The Australian dollar is the base currency of the Australian currency system. The Australian dollar is also referred to as the "buck" by Australians. Introduced in 1966, the dollar is typically denoted by the dollar sign ($). Other dollar currencies are distinguished from each other by the A$. Through the global Foreign Exchange Sydney markets, the Australian dollar ranks sixth among the world's most traded currencies, behind the US dollar, Yen, Pund, Euro and Swiss Franc. Due to its international ties with America and Asia, the Australian dollar's value is said to be very strong, along with the relative stability of the economy and the relative freedom of foreign exchange markets from government intervention. As a result of the country's high interest rates, it is one of the best exchange rates in the world.  

Historically, Australia has used the fluctuating rate measure "flexible" against the US exchange rate currency (USD) since the 1970's. It reached its lowest value against the United States dollar in April 2001, when it was about 47.7 United States cents, and its highest was on the 15th of October in 2010, when it reached an equivalence with the dollar. Since the introduction of online trading and currency trading, the freedom to trade foreign exchange has greatly increased. In fact, it has become a popular activity to buy and sell foreign currency (foreign money) online. Using a currency calculator, these sites enable one to quickly and easily convert currencies based on the average rate.  

Due to the strength of the Australian dollar, foreign visitors find the Australian exchange rate quite expensive when converted into holiday currency due to other weak currencies, reducing their travel cash and buying power. On the other hand, when purchasing Swedish currency for a holiday in Sweden, the opposite may be true.

The Canadian dollar is often overlooked when it comes to foreign exchange.  

To distinguish it from the equivalent US dollar, the Canadian dollar is represented as C$. Canadian dollars are denoted as CAD. Canada's dollar is the 7th most traded currency in the world as of 2007. Formerly pegged to the US dollar, the Canadian dollar is now freely traded. The currency trades in the USD 1 to 1 CAD range but has swung both ways in the past according to market sentiments in relation to the USA and commodities. In general, the currency is relatively stable when compared to other currencies. Due to its developed economy and close links to the biggest economy in the world, the US, and the fact that it relies heavily on the sale of commodities. Therefore, converting Canadian dollars into Australian dollars is very similar to converting US dollars.