Compare the best travel money cards for overseas use in New Zealand (2025)

If you’re headed overseas, whether it’s for work, family, or just a well-earned break, choosing the right travel card can make a big difference to your wallet. The best travel cards give you access to a wide range of currencies, with competitive exchange rates and low-cost, transparent fees.

In this guide, we'll dive into the best travel money card options for Kiwis, featuring popular providers like Wise, Revolut, and banks such as Westpac. You want to be able to spend during your travels with confidence, knowing you’re not paying more than you need to.

Table of contents
What is a travel card? Things to consider when choosing a travel card Best travel cards in New Zealand Wise Travelex Revolut OneSmart by Air New Zealand Cash Passport Westpac Summary

What is a travel card?

A travel card (also known as a travel money card) is a type of debit card that’s specifically designed to make spending overseas simpler and more cost-effective. The travel cards are often linked to digital accounts which can hold foreign currencies. This means you can add money in NZD when you choose to, and then convert to the currency you need to spend or let it do the auto-conversion for you.

You usually find that there’s no fee to spend and withdraw in a currency you hold in your account, and no foreign transaction fee. When compared to the cost of using a normal credit or debit card, this can help save you money while abroad.

Things to consider when choosing a travel card to use overseas

As you review the various options to decide which is the best currency card for your travels, including the ones we’re about to go through, consider these things:

• Are the currencies you’ll likely be spending in supported?
• What exchange rates apply and how do they compare to the mid-market rate?
• Is there a foreign transaction or currency conversion fee?
• Do account fees apply for having the card; are there setup fees, monthly fees, or fees for inactivity?
• Can you manage the account online or through an app while you travel?
• How are ATM withdrawals handled?
• Does the account come with a physical, virtual card or both, and can you freeze or cancel the cards if needed?

Best travel cards in New Zealand

Features	Wise	Travelex¹	Revolut	OneSmart²	Cash Passport Platinum⁴	Westpac Global Currency⁶
Account fee	No fee	No fee	Depends on plan chosen⁸	1 NZD per month if there’s funds in the account	No fee	No fee
Virtual card	Available	Not supported	Available	Not supported	Not supported	Not supported
Available currencies	40+	9	40+⁷	9	10	9
Exchange rate used	Mid-market rate	Mastercard rate	Revolut’s variable exchange rate⁹	OneSmart rate which includes a margin³	Mastercard rate	Mastercard rate plus a potential margin
ATM Withdrawal	Up to 2 withdrawals per month, to 350 NZD in value, fee free	Free abroad 2.96% within NZ	Free monthly withdrawal allowance that varies depending on plan	3 free international ATM withdrawals per month $2 for domestic withdrawals	4 NZD in New Zealand and currency specific when abroad⁵	Free abroad 4 NZD within New Zealand
Other fees	14 NZD card order fee Currency exchange from 0.23%	4 NZD monthly inactivity fee 10 NZD account closure fee Currency exchange fee is the Mastercard rate + 4% of the transaction	Card delivery fee of 4.99 NZD (Standard) or 33.99 NZD (Express) Currency conversion fee of 0.5% once fair usage limit is exhausted 1% fee for weekend currency exchange	Currency conversion fee of 2.5%	Currency conversion fee of 5.95%	Currency exchange fee is the Mastercard rate + 2.95% of the transaction

Now let’s take a look at each provider in more detail.

Wise card

Wise is a global fintech company that offers the international multi-currency Wise Account and Wise card. The account allows you to receive, hold and send various currencies while the card can be used to spend in 150+ countries.

Main features:

• 40+ supported currencies and it’s free to spend currency that’s already held
• Add money in NZD or in 8+ other currencies using local and SWIFT account details
• Mid-market exchange rate used for currency conversion
• Monthly fee free allowance for ATM withdrawals
• No inactivity fees or minimum account balances to worry about

Fees

• Variable currency conversion fee starting from 0.23%
• 14 NZD to order a Wise card
• Up to 2 ATM withdrawals per month, to 350 NZD in value, fee free. - 1.50 NZD + 1.75% after that

Pros	Cons
Mid-market exchange rate No ongoing fees Low conversion fees with no foreign transaction fee	14 NZD fee to order a card 7-10 day card delivery time in New Zealand ATM fees apply when free allowance is exhausted

Travelex travel money card

Travelex is a travel money company that offers the Travelex Money Card.¹ The card supports 9 currencies in total; USD, AUD, JPY, GBP, EUR, HKD, SGD, CAD and NZD.

Main features:

• Card can be topped up through the Travelex app or in-store
• Physical card details are visible through the app for online shopping
• Unlimited free ATM withdrawals abroad
• Access to exclusive offers from Mastercard Priceless Cities
• Accepted wherever Mastercard is accepted

Fees

• Initial load and reload of NZD at Distribution Outlets is 1% of the value or 10 NZD (whichever is greater)
• 2.95% fee for domestic ATM withdrawals and point of sale transactions
• 4 NZD monthly inactivity fee
• 10 NZD account closure fee
• Currency conversion fee of 4% of the transaction value

Pros	Cons
Order the card online or instore Card is ready for collection in a day View and freeze the card in the app	Minimum top up is 100 NZD or equivalent Currency conversion fee is relatively high at 4% on top of the Mastercard rate Card must be collected instore

Revolut card

A fintech that specialises in managing money in multiple currencies, Revolut offers the Revolut account and card. It supports over 40 currencies to hold and more to spend.⁷

Main features:

• Choose the plan you want; Standard, Metal or Premium⁸
• 40+ supported currencies and it’s free to spend currency that’s already held
• Premium and Metal plans come with perks like travel insurance
• Fund the account using the NZD account details it comes with
• Manage the card through the Revolut app

Fees

• ATM withdrawal fee of 2% once the free allowance is used⁹
• Currency conversion fee of 0.5% of the transaction value when fair usage limit is exhausted
• Additional 1% fee for weekend currency conversions
• Monthly fee that varies depending on the plan

Pros	Cons
Choice of plans Monthly free allowances for ATM withdrawals and currency exchange Paid plans offer extra perks for travel	Differing fee structures can make it difficult to know which plan is the best value Extra fees can apply to weekend exchanges

OneSmart by Air New Zealand

Offered by Air New Zealand, the OneSmart travel card is a travel money card that also rewards you with Airpoints Dollars. Like Travelex it supports 9 currencies; USD, AUD, JPY, GBP, EUR, HKD, SGD, CAD and NZD.

Main features:

• Hold 9 currencies
• Earn 1 Airpoint Dollar for every 100 NZD spent abroad and 200 NZD in New Zealand, for eligible purchases
• No card payment fee when it’s used to book Air New Zealand flights online
• 3 free international ATM withdrawals per month
• Accepted wherever Mastercard is accepted

Fees

• Debit card load fee of 1.5% of the transaction amount
• Currency conversion fee of 2.5% of the transaction value
• Monthly fee of $1 if there’s funds in the account

Pros	Cons
Possible to earn Airpoint Dollars on your spending No initial card fee Monthly free ATM withdrawal allowance	Only available to eligible Airpoints members Fees apply to debit card loads Bank transfers take 1-2 business days to load

Cash Passport Platinum card

Backed by Mastercard, Cash Passport Platinum is a travel money card that allows you to spend in 140 currencies and load 10 currencies; AUD, EUR, USD, GBP, JPY, CAD, HKD, SGD, NZD and AED.⁴

Main features:

• Hold 10 currencies and spend in 140
• No card issue fee
• Fee free reloads online for bank transfers or bill payments
• Comes with access to Flight Delay Pass
• Various Mastercard purchase protections available in case of damage, theft or price discrepancies

Fees

• Debit card load fee of 0.5% of the transaction amount⁵
• Instore admin fee of 1% or 10 NZD (whichever is greater)
• 4 NZD for ATM withdrawals in New Zealand and currency dependent for overseas withdrawals
• Currency conversion fee of 5.95% of the transaction value

Pros	Cons
Access to airport lounges with a Mastercard Flight Delay Pass Bank transfer reloads are fee free No fee for online cash outs	In-person reloads can only be done at the place of purchase and attract additional fees ATM fees fluctuate depending on the currency Currency conversion fee is relatively high at 5.95%

Westpac Global Currency card

Available from one of New Zealand's biggest banks, the Westpac Global Currency Card is a travel card that supports 9 currencies; AUD, USD, GBP, SGD, EUR, NZD, HKD, JPY and CAD.⁶

Main features:

• No purchase fees or monthly fees
• 9 currencies supported for holding
• Free ATM withdrawals abroad
• No inactivity or cash out fees to worry about
• Hold a maximum balance of up to 75,000 NZD

Fees

• Debit card load fee of 1.5% of the transaction amount
• 4 NZD for ATM withdrawals in New Zealand
• Currency conversion fee of 2.95% of the transaction value

Pros	Cons
Overseas ATM withdrawals are free Only pay when you use the account Minimum reload of 10 NZD or equivalent	Doesn’t have an app Debit card reloads attract a fee Depending on the type of currency exchange a margin may be applied to the Mastercard exchange rate

Summary - which is the best travel card in New Zealand?

When searching for the best travel card, the ideal choice truly comes down to your unique travel style, spending habits, and what features matter most to you on your overseas adventures.

Travelex and CashPassport offer in-person support and lounge perks, but come with higher currency conversion fees. Revolut suits frequent travellers who want subscription perks like travel insurance, while OneWorld is great for Air New Zealand customers chasing Airpoints. The Westpac option works for people who’d prefer to remain with a traditional bank and want a no-frills travel card. In terms of flexibility, transparency and low fees though, Wise is one of the leading options.

With Wise, you get the mid-market exchange rate with no foreign transaction fee, the ability to hold 40+ currencies all through a single account that’s easy to manage online or via the app and spend in . With its low fees and even some free ATM withdrawals, the Wise card makes spending money abroad cheaper and easier.

🚀 Get your Wise card

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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.

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Sources:

1. Travelex - Travel Card
2. Air New Zealand - OneSmart
3. Air New Zealand - OneSmart PDS
4. CashPassport Mastercard
5. CashPassport - Fees and Limits
6. Westpac - Global Currency Card
7. Revolut - Transfers
8. Revolut - Pricing Plans
9. Revolut - Standard fees