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Getting the Best Bang For Your Buck - Australian Travel Money Card Options
- Rachel
- Jul 29
- 6 min read
When you're travelling overseas, every dollar counts — and hidden fees can quietly chip away at your holiday budget. Whether you're withdrawing cash from an ATM, converting currencies, or simply tapping to pay, the type of travel money card or account you use can make a big difference. By understanding the fees and features of each option, you can avoid unnecessary charges and make your money go further, leaving more in your pocket for experiences that matter.
In this guide, we compare some of the most popular Australian travel money cards — plus a smart everyday account — to help you choose the most cost-effective way to spend abroad. Let's get straight into it.
International transaction fee: $0 — spends at mid‑market rate, no markup.
ATM withdrawal fees: Two free withdrawals/month up to AUD 350; thereafter AUD 1.50 + 1.75% per withdrawal. ATM‑operator fees may still apply.
Card issue / delivery fee: AUD 10; express delivery ~AUD 16.
Card replacement fee: AUD 6 for lost/stolen; expired card replacement free.
Currency conversion fee: Small fee (from ~0.43%) on conversions; no fee when spending in pre‑loaded currency.
Load fees: Free via bank transfer; debit/credit top-ups may incur small fees.
Monthly / annual fees: None.
Apple Pay / Google Pay support: ✅ Yes — supports Apple Pay, Google Pay, and other digital wallets.
International transaction fee: $0 when spending in pre‑loaded currency (load‑time locked rate).
ATM withdrawal fees: AUD 3.50 per overseas withdrawal; additional operator surcharge may apply.
Issue fee / delivery: $0 if ordered via Post or online.
Replacement fee: $0
Currency conversion fee: Only occurs at load; no additional fee if you spend in those currencies.
Load fees: Free when loading same‑currency; Free at load; 1% via BPAY; $5 debit card; Bank Transfer $0
Monthly / inactivity fees: $0
Apple Pay / Google Pay: ❌ Not supported.
International transaction fee: $0 when spending in preloaded currency.
ATM withdrawal fees: Issuer does not charge overseas ATM fees; domestic AUD ATM withdrawals incur 2.95%; ATM operator surcharges still apply.
Issue / delivery fee: $0 – cards dispatched within ~3–5 business days once first load received.
Replacement fee: Not publicly disclosed; administration/emergency replacement may involve a nominal fee.
Currency conversion fee: Locked-in FX rate on online “booked” loads; subsequent reloads via bank transfer may use prevailing rate (with markup).
Load fees: No fee online or by debit card (min AUD 100, max AUD 50,000 per reload, AUD 75,000 annual cap). Debit Card 0.5%; BPAY, Online or Bank Transfer FREE
Monthly / annual fees: $0
Apple Pay / Google Pay: ❌ Not supported.
4. Travelex Money Card (Prepaid Mastercard)
International transaction fee: $0 on purchases in loaded currencies; no issuer ATM fees.
ATM withdrawal fees: Unlimited free overseas ATM withdrawals; ATM-operator surcharges may apply. Domestic AUD withdrawals incur standard domestic ATM fee described below.
Card issue / delivery fee: $0 initial card cost; free home delivery (7 business days) or store pick-up.
Replacement fee: Free initial and replacement cards supported via emergency assistance.
Currency conversion fee: Locked or prevailing rate depending on when loaded; no markup on spending in supported currencies.
Load fees: BPAY Online or in app - FREE; BPAY direct 1.1% or $15; Conversion free.
Monthly / annual fees: None; card validity up to ~5 years.
Apple Pay / Google Pay: ✅ Google Pay supported; supports digital wallet use via Mastercard Tap & Go.
International transaction fee: $0 on purchases or withdrawals in loaded currencies.
ATM withdrawal fees: AUD 3.50 per overseas withdrawal; plus ATM operator charges.
Issue fee / delivery: $0; delivery ~5–10 business days or branch pick up.
Replacement fee: $0 (free replacement) including emergency support.
Currency conversion fee: CBA’s retail FX rate with margin (typically +3%).
Load fees: No fees for reloads or transfers via NetBank/app.
Monthly / annual fees: None.
Apple Pay / Google Pay: No info available, may or may not be able to be connected to digital wallets.
International transaction fee: Competitive only in USD/GBP/THB; conversion fee ~1–1.1% at load.
ATM withdrawal fees: Australia ~2.95% per withdrawal; overseas ~AUD 3.50.
Issue fee / delivery: $0 issuance fee.
Replacement fee: Not specified.
Currency conversion fee: ~1–1.1% on reloads (BPAY or online).
Load fees: Instore, Bank Transfer FREE; Debit card / BPAY 1–1.1% reload fee
Monthly / annual fees: None (card valid 5 years).
Apple Pay / Google Pay: ✅ Supported.
7. ING Orange Everyday Account (Visa Debit)
International transaction fee: 3% surcharge on overseas purchases; can be fully rebated if you deposit ≥ AUD 1,000/month and make ≥ 5 settled card purchases each month.
ATM withdrawal fees:
Domestic ATMs: $0, though external operator fees may apply and are rebated for the first five eligible withdrawals when criteria met.
Overseas ATMs: ING charges $5 per withdrawal, but rebates that fee for up to the first five withdrawals if eligibility criteria are met. ATM operator fees are not rebated.
Card issue / delivery fee: $0 (standard debit Visa card).
Replacement fee: $0—standard debit card.
Currency conversion fee: 3% on foreign currency transactions, rebated if eligibility met (see above)
Load fees: Not applicable—funds drawn directly from account.
Monthly / annual fees: $0 account keeping fees.
Apple Pay / Google Pay: ✅ Yes — Visa debit card usable via Apple Pay and Google Pay worldwide.
Use this referral code to receive $100 from ING when opening your new account: EZQ615
**Revolut
We often see people ask about Revolut - we haven't included this as an option here because it just doesn't compete with these products. While Revolut is popular for international spending, it's not a fully comparable option in the Australian market — primarily because it's not a bank in Australia and doesn’t offer full local protections like the Financial Claims Scheme. Unlike most of the cards in this comparison, Revolut operates under an e-money licence and doesn’t provide a traditional debit or prepaid card with broad ATM fee rebates or consistent access to customer support. Additionally, Revolut’s fee structure changes by tier (Standard, Plus, Premium, Metal), with foreign exchange limits, weekend markups, and capped free ATM withdrawals — making it more complex and less predictable for regular travel use compared to the simpler, flat-fee models of Wise, ING, or traditional bank-issued travel cards.
📊 Final Comparison Table
Option | Intl Fee | ATM Withdrawal Fees | Issue Fee | Replacement Fee | Conv/Load Fee | Inactivity Fee | Wallet Support |
$0 | 2 free/month ≤ AUD 350, then AUD 1.50 +1.75% | AUD 10 | AUD 6 | ~0.4–1% conversion; free bank top-up | None | ✅ | |
$0 on loaded currency | AUD 2.95% domestic, AUD 3.50 + operator fee overseas | $0 | $0 | Free at load; 1% via BPAY; $5 debit card; Bank Transfer $0 | $0 | ❌ | |
$0 on loaded currency | $3.50 AUD overseas; 2.95% domestic ATM | $0 | Admin fee possible | Debit Card 0.5%; BPAY, Online or Bank Transfer FREE | $0 | ❌ | |
Travelex Money Card | $0 on loaded currency | $0 issuer overseas and domestic (+ATM operator fee) | $0 | $0 emergency support | BPAY Online or in app - FREE BPAY direct 1.1% or $15 Conversion free. | AUD $4.00 per month | ✅ Google Pay |
$0 | AUD 3.50 + operator overseas | $0 | $0 | FX margin (3%); no reload fee | None | ❌ | |
$0 on loaded currency | 2.95% domestic; AUD 3.50 overseas +operator fee | $0 | $10 | Instore, Bank Transfer FREE Debit card / BPAY 1–1.1% reload fee | None (5‑year expiry) | ✅ | |
3% surcharge (rebated if eligible) | $5 overseas (rebated up to 5); domestic rebated | $0 | $0 | 3% surcharge (rebated) | $0 account fee | ✅ |
Recommendations
Best overall: Wise Travel Card — clear, low fees and full Apple/Google Pay support.
For bank customers: CommBank Travel Money Card — simple, integrated, no fees to issue or replace.
ING Orange Everyday offers an attractive no‑fee debit option abroad, provided you meet eligibility criteria each month (≥ AUD 1,000 in deposits and 5+ card purchases). If you can reliably meet those, it can outperform many travel cards. We run two everyday transaction accounts so end up with 10 rebated ATM withdrawals a month - these are usually rebated instantly.
For locking-in exchange rates and multi-currency budgeting: Australia Post Platinum or Cash Passport Platinum — though keep watch for inactivity charges and domestic ATM fees.
For unlimited overseas ATM use with zero issuer fees: Travelex Money Card — ideal if you prefer a card-based experience with app support (also supports Google Pay). ATM Operator fees still apply though.
Least competitive: OZ Currency Pass — limited currency options and higher load and ATM fees. Only ideal if travelling to USD/GBP/THB and fine with slightly higher fees.
Handy Tips
Always decline dynamic currency conversion (DCC) at ATMs or POS—this avoids inflated rates.
Check whether you meet ING’s eligibility rules before your trip if you rely on fee rebates.
Be aware of ATM‑operator surcharges overseas, which may apply on all cards.
We hope this post has helped to unravel some of the options for you! You can stay up to date on all our new posts by subscribing to our mailing list or following us on our socials.
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