how we process your information, please read our Privacy Notice.

How to find the best Australian dollar exchange rates

Following these tips will help you get the best deal when converting GBP to AUD

Plan your budget ahead of your travels

--Plan how much you'll need to cover everyday expenses during your trip. If travelling in a group, you could be better off buying your travel money together.--

Compare as many exchange rates as possible

--Comparing Australian dollar rates online will give you more options. Typically, online rates are much better than you can get when you buy Australian dollars at the airport.--

Choose a trusted provider for protection

--Once you have found the best Australian dollar exchange rate, you can place an order for your travel money.--

Decide how to collect your cash

--You'll usually have the choice between having your Australian dollars delivered or collecting them in person. Delivery will often involve additional costs.--

Pros and cons of buying Australian dollars before travelling

Pros

You can lock in your exchange rate when buying cash ahead of your trip

There are no restrictions on where and how you spend AUD cash while in Australia

You can avoid hidden charges such as overseas withdrawal fees

Cons

Carrying large quantities of cash can be a risk if it is lost or stolen

You may find better rates with specialist travel debit or credit cards

You’ll have to pay to reconvert any leftover cash back into pounds

What are the top alternatives to buying travel money?

Travel credit cards

Travel credit cards - i.e. the ones with no foreign transaction fees - offer two key advantages over travel money:

Great exchange rates - when you spend on a travel credit card you get the American Express, Mastercard or Visa exchange rate, which is about the best you can find as a regular consumer
Purchase protection – for purchases costing £100 to £30,000, you're covered by Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, meaning if something goes wrong you can make a claim with your card provider should the vendor fail to pay up

However, not everywhere accepts travel credit cards and using them at a cash machine abroad can come with hefty fees. It can also be easier to overspend on a credit card, leaving you with debts on which interest is charged.

Compare our best travel credit cards

Travel money cards

Currency cards and travel bank accounts let you spend overseas without being charged a foreign transaction fee. Their key strengths are:

Great exchange rates – the best card providers will pass on the Amex, Mastercard or Visa rate to you without adding extra charges
No charges for some ATM withdrawals overseas - if you need extra cash on holiday, some providers let you make a number of withdrawals per month or withdraw up to a certain amount without being charged. Watch out for local ATM fees though, as these might still apply

The downsides include that there can be limits on how much you can withdraw abroad using a travel money card, and that they're not accepted quite as widely as cash. Some travel current accounts also come with fees.

See travel money cards

Prepaid travel cards

Prepaid travel cards can be loaded with currency and used abroad without paying foreign exchange fees. You can load a prepaid card with a specific foreign currency or a variety of different currencies, depending on your travel plans. The key advantages are:

Low or no fees to use abroad – prepaid travel card providers can charge far less than traditional banks for overseas usage
Safer than carrying cash - you can cancel or freeze the card if it's lost or stolen, protecting your balance

However, you’ll need to watch out for general usage fees, which often apply when you load the card with cash and may also be charged monthly.

See our prepaid card deals

How much does it cost to travel in Australia?

Australia is never going to be the cheapest holiday destination for UK travellers due to the cost of the long-haul flight you need to get there. But how far will your Australian dollars go once you land?

On average, a budget-friendly trip to Australia could cost around AU$100 to AU$200 per person, per day, including accommodation and meals out in mid-range restaurants. This means that for a 2-week trip, you could be looking at a budget of around AU$3,000 per person once you add in transport and activities. However, if you want to enjoy a more high-end experience, visit expensive cities such as Sydney, or go on lots of excursions, your spending could easily hit AU$300 per day.

As a rule, the cheapest times to visit will be outside the southern hemisphere summer, which runs from October to February.

FAQs

About our comparisons

About the author

Lucinda O'Brien

Lucinda O'Brien has spent the past 10 years writing and editing content for regional and national titles. She applies her industry knowledge to ensure readers can make confident financial decisions.

Didn't find what you were looking for?

Below you can find a list of currencies to exchange

EuroUS DollarTurkish LiraUAE DirhamAustralian DollarCurrency buy back

Other products that you might need for your trip

Travel insuranceTravel credit cardsPrepaid travel cardsTravel money

We’ve been featured in

Customer Reviews

Rated 4.1 out of 5

by 1,079 people

Everything you need to gain credit for…

Everything you need to gain credit for your business

Michael Ver-yard

Very fast and efficient. From start to finish it was easy to follow the application.

Very fast and efficient.

SAL

Great website

Great website, very easy to use and compare options. Clear information and really helpful for making decisions quickly.

customer