Which payment methods are recommended for travel in New Zealand?

For the smoothest trip, we suggest carrying a mix of payment options:

• Credit cards (Visa and Mastercard): Ideal for car rental bonds and hotel security deposits. Many retailers add a small surcharge for credit card payments.
• Travel money cards: Apps such as Wise or Revolut work well for everyday spending and often provide strong exchange rates.
• Physical debit card: Useful for withdrawing cash from ATMs and as a backup if a merchant does not accept mobile wallets.
• Cash: Bring a little NZD on hand for markets, rural shops or small businesses that may not accept cards.