Need cash when I land, best place in New Zealand? Airport or places in the city?
I exchanged money at Auckland Airport once and instantly regretted it - I lost about NZ$30 compared to what I’d have got in town. On my second trip, I used an ANZ ATM at the airport to grab NZ$200, and it was perfect. Most of my trip I tapped my card, but I liked having cash for farmers’ markets and hostels. I barely touched exchanges after that. My tip: skip the counters, use ATMs, and only change USD in city shops if you must.
Airport exchange desks in New Zealand add hefty margins. Better to use ATMs from ANZ, Westpac, or BNZ at the airport or in the city. They dispense NZD at the official rate. Cards are widely accepted, even on buses and ferries, but carrying NZ$50-100 cash is still smart. Exchange offices like No.1 Currency in Auckland and Wellington sometimes beat ATM rates if you carry USD. Best plan: withdraw at the airport ATM for immediate needs, then rely on cards.
When I landed in Auckland, I ignored the airport counter and went straight to a Westpac ATM near arrivals. It dispensed NZD at the bank rate, much better than the exchange counter. In the city, I saw Travelex and No.1 Currency exchange shops with better rates for cash, but I rarely needed them. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, from buses to supermarkets. I usually keep NZ$100 cash for taxis, small cafés, and tips, but otherwise pay with card. Airport counters are a waste.
Auckland and Christchurch airports have exchange counters, but they’re overpriced. I usually grab NZD from ATMs right at the airport. ANZ, Westpac, and BNZ machines are trustworthy and give the official rate. Buses, cafés, and smaller hostels still take cash, so I withdraw around NZ$100-150 when I land. If you bring USD, city exchange shops in Auckland give better deals than the airport. For budget travellers, using ATMs is the cheapest and most straightforward option.