Traveling to AU for 2 weeks - mobile data options

Forums › Travel (planes, train, cruise) › Traveling to AU for 2 weeks - mobile data options

1 | 2

larknz

2033 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 385

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#3147923 16-Oct-2023 06:11

In my experience you can't buy an Australian esim until you are in Australia. The identity verification only works when you are in Australia.

hairy1

3353 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 648

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3147927 16-Oct-2023 06:35

We recently travelled to the US for two weeks. We used esimdb.com for Sim info and ended up using the Mobimatters app to purchase multiple esims. It was a great experience. The only thing that caught me out was that the Samsung S23 will only do dual Sim on physical Sim and one Esim so I had to swap out my One NZ esim for a physical Sim.

I also picked up a couple of free 1 GB esims from Red Bull Mobile and Eskimo as backups. I remember we had slow data one day at an Airahow and Red bull worked better than Mobimatters.

As per everyone else here we overestimated the amount of data we would use but it was great to know we didn't need to worry about being frugal while on mobile data.

My views (except when I am looking out their windows) are not those of my employer.

Linux

12362 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 8653

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3147929 16-Oct-2023 06:36

larknz: In my experience you can't buy an Australian esim until you are in Australia. The identity verification only works when you are in Australia.

@larknz no issues doing this online when getting a eSIM for Rarotonga - ID required takes no more than 5 minutes and you have the QR code

hairy1

3353 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 648

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3147930 16-Oct-2023 06:38

@linux what esim did you use for Raro?

My views (except when I am looking out their windows) are not those of my employer.

Linux

12362 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 8653

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3147931 16-Oct-2023 06:40

hairy1: @linux what esim did you use for Raro?

@hairy1 Vodafone cook islands - Was so simple and activated eSIM when plane landed seat belt sign was still on a single SMS to 888

larknz

2033 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 385

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#3148007 16-Oct-2023 10:11

Linux:
larknz: In my experience you can't buy an Australian esim until you are in Australia. The identity verification only works when you are in Australia.

@larknz no issues doing this online when getting a eSIM for Rarotonga - ID required takes no more than 5 minutes and you have the QR code

Raro is controlled by NZ, so identity verification may be easier.
In my experience, for Australia, you have to be in Australia to complete verification.

Lenovo

Shop now for Lenovo laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

Kyanar

4089 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1684

ID Verified

Trusted

#3148261 16-Oct-2023 19:46

larknz:

In my experience, for Australia, you have to be in Australia to complete verification.

This is likely as the verification is performed using the Australian Government DVS, which can only validate a foreign passport that has been issued an entry visa, and for obvious reasons cannot verify your driver's license, community services card, etc either.

jonathan18

7419 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2850

ID Verified

Trusted

#3332351 16-Jan-2025 14:58

For this same scenario (travelling to Aus for a few weeks), are there any meaningful advantages of an e-SIM over a physical one (other than being able to avoid physically buying and installing it, noting the requirement to have one's passport verified anyway)?

I'm in a similar situation to the OP, so working out the best option for providing all four of our family with connectivity for the two weeks we're there. Given one of the main uses will be to stay in contact with each other, I'm thinking of just going with one of the standard plans discussed above (such as a Woolworths plan), as they seem to offer greater flexibility (eg ability to make conventional phone calls), and e-SIM options don't seem to be that much cheaper anyway. Or is there something I'm missing here?

TIA.

hairy1

3353 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 648

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3332368 16-Jan-2025 15:41

Raro is controlled by NZ, so identity verification may be easier.

Not really. Self governing in free association with New Zealand. Having lived and worked there none of the Telco regulations were applicable across the two countries.

My views (except when I am looking out their windows) are not those of my employer.

SpartanVXL

1529 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 675

#3332376 16-Jan-2025 16:02

Related query: what about small duration esims? For say a couple of days rather than weeks. Even roaming is expensive compared to some of the esim offers.

Linux

12362 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 8653

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3332382 16-Jan-2025 16:28

SpartanVXL: Related query: what about small duration esims? For say a couple of days rather than weeks. Even roaming is expensive compared to some of the esim offers.

Visit a eSIM providers website and look at the pricing or install some of the apps

Dell

Shop now for Dell laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

Oblivian

7374 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2143

ID Verified

#3332393 16-Jan-2025 18:14

Avoid/don't be tempted by Coles Sim

It doesn't tell you until you try and activate it requires an Australian registered credit card as part of the process and it's hard to return.

No good for visitors.

Boost Mobile run regular cheap deals. And friend was able to arrange esim before they left and just not star the clock until arrival.

Once I got a local friend to activate the Coles sim. Got 1-2 scam calls a day (well known prepay ranges by diallers). So make sure you load Truecaller or Just block any inbound unless you gave it to someone.

Ie atm.. 50G buy before 27th, and dont need to activate until march.
https://boost.com.au/products/39-prepaid-sim

marpada

487 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 182

#3332395 16-Jan-2025 18:41

Oblivian: Avoid/don't be tempted by Coles Sim

It doesn't tell you until you try and activate it requires an Australian registered credit card as part of the process and it's hard to return.

No good for visitors.

I would say you will have similar issues with most providers, either with the payment or ID verification. The safest option is to get a simcard at the airport on your arrival at Telstra or Voda stands, it won't be the cheapest plan (you might get a good "new customer" deal though) but that way they can get your payment and verify your ID immediately so you'll leave the airport with a working SIM.

Oblivian

7374 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2143

ID Verified

#3332396 16-Jan-2025 18:54

marpada:
I would say you will have similar issues with most providers, either with the payment or ID verification. The safest option is to get a simcard at the airport on your arrival at Telstra or Voda stands, it won't be the cheapest plan (you might get a good "new customer" deal though) but that way they can get your payment and verify your ID immediately so you'll leave the airport with a working SIM.

Many other places are happy to use passport details and take your money. Some can be activated onsite on behalf rather than online/app.

And the airport ones aren't just a bit more pricy. They're an outright trap. Next time you go through our airports check the costs. $29 for 2Gb...
https://one.nz/travel-sim/

From boost

One valid form of ID - Australian driver’s license or learner’s permit, Medicare card, Australian passport, International passport with valid Australian visa

1 | 2