Best Options for Seamless Connectivity in Australia and New Zealand

Embarking on a trip Down Under and looking for ways to stay connected while you traverse the stunning landscapes? Let's take a look at your options for getting a single SIM card or eSIM that you can use for a trip to both Australia and New Zealand.

Major Telcos in Australia and New Zealand

Let's first explore the telcos and key players in the industry in Australia and New Zealand.

Australia Telcos

The three biggest operators are Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone. Of the three, Telstra is commonly accepted to be the best in terms of coverage and stability.

Of the three providers, Optus is the only provider that has a tourist plan. However, as a tourist, you don't have to restrict your options to just the Optus tourist plan. It is possible to get a pre-paid Australian SIM or eSIM from any of the three providers upon arrival.

New Zealand Telcos

In New Zealand, the leading telcos are Spark, One New Zealand (formerly Vodafone), and 2degrees. The coverage and signal strength of each of these telcos vary depending on where you are. It is also important to note that blind spots are not uncommon in New Zealand - and there may be places where you do not get coverage regardless of telco.

All three providers in New Zealand offer travel packs to travelers, with One New Zealand and Spark offering eSIM options.

Are there local SIM options that offer coverage in both countries?

Unfortunately, none of the telcos offer tourist SIMs that include coverage in both Australia and New Zealand.

If you are getting an Australian tourist SIM, you will only be able to use it in Australia; and if you are getting a tourist SIM from a New Zealand telco, you will only be able to use it in New Zealand.

But, if you end up opting for a general prepaid SIM card, you could also purchase prepaid roaming. But as with roaming rates, they aren't exactly the cheapest.

How much does it cost to get separate local SIM cards?

If you will be visiting both Australia and New Zealand on a single trip, and are considering getting separate SIM cards for each destination, these are the prices you can expect to be paying.

In Australia

• Optus: Available from 35 AUD (~23 USD) for 60GB, valid for 28 days

In New Zealand

• One New Zealand: from 29 NZD (~18 USD) for 2GB of data, valid for 30 days.
• Spark: from 29 NZD (~18 USD) for 2GB of data, valid for 3 months.
• 2degrees: from 24 NZD (~15 USD) for 3 days of unlimited data

Cheaper, and more convenient: Nomad eSIM for SEA-Oceania

Buying separate SIM cards for Australia and New Zealand could be inconvenient. You'll have to switch out your SIM cards (or eSIMs) as you travel between the two countries. And, prices are not exactly cheap either.

Instead, consider getting a Nomad eSIM for SEA-Oceania, which includes coverage in both Australia and New Zealand!

You can seamlessly stay connected even as you travel between both countries with a single eSIM. You just need to install the eSIM once, and you don't have to worry about switching between your SIM cards (or eSIMs) as you travel.

To add on to that, getting a Nomad eSIM for SEA-Oceania is much more economical, where you can get 10GB of data for 25 USD, valid for 30 days!

Nomad's eSIM for SEA-Oceania uses the Optus network in Australia, and the Spark network when in New Zealand.

Get a Nomad travel eSIM for your trip Down Under

Nomad's regional eSIMs for SEA-Oceania are at affordable rates from as low as USD2.50/GB. Nomad's eSIMs will automatically hook on to the local network as you traverse borders, so you don't have to worry about having to install multiple eSIMs or to activate them multiple times.

It's easy to get a Nomad eSIM. Simply create an account on the Nomad Web Store or iOS/Android apps, find a plan that is suitable for your needs, and proceed with the check out! Upon successful purchase, you will receive an email that includes the installation and activation instructions for your plan.

Note that since you will need a stable internet connection to purchase and install your eSIM, it is advised to buy your eSIM before you fly, so that you don't have to worry about not getting connectivity at the airport after landing.