Cash per day in Australia?

I did a month-long solo trip across Tasmania and the Gold Coast and kept it light with about 20 to 40 AUD cash per day, depending on how active the day was. My Erste debit card worked everywhere, including buses, supermarkets, cafes, and even some hostel laundromats. I found tap-and-go super reliable. The only places I used cash were local weekend markets and for leaving small tips for hostel cleaning staff. Honestly, I could’ve managed with less cash, but 30 AUD a day gave me peace of mind without having to hit the ATM often.

Spent four weeks exploring Perth and regional WA, and carried a little more cash than usual - around 60 to 80 AUD per day, especially in smaller towns like Margaret River where I found the odd shop or food stall that didn’t accept card. I used my Canadian Amex and Visa cards for hotels and petrol, but had cash on hand for tipping, quick takeaway meals, and local buses where tap-to-pay wasn’t available. In the cities, I barely touched the cash. But for road trips and rural stops, it helped to have cash ready, especially when mobile signal was weak.

I was traveling through Brisbane and Cairns in June and carried around 30 AUD in cash per day, which covered smaller things like a coffee here and there, or tips at the hostel. I used my French Mastercard for 90 percent of things- restaurants, buses, groceries, even beach gear rentals. Australia is super card-friendly, but I liked having a few small notes just in case I came across a cash-only market or a place with a minimum card spend. If you’re on a tight backpacker budget, 30 AUD cash plus a working card is all you need day to day.

I just did a full month in Sydney and Melbourne on a mid-range budget and found that carrying about 40 to 60 AUD in cash per day was plenty. Most of my major expenses like accommodation, tours, and museum tickets were paid with my UK Visa debit card, but I kept cash for small things like snacks at markets, tipping baristas, and buying food from pop-up stalls. Public transport like the Opal system in Sydney and myki in Melbourne don’t need cash at all. I tapped my card directly. You won’t need much cash in Australia, but 50 AUD daily is a safe amount if you like flexibility.