no point to keep in local bank, you cann't use them as foreign currency ... meaning you cann't withdraw them as AUD in Australia ... when withdraw the money, it converts from AUD to MYR, then again MYR to AUD, you could lost as much as 15% there ...

just open FD in Australia now ... no need to wait till u go there ...

ya, foreign currency FD is NOT foreign currency ...

in your case, you may split half of your money to this foreign FD and then another half in local FD, then probably you can manage your risk better ... sounds ok ?

depends on when you plan to travel to NZ, I don't think its coming up anytime soon ....