Skiing in Queenstown: the adventure capital of the world
Mike says Queenstown is recognised as providing the best overall skiing experience in New Zealand. The snow, the nightlife, the food and the atmosphere are all top notch.
Where did you go?
Mike visited the Coronet resort, which is about 20 minutes away from Queenstown. He stayed in the city for a couple of weeks and did the commute each day. He also skied at The Remarkables and Cardrona peaks.
What cards did you take?
- The Citibank Plus Visa Debit Transaction Account
- Citi Clear Credit Card
Why did you take these cards?
The Citibank Plus Transaction account is Mike's transaction account in Australia. There's no account keeping fee and Citibank offer free global transfers to a number of countries. The Citi Plus doesn't charge for currency conversion or international ATM withdrawals, which made it a perfect card for Mike to use in New Zealand, or anywhere in the world. Mike also took the Citibank Clear Platinum Visa credit card. He applied for this card before he left so he could get the 0% on purchases promotion available to new cardholders. He used this card as much as he could for over the counter purchases and paid the balance of his purchases back in the following months when he started working again.
Where could you use these cards?
Mike says he could use his debit and credit card almost everywhere. On the mountain to pay for his ski pass, rental and drinks at the end of the day. Mike says small purchases like coffee and hot chocolate are mostly cash only. In Queenstown he used his card at restaurants, at bars and clubs. He took the shuttle to the mountain and back every day and he used his card to purchase 10 tickets at a time from the Queenstown Snow Centre.
What about ATM withdrawals?
Mike says he used an ATM a couple of times, but was mostly able to pay with his Citibank Visa Debit Card. He says he got cash out when he made purchases with the Citibank Plus Visa a couple of times. He was able to get up to a hundred dollars on each occasion, but he says it really depends on the merchant and how much cash they have in the till. When he did use the ATM, he had to pay the local ATM operator fee because Citibank ATMs were hard to find. There were no issues with card acceptance at New Zealand ATMs.
What are your travel money tips?
Mike says if you're travelling by shuttle bus to the peaks, purchase the tickets in bulk. A single ticket costs $15, there's a discount if you purchase packs of 10 or 15 tickets at a time.
hi,i am sam,i will take my Australia anz bank card to new nealand,can i withdraw cash from NZ anz atm?
Hi Sam,
Thank you for reaching out to finder.
If your ANZ bank card has a Visa/Mastercard logo on it, then the answer is yes. You would be able to use the card via ATMs in Australia which reflect the same logo. Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Reggie
I am travelling to NZ next month with a Teachers Mutual bank Debit card and some cash. Am I best to use the debit card for most transactions or withdraw from ATMs and use cash?
Hi Jim,
Thanks for leaving a question on finder.
Debit cards are a great way to take money overseas. Please note though that there will be an International conversion fee of 2.45% of transaction value in $AUD everytime you use your TM debit card to withdraw from overseas so please make less frequent but large amounts of withdrawal to save on fees. ATMs are everywhere and nearly all businesses accept EFTPOS payments which you can use for contactless purchases and to get cash out over the counter when you use your debit card. To give you an idea, 75% of all transactions in New Zealand go through the Paymark system (Paymark provide EFTPOS terminals to businesses), so there’s no issue using your Visa and Mastercard credit card or debit card. American Express cards are accepted in fewer places than Visa and Mastercard. ATMs are available in most towns with the major banks represented: ANZ, ASB, Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) and Westpac. Some ANZ branches are branded as The National Bank.
It will still be ideal to have combination of debit cards and cash if you will be travelling to NZ.
Cheers,
Joel
I used Commonwealth bank to withdraw money with my Kiwibank Debit card in NZ. However they slapped me with a 9.5% charge for International transaction and a Au $4 fee!! What is the best Aussie bank to use or should i rather pay with debit or credit card?
Hi Laurie,
Thanks for your inquiry.
A debit card is a great way to take money overseas, one of the key benefits being $0 withdrawals overseas. There are other travel money options for New Zealand that you may want to consider. You may refer to our side-by-side comparison between debit cards for travel, prepaid travel money cards, credit cards for travel, travellers cheques, and cash.
There’s also a separate table that will help you compare different cards and find the one that suits you. When you are ready, you may then click on the “Go to site” button and you will be redirected to the provider’s website where you can proceed with the application or get in touch with their representatives for further inquiries you may have.
Before applying, please ensure that you meet all the eligibility criteria and read through the details of the needed requirements as well as the relevant Product Disclosure Statements/Terms and Conditions when comparing your options before making a decision on whether it is right for you. You can also contact the provider if you have specific questions.
Best,
Jonathan
Good day!
I am traveling from South Africa to New Zealand with my partner and we have obtained our visitors Visa’s. My partner will manage all the monies and foreign currencies and has obtained a travel card in his name. He will be giving monies to me for spending in NZ. Do I need to have proof that I have exchanged the monies with my passport or will they accept that all exchanges have been done in his name? Thanks.
Regards,
Cor
Hi Cor,
Thank you for your inquiry. We understand that sharing some travel funds can be a bit complicated.
Usually, it is not going to be a problem as long as you’re traveling with him. However, take note that should there be issues along the way in relation to the card, only your partner can talk or report them to the relevant travel card issuer.
You may consult the travel card issuer for more comprehensive advice.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Jonathan
Thanks for your response, Jonathan. Appreciated.
I have a Citibank Visa debit card in Australia and plan to use it during my holiday in New Zealand. Any idea which ATM in New Zealand does not charge ATM fees when I use the Australian Citibank Visa debit card to withdraw cash in New Zealand?
Thanks
Hi Daisy,
Thank you for your enquiry.
There is a Citibank branch located in Auckland, New Zealand but Citibank Australia don’t have any partner ATMs in New Zealand. You need to withdraw from a Citibank-branded ATM for fee-free withdrawals. Some foreign ATM operators could charge you a fee for using their ATMs. It’s important to note that this isn’t a Citibank charge and is out of Citibank’s control.
Kind regards,
Jason