Yes. Most supermarkets and shops in Australia have a so-called EFTPOS terminal for payments using a debit/credit card. These terminals have a special tap and pay ‘contactless’ technology implemented for payments of $100 AUD or less.

For payments of more than $100 AUD the EFTPOS terminals use chip and pin technology. This is the case for both debit and credit cards.

Some British banks may charge for international card payments. In addition your bank’s AUD to GBP exchange rate may not be so good. This is how banks make money. Before using your bank card for payments in Australia it’s always a good idea to contact your bank. This will avoid your card becoming blocked due to international transactions that your bank may find suspicious.

The vast majority of establishments use EFTPOS terminals or the equivalent for card payments as well as Apple Pay and Google Pay.

However smaller, non-brick and mortar places such as local markets, souvenir stalls or food trucks only accept cash payments. This is also the case for food and drink on festivals and most vendors on the beach.

We advise that you take some Australian dollar cash with you on your trip to Australia. Cash remains a popular means of payment in Australia and a great fallback option.

A good coffee, say latte or flat white, will set you back about $4.00 AUD. Expect to pay a little more for special milks (almond, oat, soy) or decaf. In tourist-heavy areas you might pay a little more.

In a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay around $15-$18 for an appetizer, $25-35 for a main dish, and about $15-$18 for a nice dessert. That makes the bill for a three-course dinner in the area of $55-$75 AUD.

Cocktails will set you back about $14+ AUD, less if you find a place with happy hour specials.

Tipping is not a common practice in Australia. However, tourist-heavy areas have started to adopt something similar to tipping by adding a place on the bill for an optional tip.

In general, Australian food staff are paid very well and do not rely on tips to survive. Because tipping is not common, some staff may not have the incentive to offer excellent service.

If you decide to leave a tip, make it clear to the staff member that you are leaving a tip, as most staff will by default give back your change.