<Travel Money

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.

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Best Rate from
1 GBP = 1.8798937043796 AUD
1 AUD = 0.532 GBP
Amount received (after accounting for delivery fees)
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Author
Salman Haqqi
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James Andrews
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Jessica Bown
Last updated
November 2, 2023

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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 to choose from. Typically, these rates are much better than you can get when buying 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 have the option to have your Australian dollars delivered or you can collect it in person. Delivery will often involve incurring additional costs.

14 results found, sorted by amount received. How we order our comparisons. Commission earned affects the table's sort order.
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£
Click & Collect from over 190 stores in 60 Seconds
eurochange Travel Money
Exchange rate
1.8604
£750 gets you
$1,395.30
Delivery fee
Free delivery
Collection
Yes
eurochange Travel Money
eurochange are the foreign exchange experts. They provide an award-winning service which is rated ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot, offering the widest range of currencies including Euros and US Dollars.
They'll also buy foreign currency in exchange for GBP #exchangewitheurochange
Eligibility
Available Direct
UK Residents
View deal
Clubcard members only
Tesco Bank Travel Money for Clubcard Members
Exchange rate
1.8520
£750 gets you
$1,389
Delivery fee
Free delivery
Collection
Yes
Tesco Bank Travel Money for Clubcard Members
With Click & Collect you can order your Travel Money online and pick it up from selected Tesco stores, or you can have it delivered straight to your home. Clubcard Prices are available on Tesco Travel Money and there’s 0% commission on foreign currency.
Tesco Travel Money ordered online is provided by Travelex Currency Services Limited.
Eligibility
Available Direct
UK Residents
View deal

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 your 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 debt 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

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 Mastercard or Visa exchange rate, which is about the best you can find as a regular consumer

  • Purchase protection – for purchases costing between £100 and £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

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 - you card provider will pass on the Mastercard or Visa rate to you without adding extra charges

  • No charges for ATM use overseas - if you need extra cash on holiday, you can withdraw it without being charged by your provider. Watch out for local ATM fees though, as these might still apply 

The downsides include that there can be limits to how much you 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

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 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

What are the top alternatives to buying travel money?

Travel credit cards

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 Mastercard or Visa exchange rate, which is about the best you can find as a regular consumer

  • Purchase protection – for purchases costing between £100 and £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

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 - you card provider will pass on the Mastercard or Visa rate to you without adding extra charges

  • No charges for ATM use overseas - if you need extra cash on holiday, you can withdraw it without being charged by your provider. Watch out for local ATM fees though, as these might still apply 

The downsides include that there can be limits to how much you 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

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 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 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 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. 

Generally speaking, the cheapest times to visit will be outside the southern hemisphere summer, which runs from October to February. 

FAQs

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

  • Tuvali; alongside the Tuvalian dollar

  • Kirbati; alongside the Kirbati 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. Using our table above will show 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.

About our comparisons

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.

Read our guides about travel money

Find out more about exchange rates or browse our other products which can also be used when travelling
Travel money: the basics you need to know
Travel money: the basics you need to know
How much money do you need to go travelling?
How much money do you need to go travelling?
Travel money: should I get a travel credit card?
Travel money: should I get a travel credit card?
Find more guides here

About the author

Author imageSalman Haqqi
Salman Haqqi
Salman Haqqi spent over a decade as a journalist reporting in several countries around the world. Now as a personal finance expert, he helps people make informed financial decisions.

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EuroUS DollarTurkish LiraUAE DirhamAustralian DollarCurrency buy back

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