| Credit Card | Top Perks | Annual Fee | Bankwest Zero Platinum | No Foreign Transaction Fees | $0 |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Degrees Platinum | No Foreign Transaction Fees | $0* |
| HSBC Platinum | Lounge Access & Travel Insurance | $0* |
| St.George Amplify Signature | Lounge Access & Travel Insurance | $99* |
| Bankwest More World | Lounge Access, No Foreign Fees & Travel Insurance | $270 |
| American Express Explorer | Lounge Access, Travel Credits & Insurance | $395 |
| Qantas Amex Ultimate | Lounge Access, No Foreign Fees, Travel Credits & Insurance | $450 |
| Qantas Money Titanium | Lounge Access, Flight Discounts & Travel Insurance | $1,200 |
Australians love their travel, so it’s no surprise that one of the most popular credit card categories is always travel-focused products. Choose the best travel credit card, and you can save on foreign transaction fees or enjoy a boost with bonus point offers and the accumulation of frequent flyer miles as the months progress.
Plus, many cards in this category provide users with complimentary airport lounge access to take the stress out of transit wait times and travel insurance for medical and extra coverages while overseas.
To help you find the right option for you, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best travel credit cards in Australia for overseas travel for you to consider.
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Bankwest Zero Platinum
Our Take
Best For: Fee-Free Overseas Spending & Budget Holidaying - The Bankwest Zero Platinum card is perfect for casual holidaymakers who want to completely dodge annoying foreign exchange fees when shopping online or swiping their card abroad, without ever having to worry about an ongoing annual fee cutting into their travel budget.
What travel benefits do you get: You get to skip the standard foreign currency fees whenever you buy things online from global shops or swipe your card while on vacation overseas.
Our favourite feature: The $0 annual fee! It costs absolutely nothing to keep in your wallet year after year.
Its Top Perks
◇ Appy Days: As soon as you are approved, you can instantly see and use a digital version of your card inside the bank app - no waiting around for the postman.
◇ Lower Interest & Free Days: It features a slightly lower-than-usual 18.99% p.a. purchase interest rate and gives you up to 55 days interest-free to pay off what you owe.
◇ Moving Debt For Free: If you have an existing credit card debt with a different bank, you can move it over to get 0% interest on balance transfers for the first 6 months (carries a 3% setup fee). Plus, you get 0% interest on new purchases for those first 6 months too!
What to Know Before You Apply
The Post-Promo Jump: Make sure you pay off any balances before the first 6 months wrap up, otherwise any leftover debt will start gathering interest at the standard 18.99% p.a. rate.
Basic Approvals: While there is no strict minimum income number to hit, you still need to pass Bankwest's standard credit check.
28 Degrees Platinum
Our Take
Best For: Global Connectivity & High-Interest Control - The 28 Degrees Platinum card is perfect for solo backpackers and tech-reliant global travellers who want to stay connected to the internet via free roaming data across 200 countries, making it ideal for those who always clear their monthly balance to avoid high interest rates.
What travel benefits do you get: You get zero foreign transaction fees worldwide and free global internet data data so you can check maps or send messages anywhere.
Our favourite feature: The free 3GB of global roaming data every year (delivered via a Flexiroam eSIM or micro-SIM - valued at $9USD and 15% discount on additional data) that works across 150+ countries. It saves you from buying expensive tourist SIM cards!
Its Top Perks
◇ Delayed Flight Rescue: If your plane is delayed by two hours or more, the card gives you a free Flight Delay Pass so you can go sit in a comfortable airport lounge with free snacks and Wi-Fi.
◇ Cheap Hotel Bookings: You score a neat 10% discount on selected hotel bookings when using the card through Booking.com, Expedia, or Wotif.
◇ Shopping Safety Net: Includes free purchase protection that covers things you buy for up to 180 days against accidental damage, theft, or loss (up to $1,500 per item).
What to Know Before You Apply
High Interest Warning: If you don't pay your monthly bill in full, this card is very expensive. It has a high 28.99% p.a. interest rate on purchases and a 29.99% p.a. rate on cash withdrawals.
Fee After Year One: While it is totally free for the first year, it will cost you $96 a year after that.
No Free Insurance: Unlike many travel cards, this card does not come with complimentary international travel insurance.
HSBC Platinum
Our Take
Best For: Entry-Level Airport Luxury & Built-In Security - The HSBC Platinum card is perfect for everyday vacationers who want an affordable, low-barrier pathway into airport lounge comfort and complimentary holiday insurance, giving you premium travel perks without requiring an intimidatingly high annual income to apply.
What travel benefits do you get: You get two free airport lounge passes every year to escape the noisy terminals, plus fully built-in travel insurance.
Our favourite feature: The complimentary LoungeKey passes. You get two visits a year to walk into quiet lounges, sit on comfy chairs, and enjoy free food and drinks.
Its Top Perks
◇ Global Holiday Cover: You, your partner, and your kids are automatically covered by built-in domestic and international travel insurance, plus rental car excess cover in Australia.
◇ Home & Away Discounts: Gives you special access to HSBC’s global discount program for cheap deals on shopping, dining, and travel experiences worldwide.
◇ Fast Point Collector: You earn 1.5 rewards points for every $1 you spend. You can accumulate points up to a $120,000 spending limit each year, and swap them over to Virgin Australia Velocity points (1 reward point equals 0.5 Velocity points).
◇ Shopping Safety Net: Enjoy extra peace of mind when buying new items. You get built-in purchase protection to cover eligible goods worldwide against theft or accidental damage, plus an extended warranty of up to 12 months to stretch out the manufacturer's cover.
What to Know Before You Apply
Standard Overseas Shopping Fee: Keep an eye on your global shopping cart. This card carries a 3% foreign transaction fee on any purchases made while travelling abroad or shopping on international websites, which sits right at the standard market average.
Fee In Year Two: It costs $0 for the first year, but after that, it resets to its normal annual fee of $199 p.a.
Income Threshold: You must earn a minimum before-tax income of at least $40,000 a year to be allowed to apply.
St.George Amplify Signature
Our Take
Best For: High-End Hotel Perks & Long-Term Points Stacking - The St.George Amplify Signature card is perfect for luxury seekers who want to live like royalty with free room upgrades and late hotel check-outs, while simultaneously securing a massive, multi-year stream of flexible bank points that can be converted into premium airline seats.
What travel benefits do you get: Free Priority Pass airport lounge visits, premium hotel perks, and automatic international travel insurance.
Our favourite feature: The Visa Luxury Hotel Collection membership. It secures you the cheapest room rates, free room upgrades, and a lazy 3:00 PM late check-out at luxury properties worldwide.
Its Top Perks
◇ Giant Two-Year Bonus Pack: Sign up and score up to 200,000 bonus Amplify points! You will pocket 100,000 points in your first year after spending $12,000 on eligible purchases, plus another 100,000 points in your second year when you hit that same spend target again. (You can swap these for 10,000 Velocity/KrisFlyer miles or $900 in gift cards). Offer available to brand-new customers or someone who hasn't held an Amplify credit card with St.George, Bank of Melbourne, or BankSA at any point within the last 24 months.
◇ International Point Booster: You earn a massive 3 points per $1 spent on international purchases and 2 points per $1 on everyday local shopping.
◇ 24/7 Personal Helper: You get free access to a personal concierge team who can book hard-to-get concert tickets or plan your holiday itineraries for you.
What to Know Before You Apply
Monthly Spend Speed-Limit: If you are a big spender, note that after you charge $10,000 to your card in a single month, your earning rate slows down to 0.5 Amplify points per $1 spent for the rest of that month.
Standard Bonus Point Fee Note: While you earn an extra point per dollar on international purchases, keep in mind this card carries a 3% foreign transaction fee on overseas spending or global online shops, which sits right at the standard market average.
High Tier Requirements: While there is no formal income cap, you must be approved for a large minimum credit limit of $15,000 to get this card.
Step Up in Annual Fee: Existing St.George customers pay just $99 in the first year (new customers pay $199), but it jumps to $295 p.a. every year after that.
Bankwest More World
Our Take
Best For: Frequent Family Transit & Uncapped Daily Earnings - The Bankwest More World Mastercard is perfect for regular jetsetters and families who want to guarantee they never sit at a crowded airport terminal again by utilizing a generous 10 lounge passes a year, all while collecting a high, uncapped rate of everyday rewards points.
What travel benefits do you get: An incredibly generous 10 free airport lounge visits every year, no foreign transaction fees, and comprehensive travel safety cover.
Our favourite feature: The 10 free lounge passes! You can use them all yourself across the year, or use them to bring a big group of family and friends into the lounge with you via Mastercard Travel Pass.
Its Top Perks
◇ Fully Shielded Abroad: Comes packed with premium overseas medical insurance, flight delay insurance, and international rental car excess protection.
◇ Uncapped Everyday Points: You earn 2.5 points for every single dollar you spend on normal shopping, with absolutely no limits on how many points you can accumulate.
◇ Welcome Cashback: Spend $10,000 in the first 90 days and keep the card open for 15 months to get 50,000 bonus points, which you can instantly redeem for $110 real cashback (offer is only for new customers or those who haven't held a Bankwest More card in the past 24 months).
◇ Shopping Shield: Shop with absolute confidence whether you are at home or overseas. Your card packs built-in purchase protection that guards new items bought anywhere in the world against theft or damage for up to 3 months , plus an extended warranty that tacks on up to an extra 12 months of coverage on Australian goods.
What to Know Before You Apply
High Minimum Income: This is a premium card, meaning you must earn a steady minimum income of at least $76,000 a year to apply.
Upfront Cost & Limit: It features a steep $270 annual fee and requires you to qualify for a high minimum credit limit of $12,000.
American Express Explorer
Our Take
Best For: Net-Zero Premium Travel & Flexible Frequent Flying - The American Express Explorer card is perfect for savvy lifestyle travellers who want a premium reward experience where the upfront cost is entirely erased by a matching yearly travel credit, giving you the freedom to move uncapped points to a wide range of global airline partners.
What travel benefits do you get: A massive yearly travel voucher, Amex airport lounge invitations, and premium hotel credits.
Our favourite feature: The $400 annual travel credit. Every single year, Amex hands you $400 to spend directly on flights, hotels, or car rentals through their travel portal, which completely wipes out the card's $395 fee!
Its Top Perks
◇ Amex Lounge VIP: Get 2 free entry passes every year to sit inside the exclusive American Express Centurion Lounges at Sydney or Melbourne international airports.
◇ Welcome Points Boost: You'll pocket 75,000 bonus points when you apply online and spend $4,000 in the first 3 months from approval, plus an extra 50,000 bonus points when you spend another $4,000 in the first 3 months of your second year. (This special offer is exclusively for brand-new card members who apply online and haven’t held an AMEX card in the last 18 months). Points arrive 8-10 weeks after meeting each spending goal.
◇ Uncapped & Flexible Points: Earn 2 points per $1 on everyday shopping and 1 point on government body purchases in Australia with no point limits. You can transfer these points to major airline partners like Virgin Australia, Singapore Airlines, and Emirates (1 Amex reward point converts to 0.5 Virgin Velocity points).
◇ Shared Point Power: Skyrocket your point earnings so you can go on that bucket-list trip as soon as possible by adding up to 4 free additional cardholders to the card, letting your family's everyday spending combine into one massive points pool.
◇ Complete Vault Protection: Complete Vault Protection: Boasts premium shopping protection perks such as "The Buyer's Advantage" manufacturer's warranty extension, smartphone screen insurance for accidental cracks, worldwide purchase protection for global shopping, and handy refund protection for items bought within Australia.
What to Know Before You Apply
High Interest Rate: If you carry a balance month-to-month, it will cost you a lot, as the purchase interest rate sits at 23.99% p.a.
Government Point Cap: While you get 2 points on normal shopping, any payments made to Australian government bodies (like the ATO) only earn a reduced 1 point per $1.
International Purchase Cost: Be mindful of the 3% foreign transaction fee tacked onto overseas transactions or global online orders, which is actually standard for the Aussie credit card market.
Qantas American Express Ultimate
Our Take
Best For: Serious Qantas Point Hacking & Premium Airport Comfort - The Qantas American Express Ultimate card is perfect for dedicated frequent flyers who want to rapidly stack up Qantas miles on their everyday grocery or fuel runs, unlocking excellent redemption value alongside free Qantas and Amex lounge entries every single year.
What travel benefits do you get: 4 lounge passes a year, 0% foreign transaction fees, a giant Qantas flight credit, and full family travel protection.
Our favourite feature: The annual $450 Qantas Travel Credit. Just like the Explorer card, Amex gives you a $450 credit every year to buy Qantas flights, making the $450 annual fee effectively free if you fly once a year.
Its Top Perks
◇ Quadruple Lounge Access: Receive 2 free invitations to the standard Qantas lounges PLUS 2 free invitations to the premium Amex Centurion Lounges in Sydney or Melbourne.
◇ Zero Foreign Fees: You save money on every single overseas transaction because this card completely waives the standard international transaction fees.
◇ Quick Sign-Up Points: Pocket 70,000 bonus Qantas points when you sign up and spend $5,000 in the first 3 months. On top of that, you can bag a secondary 50,000-point bonus simply by spending another $5,000 within 3 months of starting your second card year. Plus, you earn a high 1.25 Qantas points per $1 on everyday shopping.
What to Know Before You Apply
Yearly Point Speed-Limit: Your point earning slows down slightly if you hit a big milestone. Once you earn 100,000 Qantas points in a calendar year, your everyday earn rate drops to 1 Qantas point per $1 spent for the rest of that year.
Global Shopping & Refund Safety: Shop with total peace of mind wherever you go. You get worldwide purchase protection to cover eligible items against theft or damage anywhere on the globe, alongside handy refund protection for your local shopping here in Australia.
Flawless Credit Needed: While there is no set minimum income rule, you must have an incredibly clean credit history with zero missed payments to pass.
Qantas Money Titanium
Our Take
Best For: Ultra-Premium Business Travel & First-Class Pampering - The Qantas Premier Titanium card is perfect for high-earning corporate executives and affluent travellers who want elite, top-tier luxury treatment, utilizing exclusive First Class lounge invites and steep flight discounts that easily justify a premium annual fee.
What travel benefits do you get: Exclusive Qantas First Class Lounge passes, heavy flight discounts, and a massive points injection.
Our favourite feature: The First-Class Lounge Upgrade. The primary cardholder gets two single-entry passes to the ultra-luxurious Qantas First Lounges in Sydney, Melbourne, or Los Angeles each anniversary year, plus two extra passes for domestic Qantas Clubs or Qantas International Business Lounges.
Its Top Perks
◇ Double Welcome Bonus: Get a massive 150,000 bonus Qantas points AND a $400 Qantas Luxury Holidays voucher when you spend $5,000 on eligible purchases in the first 3 months.
◇ 10% Off Premium Flights: Save 10% on Qantas flight bookings twice a year for up to two people - valid on all fare classes, including Business and First Class!
◇ Elite Status Booster: Climb the Qantas tier ladder much quicker with a special 20% bonus on your flight Status Credits whenever you book using the card.
◇ Elite White-Glove Concierge: Save yourself time, stress, and money by outsourcing your life to the Qantas Premier Titanium Concierge, giving you 24/7 personal assistance to lock in tricky event tickets, restaurant reservations, or travel bookings.
◇ Complete Travel Safeguards: Travel with total peace of mind thanks to comprehensive domestic and overseas travel insurance that covers unexpected medical emergencies, expensive trip cancellations, and rental vehicle excess insurance for both international and domestic trips.
◇ Extended Global Purchase Shield: Secure your shopping with helpful purchase protection that locks in a massive 180 days of worldwide coverage on eligible purchases, making it particularly handy for high-value items you buy while travelling.
What to Know Before You Apply
Ultra-Exclusive Requirements: This card is highly exclusive, meaning you must earn a high minimum income of $200,000 a year and be approved for at least a $15,000 credit limit to qualify.
High Fee & Big Spend Needed: To justify this card's premium $1,200 annual fee, you need to be a heavy monthly spender who can consistently maximize the rewards and high-end travel perks to make the steep upfront cost worth your while.
Higher Overseas Fee: If you love shopping online from global brands or traveling the world, keep in mind that this card charges a 3% foreign transaction fee.
Shorter Interest-Free Window: You get up to 44 interest-free days on purchases instead of the usual 55, giving you a tighter timeframe to clear your statement balance each period.
Quick Travel Card Insider Tips Before You Leave:
1. To Activate Free Insurance: Remember that simply holding the card isn't always enough! Most banks require you to buy your return plane tickets directly on that specific card before you leave Australia for the cover to activate.
2. Lounge Flight Rules: To use your complimentary airline lounge passes, most providers require you to be flying on a flight operated by that exact same airline on that day.
3. What 'Eligible Purchases' Means: When cards tell you to spend a certain amount to get bonus points, things like cash advances, gambling, bank fees, and government tax bills do not count toward your total spend target!
We hope you found our list of the best travel credit cards in Australia for 2026 helpful! Feel free to comment below with your thoughts on the blog.
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