The 6 Best Travel Money Cards for New Zealand 2024
There’s plenty to do in New Zealand - but you’re going to need to think about how you arrange your travel money to make the most of your trip to the other side of the world. Getting a travel money card can help.
UK customers can choose from a broad range of travel debit, prepaid and credit cards. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks - this guide walks through your options to help you decide, plus we’ll introduce a couple of our favourites from each category so you can see if any suit your preferences and needs.
Wise - our pick for travel debit card for New Zealand
Wise accounts can hold and exchange 40+ currencies, and you can get a linked Wise card for a one time delivery fee. Top up your account in GBP and switch to NZD before you travel. All currency conversion uses the mid-market exchange rate, with low fees from 0.41%. Here are some of the pros and cons of the Wise travel money debit card, to help you decide if it’s right for you.
Pros:
Hold and exchange 40+ currencies, including GBP-NZD
No fee to spend any currency you hold, low conversion fees from 0.41%
Mid market exchange rate on all currency conversion
Some fee free ATM withdrawals every month
No ongoing fees and no interest to pay
Cons:
7 GBP delivery fee
No option to earn points or rewards
What is a travel money card?
A travel money card offers easy ways to spend and make cash withdrawals as you travel. Travel money cards can be used to make international payments, spend in stores and online, and make cash withdrawals just as you do with your bank card. Some cards let you hold a balance in multiple currencies, others remove the foreign transaction fees you’ll often find from regular credit and debit cards, and other cards can let you earn cash back or rewards overseas.
The good news is that there are lots of different travel money card providers in the UK. The downside is that you’ll need to do some homework to figure out which might suit you best. This guide is here to help.
What are different types of travel cards?
Travel cards can broadly be split into the following categories. We’ll walk through the features and benefits of each in a moment:
Quick summary: Best travel cards for New Zealand
This guide covers the different travel card types you might consider for your New Zealand trip - plus we’ve included reviews of 2 of our favourites from each category to help you choose. Here’s what we’ll be looking at:
Wise travel debit card: Hold 40+ currencies including NZD, with no ongoing fees, and spend with the mid-market exchange rate with no foreign transaction fee and low conversion costs from 0.43%
Revolut travel debit card: Hold 25+ currencies including THB, in one of 4 different plan types, including some with no monthly fee, and some which come with ongoing costs but which unlock more benefits and no fee transactions
Post Office travel money card: Hold NZD and 21 other currencies, with no fee to spend a currency you hold - 3% fee applies if you don’t have the currency required in your account
Monese travel money card: Hold a balance in GBP, then spend in NZD with no fees, up to your plan’s limit. Different plans on offer, including Simple which has no ongoing fees to pay
Barclays Rewards Visa travel credit card: Spend with the Visa exchange rate, and earn 0.25% cash back, with no foreign transaction fee and no cash advance fee. Interest and penalties can apply
Halifax Clarity Mastercard travel credit card: No foreign transaction fee, no annual fee, and no cash advance fee if you withdraw money at an ATM. Variable interest and penalties can apply
Travel money cards for Thailand compared
Here’s a brief comparison of all the cards we’ve picked out - in a moment we’ll also look at each card in more detail.
| Provider | Type | Delivery fee | New Zealand ATM fee | Interest rate | POS fees | Exchange rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wise | Debit | 7 GBP order and delivery fee | 2 withdrawals, to 200 GBP value per month for free, then 0.5 GBP + 1.75% | Not applicable | Free to spend currencies you hold in the account | Mid-market rate with conversion costs from 0.43% |
| Revolut | Debit | Variable fees may apply depending on account plan | No fees to plan limit, 2% fair usage fee may apply once you exhaust your plan no fee limit | Not applicable | No fee to spend currencies you hold in the account | Mid-market rate to plan limit Fair usage fees of 0.5% - 1% apply after you exhaust your plan limit |
| Monese | Debit | No fee | No fee | Not applicable | No fee for spending up to your account limit, which varies based on plan chosen | Network exchange rate |
| Post Office | Debit | No fee | 3.5 NZD | Not applicable | Free to spend currencies you hold in the account 3% fee to spend a currency you don’t hold in your account | Variable exchange rate depending on how you top up |
| Barclays | Credit | No fee | No cash advance fee, but interest may apply | 28.9% representative APR | No fee - interest may apply | Network exchange rate |
| Halifax | Credit | No fee | No cash advance fee, but interest applies instantly | Variable based on credit score | No fee - interest may apply | Network exchange rate |
Ultimately, which travel card suits you will depend on your personal preference and spending habits. All of the travel debit, prepaid and credit cards we’ll look at here have their own great features. If you’re looking to hold a multi-currency balance you’ll probably find a travel debit or prepaid card works best.
Pick one with no ongoing costs and you can just keep it after New Zealand and use it the next time you travel too. Travel credit cards are a good choice if you want to spread your costs over a few months - but bear in mind that fees and interest can apply in this case, pushing up the price in the end.
Travel Debit Cards for New Zealand
Travel debit cards work in a similar way to your bank debit card, but they’re issued by specialist providers, and linked to a digital multi-currency account. You can add money in GBP and then convert to NZD in the account, to see your travel money budget instantly. Or if you’d prefer, the cards we’ve picked out below let you leave your money in pounds and then can manage the conversion for you at the point of payment.
Travel debit cards have been optimised for different customer needs, but they’re generally cheap, secure and reliable - so all you’ll need to do is pick the specific card that suits you.
Travel debit card option 1: Wise
There’s no fee to open a personal Wise account, but you’ll pay a one time card order fee of 7 GBP. After that there’s no minimum balance and no monthly charge. Wise accounts can support 40+ currencies for holding and exchange, with low fees from 0.43% when you convert currencies, and transparent ATM fees when you exhaust the monthly free transactions available with your account.
No fee to open a personal Wise account, no minimum balance requirement
7 GBP one time fee to get your Wise card
2 withdrawals, to 200 GBP value per month for free, then 0.5 GBP + 1.75%
Hold NZD and 40+ other currencies, convert between them with the mid-market rate
Get local account details to receive GBP, NZD, EUR, USD and a selection of other major currencies conveniently
Travel debit card option 2: Revolut
Revolut has a selection of different account tiers for personal customers in the UK, including Standard plans with no monthly fee, to the top end Ultra plan which has a 45 GBP/month fee and comes with loads of perks including a fancy platinum plated card. You can hold around 25 currencies, and convert currencies with the mid-market rate to your plan’s allowance. The higher account tiers also come with extras like various different forms of complimentary insurance, discounts, cash back opportunities and travel benefits.
No monthly fee for a Standard Revolut account, or upgrade to one of 4 different account plans which have monthly fees running from 3.99 GBP/month to 45 GBP/month
All accounts have some no fee weekday currency conversion with fair usage fees after that which are 1% for Standard plan holders
Standard plan holders can withdraw 200 GBP overseas per month for free
Hold around 25 currencies
Pros and cons of using debit travel cards in New Zealand
| Pros of using debit travel cards in New Zealand | Cons of using debit travel cards in New Zealand |
|---|---|
✅ Hold and exchange 25+ currencies in the same account ✅ Spend in 150+ countries - including spending in currencies the card can’t support for holding balances ✅ Order your physical card and get instant access to a virtual card for mobile payments ✅ Accounts can be opened and managed digitally ✅ Safe for spending and withdrawals when travelling overseas | ❌ Some account plans have ongoing monthly costs ❌ Transaction and currency conversion fees may apply ❌ You may need to wait a few days for delivery of your physical card |
How much does a travel debit card cost?
Travel debit cards are usually free or cheap to order, although there may be a delivery fee to get your first card. Once you have your card there are likely to be some transaction fees, and you may find you pay a monthly cost, depending on the card you pick.
Of the cards we’ve highlighted above, Wise has a one time fee to get your card, but then no monthly charges or minimum balance requirements. Revolut customers in the UK can choose from different account plans, including one with no ongoing charges, or several different account options with a monthly fee in exchange for extra perks and benefits.
How to choose the best travel debit card for New Zealand?
Generally, having a travel debit card when you’re spending in foreign currencies can help you save money and spend securely. However, there’s no single best travel debit card for New Zealand, so you’ll need to compare a few to see which suits your spending and withdrawal needs best.
The Wise card and the Standard Revolut card both offer no ongoing costs, so are a fairly low risk way to try out whether or not a travel debit card suits you. If you use your card frequently you can then consider upgrading to a Revolut plan with an ongoing fee and higher no fee transaction limits.
Is there a spending limit with a travel debit card in New Zealand?
You’ll probably find there’s a spending limit for your travel debit card. However, this limit can vary quite significantly, depending on the provider you pick. You can also usually adjust your spending limits for security in the provider’s app which means you can set the limit you’re comfortable with.
For the providers mentioned above, Revolut UK travel debit card holders have some spending caps based on merchant and transaction type. This applies to things like sending money to others, buying travellers cheques or money orders, and betting. Wise caps monthly card spending at 30,000 GBP but you can also move your limit lower if you’d like to, for security reasons.
ATM withdrawals
ATM withdrawals with a travel debit card are also likely to be subject to limits. Revolut applies a 3,000 GBP limit based on any given 24 hour period. Wise ATM withdrawal limits are 4,000 GBP per month. Both providers allow you to make some no fee ATM withdrawals monthly, but the exact amount you can withdraw will depend on your account type.
Prepaid Travel Cards for New Zealand
Prepaid travel cards can be bought or ordered through providers like the Post Office, or financial technology specialists like Monese. You can use a prepaid card in a similar way to using a travel debit card, but the linked account might not have quite the same functionality. For example, while Post Office prepaid travel cards support a multi-currency balance in 20+ currencies, Monese lets you hold GBP, EUR and RON, but not New Zealand dollars. On the other hand, Monese is more flexible in terms of its range of account plans, which you can upgrade on will without any penalty. Let’s look at these options in more detail.
Prepaid travel card option 1: Post Office Travel Money Card
You can order a Post Office Travel Money Card online or pick one up in person at a branch as long as you have a valid ID on you. You’ll be able to top up and hold in 22 currencies, although bear in mind a fee applies if you add money in GBP. There’s no fee to add foreign currencies. The exchange rate used when you top up or convert may include a markup, but once you hold a currency balance in your account you can spend it with no further charges.
NZD and 21 other currencies are supported for holding and exchange
No fee to spend a currency you hold on your card
3% cross border fee if you spend in an unsupported currency
3.5 NZD ATM withdrawal fee
Manage your account and card from the Post Office travel money app
Prepaid travel card option 2: Monese Travel Money Card
Monese offers several different account plans which come with linked cards you can use while overseas. Depending on the plan you pick you’ll get some free international spending and some free ATM withdrawals. Simple account plans have no monthly fees, but are more limited in terms of no-fee transactions compared to the other account tiers. While Monese does offer foreign currency account plans, these are not available in NZD.
- Pick the account plan that suits your needs, including a Simple plan with no monthly costs and some plans which do have a fee to pay every month
- Accounts offered in GBP, EUR and RON
- Simple account plan holders can spend up to 2,000 GBP a month in foreign currencies with no fees - other account plans have unlimited overseas spending with no extra fees
- All accounts have some fee free ATM withdrawals every month, with variable limits based on account plan
- Virtual cards available
Pros and cons of using prepaid travel cards in New Zealand
| Pros of using prepaid travel cards in New Zealand | Cons of using prepaid travel cards in New Zealand |
|---|---|
✅ Secure way to hold a balance and make overseas payments ✅ Cards available with no monthly fees ✅ Usually free to spend a currency you hold ✅ Issued on globally supported networks for easy spending and withdrawals ✅ Some cards can be picked up instantly if you’re in a hurry | ❌ Ongoing charges may apply to your account ❌ Not all providers offer multi-currency holding options ❌ Transaction fees apply to most accounts |
How much does a prepaid card cost?
Using a prepaid travel card when you’re away from home can mean paying less overall compared to some other card payment options - but it’s not usually completely free.
Different providers charge in different ways. For example accounts may have ongoing charges, or you may have to pay a fee or currency conversion charge when you top up. Weighing up a few different prepaid travel cards is the only way to decide which is the best value for your particular needs.
How to choose the best travel prepaid card for New Zealand?
The best prepaid travel card for New Zealand depends on your spending patterns. The Post Office Travel Money Card has the advantage that you can convert your money to NZD and see your budget instantly. However if you don’t do this, you might end up paying a 3% fee. Monese has different plan types, so has the flexibility to allow you to pick the one you want - but you can’t hold a NZD balance.
Prepaid travel card spending limit
The Post Office travel card lets you top up to 5,000 GBP at a time, with the maximum balance at any given time set at 10,000 GBP, or 30,000 GBP annually. Monese accounts may have different limits based on the tier you pick - usually set at a maximum holding balance at any time of 40,000 GBP. You may be limited to spending up to 7,000 GBP a day, depending on your account type.
ATM withdrawals
With the Post Office card, you can make up to 750 NZD maximum daily withdrawals and each withdrawal costs 3.5 NZD. Monese accounts may have a maximum ATM withdrawal of 300 GBP a day, depending on the specific account you pick, so it’s worth reading the fee schedule carefully to understand the details.
Travel credit cards for New Zealand
Travel credit cards work in a similar way to other credit cards, but they’ve been optimised for travel and can offer perks like no foreign transaction fee or more rewards and cash back for overseas spending. Which card you can apply for can depend on your credit score, but most UK card providers offer a no obligation tool to check your eligibility online. Bear in mind that your credit history can also change the interest charged and the maximum credit you’re offered. Overall, credit cards can be safe and convenient, but often more expensive than a debit or prepaid card.
Travel credit card option 1: Barclaycard Rewards Visa
The Barclaycard Rewards Visa credit card is a good, straightforward option for UK customers looking for a credit card which does not have foreign transaction fees, and which doesn’t have an annual fee. As with any credit card, some costs can apply including interest fees if you don’t clear your bill monthly, but you’ll be able to earn 0.25% cash back on all your card spending at home and abroad.
No annual fee, with 0.25% cash back on card spending
Currency exchange uses the network rate and no foreign transaction fee
No ATM withdrawal fee - but interest can still apply
28.9% representative APR, with penalty fees for late payments
Secure spending with extra protection on some purchases
Travel credit card option 2: Halifax Clarity Mastercard
The Halifax Clarity Mastercard has a variable interest rate which is based on your creditworthiness, but doesn’t use different rates for different transaction types as some cards do. There’s no foreign transaction fee when you spend or withdraw in foreign currencies, but bear in mind that an ATM operator might charge a fee, and interest accrues instantly for cash advance transactions.
No foreign transaction fee when spending or making a cash withdrawal overseas
Interest applies instantly when making cash withdrawals
Same interest rate applies on all purchase categories
Variable APR based on your credit score - you’ll need to check your eligibility online to see the APR you’d be offered
Spending is covered by the Consumer Credit act which means extra protections for purchases from 100 GBP to 30,000 GBP in value
Pros and cons of using credit cards for New Zealand
| Pros of using credit cards in New Zealand | Cons of using credit cards in New Zealand |
|---|---|
✅ Spread the cost of your travel over several months ✅ Check eligibility for a card online with no impact on your credit score ✅ You may pay no foreign transaction fee ✅ Can be used where a payment guarantee is required ✅ Network exchange rates usually apply, which are pretty fair | ❌ Interest can accrue instantly on ATM withdrawals ❌ Interest charged on POS spending if you don’t repay in full every month ❌ Eligibility rules apply |
How much does a travel credit card cost?
Credit cards can end up being a fairly expensive way to handle your card spending, depending on the card you pick and how you use it. The travel credit cards highlighted above have no annual charge, and no foreign transaction fee - but as with any credit card, interest applies if you don’t pay your bill in full every month. If you’re late making a payment, penalties can also apply.
How to choose the best travel credit card for New Zealand?
The best travel credit card for New Zealand depends on your preferences and situation. Because there’s an eligibility screening process with credit cards, you may find you can’t get approved for some cards if you don’t have an established and strong credit history. It’s generally worth looking for a card with no annual fee, and the lowest available interest rate, just in case you can’t always repay your bill monthly.
Travel credit card spending limit
Your travel credit card spending limit will be set by the card provider, and will depend on your credit score. You’ll be shown details of your spending limit when you’re approved for a travel credit card.
ATM withdrawals
The cards we’ve looked at earlier don’t charge a cash advance fee, but this is a common cost when using a credit card at an ATM, so worth looking out for when you select any credit card. It’s also worth noting that it’s very common for ATM withdrawals to start accruing interest instantly, so you’ll end up needing to repay some charges whenever you use your credit card in an ATM.
How much money do I need in Thailand?
From the UK, most people heading to New Zealand are planning on staying for a bit longer than the average holiday. If you’re going to be touring New Zealand for multiple weeks, setting a budget is essential to make sure you don’t end up spending far more than planned. Costs in New Zealand can vary pretty widely. It’s not a particularly cheap destination to visit, but as with most places with a vibrant tourism industry, there’s food, activities and accommodation to suit most budgets if you look hard enough. Here’s a quick look at some common costs in New Zealand:
| ✈️ Flights to New Zealand | At the time of writing (November 2023), flights are available for Spring 2024 starting from about 700 GBP return, but rising steeply for more premium carriers |
| 🛏️ Accommodation | While there’s a good range of hotel and hostel options at all price points, city hotels in a good location are likely to cost at least 100 GBP a night |
| 🥣 Lunch in a restaurant | 3 course meal for 2 in a mid-range restaurant will cost just under 60 GBP on average |
| 🚍 Transportation | Local transportation can cost about 1.7 GBP a ticket. Taxis should cost about 2.6 GBP a mile |
Conclusion: Which travel money card is best for New Zealand?
New Zealand is a perfect holiday destination because there’s so much to do. But lots of activities means you’ll need to figure out the best way to pay for things while you’re there, to avoid unnecessary costs and make your money go further.
Using one or more travel card options can help you manage your travel budget flexibly, and may also mean lower overall costs. Consider a Wise travel debit card for convenient, low cost spending and withdrawals with ways to pay and get paid in NZD. Or as an alternative, check out a Monese travel prepaid card for free currency conversion to your specific plan limit, or a travel credit card like the Barclays Rewards Visa for cash back opportunities and ways to spread your costs over several months if you need to. No matter what type of travel card suits you best, there’s going to be an option for you - use this guide to research and get ready to enjoy that trip of a lifetime to New Zealand.
FAQ - Best travel cards for New Zealand
Can you withdraw cash with a credit card in New Zealand?
Yes. You can use your credit card to make an ATM withdrawal at any ATM in New Zealand where your card network is accepted. However, bear in mind you’ll pay interest instantly when you use a credit card in an ATM. Choosing to withdraw with a low cost travel debit card from Wise or Revolut may bring down your overall fees.
Can I use a debit card in New Zealand?
Yes. Debit cards are widely supported in New Zealand, and can be used in many places, although you may struggle at some small independent merchants or at markets. That said, having multiple ways to pay is reassuring, making carrying both a prepaid or travel debit card and some New Zealand dollars in cash a smart plan.
Are prepaid cards safe?
Yes. Prepaid cards are not linked to your normal UK bank account which means that they’re safe to use. Even if you were unlucky and someone stole your card while you’re in New Zealand, they would not be able to access your main account - and you could freeze your prepaid card in the app easily if you needed to.
What is the best way to pay in New Zealand?
Paying for things with a specialist travel debit, prepaid or credit card in New Zealand is most convenient. However, having a few options for payment is a good plan, just in case your preferred payment method can’t be used for some reason. Consider getting a travel card from a provider like Wise or Revolut, which has some no fee ATM withdrawals so you can also conveniently get cash as a back up, and for when card payments aren’t offered.