sub

How much money can you actually take with you? In your purse with you on the plane? I know we will need to declare it etc the other side, thats not a problem but dont want to come up against any difficulties going through customs.

We want to take enough to buy a car/s in first few days and generally be comfortable in first few days/weeks.
Anyone taken substantial amount in person?
Thanks for your help

Brisben

I think from memory it is 10,000 aud. Double check with the airlines.

steve`o

i`m sure its up to 10k undeclared and pretty much what you want if you declare it
we brought about 10k`ish with us, i delclared it and it wasnt a problem


from the au customs site

Currency
There is no limit to the amount of currency you can bring in or out of Australia. However, you must declare amounts of A$10,000 or more in Australian currency or foreign equivalent. If asked by Customs you must also fill in a Bearer Negotiable Instruments (BNI) form if you're carrying promissory notes, travellers cheques, personal cheques, money orders or postal orders.

Pollyana

Leave a UK bank account open with cash in it, bring your cashpoint card and draw the money out over here.

steve`o

thats going to be hidiousely expensive polly when we used our natwest card the exchange rate was about 20 cents under bankrate and they also charged £6 per transaction robbin barstewards

comet555

If you're stopping in any other countries along the way you'd want to check their regulations as well.

We brought 0 cash with us when we came. We exchanged about $300 CND at the airport for AU credit/debit cards worked fine. No need to carry $10,000 on you. Although I would suggest more than $300!

Iwannabethere

Not if you have time to open a Nationwide account. No fees. Don't do badly on the exchange rate either although not as competitive as the FX traders of course.

Or open a bank account before you leave at one of the Aussie banks?

steve`o

excellent this should be added to the sites wiki bit for future use

Wol

If you are talking about their gold card, they have stopped sending them to Australia because of "security concerns". Ridiculous!

Dorothy

In theory you can bring as much cash as you can fit in your purse. However, common sense says not to carry too much on your person in cash. Any amount over $10000 AUD needs to be declared, but that's not to say you can't carry $10k and your partner carry another 10k. I myself wouldn't carry any more than about $1000 cash on me, but then that's just me.

Iwannabethere

Nope, just standard Flex Account. Changed my address with them yesterday and no problem sending to Oz. Only thing is that you need one of their card reader thingos for online banking and you must get it before you go 'cos they won't send that overseas.

sub

Yeah thats what I thought, you never get a good exchange rate from the hole in the wall!
Will need the cash when I get there, so looks like I will need to carry it!

woodview

Have to agree Nationwide is very handy for getting cash out to Oz, if you have a joint account both of you can max out £250 per day and at no extra charge from ATMs. Good bank rate as well.

Our son has kept his Nationwide account open so if we want to send him money we can just do a online transfer and he takes the money out of an ATM in Oz.

Another point is even if Oz is OK with you taking £10k in cash you better check with the rules in your stopover country.

chilliman

Been doing the nationwide thing for years - both credit & current account! Works a treat, never take cash abroad when on holidays - just hit the ATM at the airport when I arrive.

Pollyana

Maybe but I'd rather do that than fly round the world with the cash in my pocket! Personal view, thats all

Off you go then, we need some more Wiki updates