Yes, eSIMs work in New Zealand. Our New Zealand eSIM runs on One NZ, and 5 GB for 30 days costs US$9 (about A$13). A week of Telstra, Optus or Vodafone roaming in New Zealand costs $35. Install the eSIM at home, and it connects when you land in Auckland, Christchurch or Queenstown.
We sell travel eSIMs (ICY SIM). Our prices are in US dollars at checkout; we show them in AUD at US$1 = A$1.45. Telstra, Optus and Vodafone prices are from their websites, and other eSIM prices from esimDB and Holafly, all checked on 11 November 2026.
- Network: One NZ, the network that used to be Vodafone New Zealand.
- Prices: 1 GB for US$1.50, 3 GB for US$5, 5 GB for US$9, 10 GB for US$16, 20 GB for US$26.
- A week of roaming in New Zealand: $35 on Telstra, Optus Daily Roaming or Vodafone, $70 on the Optus $10 pass.
- A week of maps, messages and photos usually needs 3–5 GB. A campervan trip with hotspot needs 10 GB or more.
- Signal is good in towns and on main highways. Expect gaps in Fiordland, on parts of the Milford Road and on remote tramping tracks.
Which network does a New Zealand eSIM use?
New Zealand has three mobile networks: One NZ, Spark and 2degrees. Our New Zealand eSIM connects to One NZ. That’s the old Vodafone New Zealand, which changed its name between late 2022 and early 2023, so you may still see “Vodafone” on some screens. One NZ says its 4G and 5G reach over 99% of people in New Zealand and about 60% of the land area.
The three networks are close on speed. In Opensignal’s October 2026 report, Spark had the fastest average download speed (106 Mbps) and One NZ was second (97 Mbps). For maps, WhatsApp, video calls and streaming, the difference won’t matter to you.
| ICY SIM New Zealand plan | Price | About A$ | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB / 7 days | US$1.50 | A$2 | One NZ |
| 3 GB / 15 days | US$5 | A$7 | One NZ |
| 5 GB / 30 days | US$9 | A$13 | One NZ |
| 10 GB / 30 days | US$16 | A$23 | One NZ |
| 20 GB / 30 days | US$26 | A$38 | One NZ |
Prices checked 11 November 2026; live prices are on our New Zealand page. Validity starts when you first use data in New Zealand, so you can install early. Hotspot is allowed.
New Zealand eSIM vs Telstra, Optus and Vodafone roaming
| Option | Price in New Zealand | Data | 7 days | 14 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Telstra International Day Pass | $5 a day (Zone 1) | 2 GB a day | $35 | $70 |
| Telstra prepaid roaming pack | $15 for 7 days, $25 for 14 days | 2 GB / 4 GB | $15 | $25 |
| Optus Daily Roaming (Choice Plus) | $5 a day | 5 GB a day | $35 | $70 |
| Optus $10 Roaming Pass | $10 a day | 1 GB a day | $70 | $140 |
| Vodafone $5 Roaming | $5 a day | Your plan’s data | $35 | $70 |
| ICY SIM eSIM | One-off | 5 GB / 10 GB, 30 days | about A$13 | about A$23 |
New Zealand is one of the cheapest places to roam from Australia: Telstra charges $5 a day here, not $10. For a weekend in Auckland, roaming is fine and you keep calls and texts on your Australian number. From about three days up, the eSIM costs less for data. Telstra’s prepaid 7-day pack is close on price but has 2 GB, against 5 GB on the eSIM. More detail in our Telstra, Optus and Vodafone roaming guides.
How other New Zealand eSIMs compare
| Provider | 5 GB, 30 days | 10 GB, 30 days | 20 GB, 30 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| ICY SIM (One NZ) | US$9 | US$16 | US$26 |
| Nomad | US$13 | US$18 | US$28 |
| Ubigi | no 5 GB plan | US$16 | US$35 (25 GB) |
| Saily | US$13.99 | US$23.99 | US$37.99 |
| Airalo | US$14 | US$24 | US$38 |
List prices on 11 November 2026, before discount codes, from esimDB. Several providers offer first-order codes, so check before you buy. If you want unlimited data, we don’t sell it for New Zealand: Holafly’s unlimited plan is US$27.50 for 7 days, and Airalo and Saily have unlimited plans with a daily cap before speeds slow.
Coverage on the road, in Fiordland and on tramping tracks
- Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Queenstown and Rotorua: good 4G in town, and 5G in the main city centres.
- State highways between towns: mostly covered, with short gaps through hills and gorges.
- Milford Road and Fiordland: expect long stretches with no signal. Download offline maps in Te Anau before you drive.
- Great Walks and back-country tracks: often no signal at all. Carry a personal locator beacon for multi-day walks, not just a phone.
- Campervan trips: many holiday parks have Wi-Fi, but it’s often slow. A 10 GB or 20 GB plan with hotspot is easier.
How much data do you need in New Zealand?
| Trip | Typical use | Plan size |
|---|---|---|
| A long weekend in Auckland or Queenstown | WhatsApp, maps, a few photos | 1–3 GB |
| A week, North or South Island | + Instagram, video calls home | 5 GB |
| Two weeks, or a campervan trip | Navigation all day, laptop hotspot | 10–20 GB |
How to set up a New Zealand eSIM before you fly
- Check your phone supports eSIM on our compatible devices list.
- Buy a New Zealand plan and install it at home on Wi-Fi.
- When you land, set the eSIM as your mobile data line and turn on data roaming for the eSIM only.
- Turn data roaming off for your Australian line, so the $5 a day doesn’t start.
- Back home, switch mobile data back to your usual line.
Going somewhere else in the Pacific? See our eSIM for Fiji guide, or how roaming works in general in eSIM vs roaming. For every destination in one table, see our travel eSIM guide for Australians.
