Coming from Overseas? Use the Personal Currency Assistant to get a conversion for your currency.

The national currency of Australia is the Australian dollar ($AU). One Australian dollar = 100 cents. Coins in circulation are 5c 10c 20c 50c $1 and $2. Bank notes in circulation are $5 $10 $20 $50 and $100... The bank notes are space age plastic bills in enthusiastic colours that sport clear windows and holograms!

Australian currency is the only legal tender... Most foreign currencies and travellers cheques are easily exchanged in banks and exchange offices. Major hotels often have exchange facilities. A Goods and Services tax (GST) of 10% was introduced on July 1st 2000 for transactions within Australia.

As a general rule, it will be cheaper for you to convert money in Australia... but if possible bring enough Australian dollars to last for the first 24 - 72 hours of your trip this avoids being penniless on arrival or after banking hours or on a holiday

In the U.S., International Currency Express: 888 278 6628 will deliver foreign currency for over 120 countries or traveller's cheques to your home overnight (US$15) or second-day (US$12) at competitive exchange rates.

Watch out for commission rates, and check newspapers for the standard rate of exchange. When changing money in Australia, try to go only to banks or currency exchange bureaus that have at most a 5% margin between their buy and sell prices.

The largest and most widespread banks in Australia are:

• ANZ
• Commonwealth Bank
• National Australia Bank
• Westpac

Since you lose money with every transaction, convert cheques in the largest practical demoninations... but no more than you'll need. In fact, using an ATM or a credit card often gets you the best possible rates.

When you use traveller's' cheques or bills in your home currency, carry some in small denominations (the equivalent of US$50 or less) for those times when you may be forced to exchange money at disadvantageous rates, but bring a range of denominations, since charges may be levied per cheque cashed. Store your money in a variety of forms... ideally, you will at any given time be carrying some cash, some traveller's' cheques, and an ATM card and/or credit card.

Currency exchange outlets are open usually from Monday to Friday 9.00am to 6.30pm or 7.00pm, and on Saturdays 9.00am to 7.00pm at major airports and exchange bureaus in major tourist destinations. Some are also open on Sundays.

For our North American visitors, a "check" is something you do to make sure everything is OK, or it's a pattern you wear, it's not something you write for payment... In Australia, that's a "cheque", as in "we accept cheques with ID" or "No cheques accepted or cashed".

Traveller's' cheques are one of the safest and least troublesome means of carrying funds, since they can be refunded if stolen or lost... To save money, buy Traveller's' cheques where you don't pay a fee. They are available in denominations of $20 $50 $100 $500 and $1000... however, the smaller ones will always be easier to cash. Several agencies and banks sell them, usually for face value plus a small commission. Sometimes you can even escape the commission; for instance, members of the American Automobile Association and some banks and credit unions can get American Express cheques commission-free.

Each Traveller's' cheque agency provides refunds if cheques are lost or stolen, and many provide additional services like toll-free refund hotlines, emergency message services, and stolen credit card assistance.

While travelling, keep cheque receipts and a record of the ones you've cashed (separate from the cheques themselves). Also, leave a list of cheque numbers with someone at home... Never countersign cheques until you're ready to cash them, and when you do cash them, always have your passport with you.

If your cheques are lost or stolen, immediately contact one of your agency's refund centres to be reimbursed; they may require a police report verifying the loss... outside the main tourist regions in the rural areas you may not find refund centres at all, so you might have to wait to be reimbursed... Ask about toll-free refund centres when purchasing your cheques and always carry emergency cash.

American Express
Cheques are available at select banks and all American Express offices... US residents can also purchase cheques by phone (888-887-8986) or online. AAA offers commission-free cheques to its members. Cheques available in US, Australian, British, Canadian, Japanese, and Euro currencies... Cheques for two can be signed by either of 2 people travelling together.
For purchase locations or more information, contact American Expresses service centres:

• US and Canada 800-221-7282
• UK 0800 521 313
• Australia 800 25 19 02
• New Zealand 0800 441 068
• Elsewhere US collect + 1 801-964-6665

Visa
Cheques are available (generally with commission) at banks worldwide. Checks available in US, British, Canadian, Japanese, and Euro currencies.
For the location of the nearest office, call Visa's service centres:

• US 800-227-6811
• UK 0800 89 50 78
• Elsewhere UK collect +44 027937 8091

Travelex/Thomas Cook

• US and Canada 800-287-7362
• UK 0800 62 21
• Elsewhere UK collect +44 1733 31 89 50