A trip down under often pairs Sydney, Melbourne or the Great Barrier Reef with a New Zealand road trip, from Auckland and Rotorua to Queenstown and Fiordland. In the cities the signal is strong, but outside towns it can end quickly. Neither country is in the EU's Roam Like at Home area, and European tariffs usually charge roaming there by the day.
This guide to an eSIM for Australia and New Zealand in one trip covers the Australia & New Zealand plan, when two country plans fit better, where coverage ends, and the two countries' different emergency numbers.
Key facts for an Australia and New Zealand trip
- One plan for both: the Australia & New Zealand plan covers exactly these two countries
- EU roaming: neither country is covered by Roam Like at Home
- Emergency numbers: 000 in Australia, where 112 also works from a mobile; 111 in New Zealand
- Embassies: in Canberra and Wellington, with consulates in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth or Auckland for some countries
An eSIM for Australia and New Zealand in one trip
The Australia & New Zealand plan puts both countries on one eSIM, installed once at home. When you land in the second country, the phone should pick up a local network by itself while data roaming is on for the eSIM; if not, choose one manually in your mobile settings.
With two country plans, one for each country, install both at home on Wi-Fi and switch your mobile data line to the second one when you land.
Where the signal ends
In Australia, coverage is strong in cities and towns and along major highways, but on Outback roads, in many national parks and between distant towns there can be no signal for long stretches. In New Zealand, the signal comes and goes between towns, and on several mountain passes, across large parts of the national parks and on many of the Great Walks there is little or none.
Download offline maps and your bookings before each drive or hike, and tell someone your plans. On remote trips, a personal locator beacon is a reliable way to call for help without mobile coverage; in New Zealand, several Department of Conservation visitor centres and outdoor shops hire them out.
Alerts and emergency apps
In Australia, the official Emergency+ app calls 000 and shows your GPS position as an address to read out to the operator. In summer, bushfires and floods can close roads at short notice, so follow your state's emergency app, such as Hazards Near Me in New South Wales or VicEmergency in Victoria.
In New Zealand, phones on local networks receive Emergency Mobile Alerts for earthquakes, tsunami threats and severe weather, with no app to install; on a phone bought abroad they may carry another label, such as Presidential Alert.
Which plan fits your trip
For a trip through both countries, Telcomia's Australia & New Zealand plan covers them on one eSIM. If most of your days are in one country, a country plan for Australia or New Zealand may fit better, with a second plan for the other.
Open the plan details before you buy: they show the duration, the data, whether you can share the connection with other devices, and the Activation line, which tells you what starts the plan's validity.
Before you leave
- Read the Activation line in the plan details, then install the eSIM, or both country eSIMs, at home on Wi-Fi.
- Set the eSIM as your mobile data line, with data roaming on for the eSIM and off for your home line.
- Download offline maps before every road trip and hike.
- Install Emergency+ before you fly, and your state's emergency app if you travel in summer.
- Keep each eSIM installed until the trip is over: some eSIMs can be installed only once.
Consular protection: 000 in Australia, 111 in New Zealand
- In Australia, 000 reaches the police, fire and ambulance services, and 112 also works from a mobile; you cannot send a text to 000.
- In New Zealand, 111 reaches the police, fire and ambulance services; for police matters that are not urgent, call 105.
- Embassies are in Canberra and Wellington, and some countries also have consulates in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth or Auckland. The Telcomia app shows which mission is responsible for you, with address and phone.
- If you are an EU citizen and your country has no embassy or consulate in Australia or New Zealand, the embassy of any other EU country must help you on the same terms as its own nationals (Article 23 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU).
Australia travel-safety page →
New Zealand travel-safety page →
Questions travellers ask about Australia and New Zealand
Is there one eSIM for Australia and New Zealand?
Yes. The Australia & New Zealand plan covers both countries on a single eSIM. Two country plans also work, one installed for each country.
Is there signal in the Outback?
Often not between towns. Away from cities, towns and major highways, coverage can disappear for long stretches, so download maps and carry a personal locator beacon on remote trips.
What is the emergency number in Australia and New Zealand?
000 in Australia, where 112 also works from a mobile, and 111 in New Zealand. Save both before you fly.
Does an Australia eSIM work in New Zealand?
Not if it is an Australia plan, which covers Australia only. For both countries on one eSIM, choose the Australia & New Zealand plan, or add a New Zealand plan.
The short version
The Australia & New Zealand plan covers both countries on one eSIM; two country plans may suit a trip spent mostly in one. Download maps before every drive, carry a personal locator beacon on remote trips, and save 000 for Australia and 111 for New Zealand.
See Australia & New Zealand plans →
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