Travel Tips Holiday money

Can I Use My Australian Debit Card in New Zealand? Comparison of Fees

Yadana Chaw

19.12.25

Read time 4 minutes

Got a trip over the Tasman planned? You’ll need an easy way to pay while you’re there. Using your bank debit card may be the obvious choice - but it’s important to know that this might mean running into extra costs. Debit cards often have foreign transaction fees as well as additional charges for overseas ATM use.

So - how can I use my Australian debit card in New Zealand with the lowest charges possible? Here’s all you need to know. We'll also introduce to you Wise Travel Card that can help you save on international transactions with currency conversions at mid-market exchange rates.

Table of contents
Can You Use your Australian Debit Card in New Zealand? Fees Charged by Your Australian Debit Cards Key Things to Note Before Going Overseas with Your Debit Card Save on foreign transaction fees and get some free ATM withdrawals with the Wise card

Can You Use your Australian Debit Card in New Zealand?

Debit cards issued by major banks and specialist providers in Australia are usually on the Visa or Mastercard networks, and can be used in New Zealand easily. However, it’s a good idea to check if your bank needs you to tell them you’ll be out of the country before you go. Some banks like Suncorp require you to inform them that you’ll be travelling for security reasons.

If you need to inform your bank of your travel plans they may offer you ways to do this through their banking app, or by sending a secure message.

What You Pay to Use Your Debit Card Overseas

Once you’ve informed your bank of your upcoming trip the next question is: How can I use my debit card overseas with no extra costs?

Unfortunately not all banks offer ways to avoid international payment and withdrawal fees. This can mean you need to pay charges including:

Foreign transaction fees - usually a percentage added to the costs of all overseas purchases
Overseas ATM withdrawal fees - normally a flat fee, which could be charged by your bank, the ATM operator or both
Overseas ATM enquiry fees - from your bank or the ATM operator, applied if you check your balance

There are a handful of account options from Australian banks which do let you avoid some of these costs. Some banks also have global ATM networks which you can use for free or for a reduced fee. It’s well worth checking out the options from your bank before you leave the country, so you can manage your costs while you’re away. You can also opt for a dedicated travel card like the Wise card to avoid paying foreign transaction fees.

Fees Charged by Your Australian Debit Cards

Before you transact overseas it’s important to check the fees which may apply. We’ve rounded up the key costs for major Australian banks here - but as fees do change from time to time, it’s still important to read through your account details carefully before you hop on a plane.

Provider	Foreign Transaction Fee	ATM withdrawal Fee	ATM Enquiry Fee
Suncorp¹	3% (waived for Everyday Options and Everyday Essentials Account)	ATM operator fee	ATM operator fee
St George²	3%	5 AUD	Not stated
Bendigo³	3%	ATM operator fee	ATM operator fee
NAB⁴	3.5%	1 AUD	5 AUD
Bankwest⁵	No fee for Bankwest fee free account	ATM operator fee	ATM operator fee
HSBC⁶	3% (Waived for Everyday Global account)	4.5 AUD (Waived for Everyday Global account)	ATM operator fee

*Details correct at time of writing - 17th December 2025

Key Things to Note Before Going Overseas with Your Australian Debit Card

Before you travel make sure you’re all set with these final tips:

Check if you need to inform your bank of your travel plans - this can usually be done in app or by phone
Make sure your bank has the right contact details for you, as they may need to talk to you to confirm transactions while you’re abroad
Before you leave, look at the expiry dates of your cards so you’re not left with an out of date payment method
Check your account transactions frequently for security using your mobile banking services
Ask your bank if they have free ATM options overseas - some banks work together to offer no fee or low fee ATM usage in select countries
If you’re asked whether you’d prefer to pay overseas in AUD say no - this may sound handy but it exposes you to high overall costs and a bad exchange rate
Take more than one way to pay, such as a bank debit card, credit card and a specialist international card like the Wise card. That means you can pick the right card for the transaction type, and you’ll always have a back up if you need it

Save on foreign transaction fees and get some free ATM withdrawals with the Wise card

In addition to your bank debit card, carrying a dedicated travel card can help you save money on your trip. The Wise card is a simple way to save up to 7x when you're spending internationally. You can spend in 150+ countries at mid-market rate — basically the rate you see on Google. With no foreign transaction fees and low, transparent pricing, Wise usually gives you the best value for your money.

Simply create a Wise account for free, order a card and top-up AUD to get started. Having a physical Wise card allows you to make chip and pin payments, as well as make some free ATM withdrawals each month for when you're abroad. You can get digital cards and add to your Google or Apple Pay wallet for instant use. Spend directly with the Wise account in AUD and let auto-conversion do the trick or convert in advance to your desired currency. You can hold and exchange 40+ currencies in your Wise account and spend the currencies you hold for free.

Wherever your travel takes you, the Wise card makes spending money abroad cheaper and easier.

🚀 Get your Wise card

This general advice does not take into account your objectives, financial circumstances or needs and you should consider if it is appropriate for you. Savings claim based on our rates vs. selected Australian banks and other similar providers in Jan 2025. To learn more please visit https://wise.com/au/compare

Please see Terms of Use and product availability for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

Sources:

*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.

We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.