Best Gold Investment Options in Australia (2026): ETFs, Bullion, or CFDs?

ByAmeliaApril 27, 20263 Mins read6

So how can you, as an Australian, take advantage of the positives around gold?

The truth is there’s no single best way to invest in gold in Australia. The right approach depends on a few things:

Some methods cost more to set up. While others demand more of your time.

So, here’s a look at the three main options available to you and what each one actually involves.

1. Physical Gold (Bullion)

Physical gold is exactly what it sounds like. You buy gold bars or coins and own them outright.

In Australia, the two most well-known options are the Perth Mint and ABC Bullion.

The Perth Mint is government-owned and backed by the Western Australian government guarantee, making it one of the more secure routes for first-time buyers.

ABC Bullion is a Sydney-based dealer with an accredited refinery and storage facilities in Sydney and Perth.

Either way, you’ll want to look for investment-grade gold, which means 99.5% purity or higher.

Keep in mind that you’ll also pay a premium above the spot price to cover fabrication costs.

Pros

You own a tangible asset with no counterparty risk and no reliance on a platform or fund
Government-backed storage options exist through the Perth Mint Depository and PMGOLD on the ASX
Gold held for more than 12 months may qualify for a 50% CGT discount
Physical gold fits well within a self-managed super fund (SMSF) structure
It has a long track record as a wealth preservation tool across different economic conditions

Cons

Storage costs add up (allocated gold at the Perth Mint runs around 1% per annum, while ABC Bullion charges from AU$25 per quarter)
Delivery fees apply (ABC Bullion charges $30 flat for orders under $8,000 and a $100 minimum for larger orders)
Selling takes more steps than ETFs or CFDs, which makes it less liquid
Premiums above the spot price can eat into returns, especially over shorter timeframes

Best for: Long-term investors who want direct ownership of gold and are comfortable managing the storage and insurance side of things.

2. Gold ETFs

A gold ETF is a fund listed on the ASX that tracks the price of gold. You buy units through any brokerage account, the same way you’d buy shares.

Most ASX gold ETFs are physically backed, meaning the fund holds real gold bars on your behalf.

You don’t have to worry about storage or insurance. That’s handled for you.

Apparently, Australians have been piling in. Global X saw over AU$224 million in inflows across its gold ETFs in the first quarter of 2026 alone.

The main options worth knowing are:

Global X Physical Gold (ASX: GOLD), the largest and most liquid in Australia with over AU$6 billion in assets under management
Perth Mint Gold (ASX: PMGOLD), government-backed with one of the lowest fees at 0.15% and the option to convert units to physical gold
VanEck Gold Bullion ETF (ASX: NUGG), backed by Australian gold producers at 0.25%
BetaShares Gold Bullion ETF (ASX: QAU), a currency-hedged option for investors who want to reduce AUD/USD exposure

Pros

No storage, insurance, or delivery logistics to manage
Low minimum investment
Highly liquid and easy to trade during ASX hours
Low annual fees ranging from 0.15% to 0.57%
A straightforward way to get passive, long-term gold exposure

Cons

You don’t own the physical gold directly
Unhedged ETFs are exposed to AUD/USD currency movements, which can work for or against you
Management fees compound quietly over time, which matters more the longer you hold
You can only go long, so there’s no way to profit if gold prices fall

Best for: Passive investors who want low-cost, hands-off gold exposure without the hassle of owning physical metal.

3. Gold CFDs

A contract for difference (CFD) lets you speculate on gold’s price movement without owning any physical gold.

You open a position, the price moves, and you profit or lose based on that difference. That’s it.

Platforms like Mitrade, which is regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), make it straightforward to trade gold CFDs in Australia.

One thing that sets CFDs apart from the other methods is flexibility. You can go long if you think gold prices will rise or go short if you think they’ll fall. That works in both directions.

CFDs also use leverage, which means you control a larger position with a smaller amount of capital.

Under ASIC rules, the maximum leverage for retail clients trading gold CFDs is 20:1. So AU$1,000 in your account controls AU$20,000 worth of gold exposure.

ASIC also requires negative balance protection, meaning you can’t lose more than what’s in your account.

Pros

You can profit from both rising and falling gold prices, which no other method on this list allows
Lower capital needed to enter the market thanks to leverage
No storage, insurance, or delivery costs involved
Trades execute quickly with high liquidity
Useful for short-term traders and investors looking to hedge an existing portfolio

Cons

Leverage cuts both ways and can amplify losses just as fast as gains
Overnight holding fees (swap rates) apply to positions held past market close
Requires active monitoring and a clear risk management plan, including stop-loss orders
Not a good fit for passive or long-term investors

Best for: Active traders who understand how leverage works and want to trade gold price movements in both directions without owning the physical metal.