Cash or Card

Most prefer card but you will still need cash from time to time.

In 2016, I was in Marree and asked the caravan park proprietor what he preferred. His comment was card as he had to drive to Port Augusta to deposit cash.

Hi Chris

We have just got back from an outback SA trip

Most places will take either.
Some places we went had problems with internet so were cash only
Other places were card only. Especially unmanned fuel outlets

Best to carry both just incase

Cheers
Mike

Spent many years in remote travel. Most Territorians always have a grand or two in their wallet for emergencies. Saved me a few times when communication towers played up ( no atm or card services). I never leave home without at least $1 k in the wallet.

I was at the Pink Roadhouse, Oodnadatta and the Telstra internet was out so it was cash only. One guy had already filled up and could not cover his fuel bill with cash. No idea of the outcome. Always carry cash, you just never know!

Chris
We always travel with both and has been said above if the internet is down you need cash. l did a trip with some mates and one of them could not use his phone to pay as it would not be recognised by the EFPOS machines. l had pay cash for all his coffees,lucky fella.
So yes both is best as you never know.
Murray

A funny story about this topic if I may.

About 30 years ago I had GQ Patrol traytop and a HZ Holden one tonner which I lent to Pommie relatives of my missus so we could show them some of the outback (at their request) we lived in Adelaide at the time. Got a flatty in the one tonner going through the Flinders Rangers - no big deal got it fixed. Spent the night at William Creek a couple days later which the Poms enjoyed immensely. Left William Creek in the morning and headed to Coober Pedy.

About 50 k's from Coober Pedy we were flagged down by two German fellas in a commodore. Stopped to help and saw they were driving on the rim with no tyre on the left rear. Asked did they have a spare which they did but it was flat. Got them to jump in the back of the Patrol and headed to Coober Pedy where I got the wife and the Poms to get some more supplies as we were heading further north while I took the Germans to the wreckers.

Asked the guy if he had a 14 inch rim and tyre for a commodore, " come with me he said. " Got to a HZ holden where he said this wheel will fit the rear of the commodore but not the front ( due to the disc brakes ) the German fellas said that's fine. The tyre was almost completely bald. Then the tourists asked how much does this cost ? " Eighty dollars said the yard owner " then one tourist replied with his very acute German accent - " atey dollarz for zee zecond hand rim wiss bald tyre ? "Well the yard owner immediately replied with " DO YA WANT THE F....NG THING OR NOT " The frustrated German replied with " yarz yarz vee vant ze farkin zing " and pulled out his credit card ! Then the wrecker bloke angrily said " ya not in f....ng Munich now mate - it's cash only here ! " They only had about $20 on them so I lent them the rest til we got back into town.

Well I started to worry about getting more flats in my one tonner as we were heading further north and eyed off the other wheel with almost new tyre on the HZ wreck but wasn't really keen on paying $80 but thought best I grab it ! So I went up to the wrecking yard owner and said hey buddy I will grab that other rim and tyre off that holden - he jacked it up, rolled it over to me and said " just give us twenty bucks mate " You just gotta love some of the Aussie characters you meet when out of the main cities !

Ever since then - like Bigfish, I always carry a fair amount of folding stuff when off the bitumen !

Cheers
Gazz

You need both, but note cash in NOT king anymore at many outback outlets.
We are finding many places insist on card, as it eliminates cash jobs under the table. Found as example at the Jardine ferry, the eftpos was down, I said no worries will pay cash, this was refused. Waited an hour (and a line of cars formed both sides) many offering cash and the above reason was noted as to why they are not allowed to accept cash.

I don't understand why there isn't a manual procedure for the use of cards when the EFTPOS is down. We are so reliant on them and it seems the world comes to a standstill when this happens. Remember the manual machines that were used to take an imprint of your card?

Like most others we carry a certain amount of cash with us, but in the past 4 years of travel have not once had to use it. That won’t stop us carrying it ‘just in case’ though,