There’s nothing quite like catching the Northern Hemisphere as it wakes up for spring. That’s exactly what our Learning and Development Team Leader, Helgi, just experienced, ticking off some of the best places in the Toronto area to travel. With two weeks up her sleeve, she visited Toronto, St. Catharines, and the Niagara Falls area. Everything was in bloom, and the energy was unmatched, with the streets buzzing about the upcoming soccer season. 

Helgi has also returned with a wealth of tips, hacks and must-try things to share with those planning Australia to Canada travel. From managing Canadian currency to navigating public transport, here’s your boots-on-the-ground guide to an unforgettable Canada trip. 

Let’s find out! 

Do Australians need a visa to travel to Canada? 

Before boarding your flight to Canada, make sure to get your paperwork sorted! 

If you hold an Australian passport, you don't need a traditional paper visa for a short holiday, but you must secure an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA). Searching for an Australia travel visa Canada requirement will direct you straight to the official government portal where you can apply online for a $7 CAD (approx. $7.40 AUD) fee before flying.

It’s always smart to check the official Canada travel advisory page via Smartraveller before you depart. This ensures you have the latest updates on entry requirements, local conditions, and event logistics, which is especially important if you are planning Canada trips during major peak periods.

Using a travel card in Canada 

Helgi used her Travel Money Oz Currency Pass travel card (duh!) to fund her way around Canada, with a bunch of physical Canadian currency too. She added her Currency Pass to her digital Google wallet and used her phone to tap for purchases – that way she could leave her physical card safe and secure at her hotel! 

Currency Pass was accepted literally everywhere, from high-end museum gift shops to tiny coffee spots, with no minimum spend limits or extra surcharges for using the card. 

A hot tip though: when tapping your card at a checkout, the store attendant will ask if you’re paying with debit or credit. Always select ‘credit’ and let them know you’re using an overseas card, so you don’t get hit with credit fees. 

What you need to know about Canadian Currency 

While you can use cash everywhere in Canada, the local culture has shifted heavily toward digital payments. Card usage is so heavily assumed that if you want to pay with physical notes, you might need to speak up. Helgi went to the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) and the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), and both times, she had to ask the cashier if she can pay by cash. 

If you do decide to keep some physical Canadian currency on hand for peace of mind, try to break your large bills early. You’ll notice locals tend to pay standard everyday bills with $20 and $50 notes, while strategically saving their $5 and $10 notes purely for tipping.

And a quick word of warning for when you look down at your change: Canadian coins don’t play by the rules of geometry. For the most part, they make sense – the larger the value, the larger the coin. Except, when it comes to the 5-cent and 10-cent pieces. The 5-cent coin is physically larger than the 10-cent dime. They also have quarters instead of 20-cent pieces! 

Taxes and tipping in Canada 

Coming from Australia, where the price on the tag is final, Canadian price tags are a little different. Consumption taxes like GST and Harmonised Sales Tax (HST) are never included in the displayed price; they’re tacked on at the checkout. To make it slightly more confusing, these taxes vary depending on which State you are visiting. In Ontario, you need to mentally add a 13% HST add-on to pretty much everything you buy. Look for the GST/HST amount on your final bill and match your tip. Of course, if the service is outstanding, you can add a little more. 

You can easily select a tipping percentage on the card terminal when paying with your Currency Pass, but if you happen to have a few smaller bank notes on you, leave a cash tip. The hospitality staff quietly prefer it, even if they're too polite to say so out loud.

Public transport and train travel Canada 

Helgi was incredibly impressed by Toronto's public transport network. While legendary routes like the Rocky Mountaineer make train travel Canada famous for cross-country journeys, navigating Toronto's urban grid is clean, efficient, and gives you a tonne of options. You can jump on a train, a bus, or their famous ‘streetcars’ (which is just the local Canadian word for trams).

Navigating the payment system is super easy too. You can buy a physical transit card called a PRESTO card, load a digital PRESTO card straight into your digital wallet, or skip the line entirely and just tap your Currency Pass directly on the reader as you board.
No matter which card option you choose, the fare is exactly the same: $3.30 CAD (approx. $3.60 AUD). Whatever you do, don't try to pay with physical cash on board the bus or streetcar. It’s incredibly uncommon, and they actually charge you a higher premium fare for doing it.

The best part? A single tap of a PRESTO card gives you a two-hour transfer window. You can jump off a streetcar, grab a quick coffee, hop onto the subway, and as long as it's within that two-hour limit, the system treats it as one continuous journey.

P.S. If you’re heading to Canada for the upcoming football season, Toronto Stadium is at the beautiful waterfront of Lake Ontario and easily accessible by public transport or short walk from CN tower.

Must-do things in Canada

Logistics aside, Toronto completely stole Helgi’s heart and made a strong case for being the best city to travel in Canada. Toronto has a magnificent blend of cultures, so it’s the perfect place sprawling blend of cultures, and my absolute highest recommendation is to step outside your comfort zone and hunt down international cuisines you've never tried before.

If you’re building your itinerary, here are a few absolute must-dos that are worth every penny:

• Niagara Falls is one of those places that you see a million times on television, but standing there in person? It is completely magnificent. Make sure to walk along the whole boardwalk to find different viewpoints of the falls!
• While you've heard of Niagara Falls, its little sister, Niagara-on-the-Lake, is absolutely worth the visit too. Just 25 minutes north of Niagara Falls, you discover a quaint small town with a bustling main street. You can expect charming little shops, art galleries, world-class wineries and farm-to-table dining.
• Back in the city, Ripley’s Aquarium, the Art Gallery of Ontario, and the Royal Ontario Museum are worth the visit. Pro tip: Check the official attraction websites before you go as most of them offer cheaper ticket prices for buying online in advance rather than rocking up to the window. Also, keep in mind that many museums are closed on Mondays!
• You cannot leave Canada without eating Poutine (crispy chips smothered in rich gravy and fresh, squeaky cheese curds). For dessert, track down a Beavertail – a delicious, stretched fried pastry dough served hot with sweet toppings.
• If you’re a lover of boardgames, save some room in your suitcase. Board games are roughly 30% cheaper in Canada than they are back home in Australia!
• Keep an eye out for local wildlife! Take a walk down a city sidewalk or through a park to spot wild squirrels, rabbits, and chipmunks popping out of the bushes. If you take a day trip outside Toronto, keep your eyes peeled for deer and raccoons. Keep in mind though that Canadian geese are famously aggressive, especially during springtime when their little goslings have bloomed, so snap any pictures from a good distance and never act intimidating.
• Toronto treats its public spaces like a canvas. The street art scene is everywhere, and the quality is stunning – it turns casual afternoon walks into a free open-air gallery. You can even find a dedicated street in Toronto called Graffiti Alley that’s famous among tourists, local artists and photographers. 

Exchanging your AUD to CAD

Heading across the Pacific soon? Don't wait until you land to sort out your funds. Pop into your local Travel Money Oz store or order online to Australian Dollars to Canadian Dollars (AUD to CAD), to sort out your cash stash. 

While you’re there, ask for a Travel Money Oz Currency Pass too. You load Canadian Dollars directly on your card and lock in the rate there. By using a Currency Pass, you can dodge those nasty international transaction fees and can spend your time focusing on the sights, the street art, and the poutine!

Planning to cross the border to catch more of the action? If your itinerary includes popping over to the United States or Mexico for the upcoming soccer games, you’ll want to make sure your wallet is prepped for multiple currencies. Stay ahead of the game be loading United States Dollars directly onto your Currency Pass, or chat with our team to grab some physical Mexican Pesos before you take off. 
 

^Disclaimer:

^{This blog is provided for information only and does not take into consideration your objectives, financial situation or needs. Travel Money Oz has sought to ensure that the information is true and correct at the time of publication (First Published June 1, 2026). Prices, details and services are subject to change without notice, and Travel Money Oz accepts no responsibility or liability for any such changes, including any loss resulting from any action taken or reliance made by you on any information provided. You should consider whether the information and suggestions contained in any blog entry are appropriate for you, having regard to your own objectives, financial situation and needs. While we take reasonable care in providing the blog, we give no warranties or representations that it is complete or accurate or is appropriate for you. We are not liable for any loss caused, whether due to negligence or otherwise, arising from use of, or reliance on, the information and/or suggestions contained in this blog.}