Roaming to Australia

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Roaming to Australia

Wyvern

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#171438 18-Apr-2015 09:06

Im a spark customer off to Aus for 2 weeks. Am I right in seeing that Vodafone has a $5 a day plan where you can use your existing NZ plan in Aus just as you would in NZ vs the Spark $10 a day for similar type use? Thats bollocks. Or am I missing a trick?

I don't care about texts or minutes. I just want data. 1-2 gb's would be ideal.

Can anyone recommend the best value Aus Prepaid data only sim that I could buy over there?

Jeez, when will these days of sim swapping ever end?

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#1286680 18-Apr-2015 09:26

Spark replaced the $10/day offering about six months ago. The current prices are here.

Wyvern

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#1286683 18-Apr-2015 09:30

yep, the value packs are there, and there pretty steep also, but just underneath those is the $10 a day option. It still exists and as far as I can see doesn't compare well to Vodafone's $5 a day option.

Behodar

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#1286684 18-Apr-2015 09:32

Oops, I didn't get that far down (it's in a different format from the other plans so I stopped reading when I got to the end of the table).

Wyvern

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#1286685 18-Apr-2015 09:36

Boom! (I think?)...

Assume I can pick up a $30 or even $40 AUD prepaid vodafone sim when I arrive.

http://www.vodafone.com.au/personal/prepaid/prepaid-options/state/starter-packs/prepaid-cap/multi-fit

Thats a heaps cheaper option :)

sbiddle

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#1286722 18-Apr-2015 10:41

Spark $10 day only gives you 200MB before you pay overuse.

Only real way to get a few GB cheaply is move to Vodafone or buy an Aussie SIM.

Andib

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#1286725 18-Apr-2015 10:43

Yep, Vodafone pretty much has the best roaming deals in the market atm with their $5/day offer.
If you don't want to switch, Do what others have said and get a local AU sim when you get to the airport.

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jackyleunght2002

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#1286790 18-Apr-2015 12:55

hehe, maybe bring another smartphone to goto Australia and use that while travelling? save a lot of sim-swapping

tripp

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#1286799 18-Apr-2015 13:18

Well I am looking at Red+ Essentials (1 month term) for when i go over to Samoa in a few weeks time.

Red+ Essentials and then $5 a day, total will be about $110 but does give me 4.5gigs of data.
Not going to transfer my number or anything as I am still on contract with spark so while just get a new vodafone number.

old3eyes

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#1286810 18-Apr-2015 14:18

sbiddle: Spark $10 day only gives you 200MB before you pay overuse.

Only real way to get a few GB cheaply is move to Vodafone or buy an Aussie SIM.

But Spark's $19 / week gives you Free incoming calls, 50 minutes world wide, 50sms world wide and 250Meg data A better value that their old $10 / day just for day for a holiday traveler...

Though you may be better off buying an Optus SIM..

Regards,

Old3eyes

Stu

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#1286879 18-Apr-2015 16:44

When we went to Melbourne for a little over a week last year, we purchased Optus prepay SIMs and used their $2 a day option. 500MB a day of data and unlimited calls and texting within Australia. Suited us fine. I set up a phone at home to forward SMS messages to me via email and set voice calls to go straight to voicemail.

ETA: From memory, calls to NZ landlines were only 2c a minute. Calls to NZ Mobiles I think are 5c a minute.

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

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Hobchild

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#1287474 20-Apr-2015 00:08

Do you think you'll need to get contacted while over there via your mobile. If so trawl through your draws and find that old phone that never gets used but you couldn't bear to throw away and take that, then buy a prepay sim over there and load it up with data. Then all you'll have to do is download the internet settings for that carrier and you're away laughing. I went with Amaysim but I needed to ring them to activate the sim which was a little annoying, good prices though and worth it considering how much it is to roam.

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Inphinity

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#1287491 20-Apr-2015 08:17

We use a 3G/4G mobile hotspot device. Local data rates, but you can still have your normal phone/sim/number etc available. Depends on your specific usage as to if it's better or not. I couldn't have a different number for a few weeks, so simply swapping SIM in my phone isn't an option.

jtan

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#1287509 20-Apr-2015 08:51

+1 for the Optus prepaid sims.

Have always used these when we have been visiting Australia and $2 a day gave us all we ever needed while there (unlimited calling, text and 500mb data). A couple of times we were over for a music festival and data there was a little temperamental but that was likely due to the sheer number of people at the event overloading the network.. On a standard day, no issues.

Also believe that they have a 'top up' with their $2 days (Daily Plus) for another 524mb for an extra $2 if you are feeling particularly data hungry that day. When you arrive in Aus, just pop to the Optus counter at the airport (they have them in Sydney and Melbourne, but likely at the other ports too) and they'll have you set up and activated in no time. Usually takes about 5-10min after clearing customs and you should be on your way.. :)

One thing I might add, is I do not believe that tethering is available using this SIM's. It might be possible that that is an iPhone limitation, but from memory when I tried to set up a wireless hotspot using my phone with one of these SIMs the setting was unavailable. Just FYI in case you are looking for this functionality. If you have any queries, I've sent the Optus team queries in the past via. Twitter and they've been quite quick to reply. Good luck!

alasta

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#1287519 20-Apr-2015 09:20

Personally I have had nothing but trouble when I've used Optus over there. Last time I went to Australia I bought a Telstra SIM and found their service to be a hundred times more reliable.

Stu

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#1287649 20-Apr-2015 11:51

Probably depends on where you visit. Don't recall any trouble at all using Optus in and around Melbourne last year.

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

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