Money

Australia has "gone decimal" in 1966, with 1 Australian Dollar = 100 cents. The times when the Aussie dollar used to be a weak currency are definitely over. As of April 2007, the exchange rates are roughly:

AUS$	GBP	US$	EUR	JPY
100	42	81	61	9742

According to a Euro purchasing power table, the price level in Australia is much the same as in the Euro countries and the U.S., but markedly lower than in the UK. Fuel prices are lower than in the EU, but markedly higher than in the United States - of course, fuel is sold in litres, not gallons, in Australia.

One fascinating property of Australian Dollars is that there is no paper money! Before you think of buying a large leather bag for all the coins, no worries: Australian Dollar notes are made of plastic! They even have a transparent window as a safety feature.

European and U.S. ATM cards are usually accepted at most Australian ATMs. But best check with your bank, also because some banks have cooperation partners in Australia where it is possible to get cash without additional fees.

A credit card is also recommended, necessary for rental cars and internet bookings, either from home or during the vacation. Also as backup solution if the ATM card or cash reserves are stolen.