For most Kiwis visiting Australia, a single-country eSIM is much cheaper than roaming for data, and your NZ number can stay on beside it to receive texts. A SIMNOVA Australia eSIM costs NZ$2.95 for 1GB over 7 days, NZ$10.95 for 5GB and NZ$16.95 for 10GB over 30 days. Ten days of Daily Roaming from Spark, One NZ or 2degrees costs NZ$80 to NZ$100, or NZ$40 on Spark's 10-day pack with 3GB, calls and texts.
SIMNOVA sells one of the products compared here, so we show the sources and dates, and say where another option is better.
Key Takeaways
- On 5 November 2026, SIMNOVA's web prices were lower than Nomad's, Saily's and Airalo's own Australia listings at 1GB, 5GB and 10GB.
- Daily Roaming from NZ costs NZ$8 to NZ$10 for each day you use it, so one day costs more than SIMNOVA's 1GB plan.
- SIMNOVA's Australia plans use Optus only. Nomad's Australia plans list Optus and Telstra, which may suit remote travel.
- Keep your NZ SIM on to receive texts, and turn off data roaming on that line. Sending a text or taking a call can still start a charged roaming day.
Which option should you choose?
| Your trip | Best fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Cities and towns, lowest cost | Single-country eSIM such as SIMNOVA | Lowest prices of the four providers in our table, on the Optus network |
| Remote areas or long regional drives | A plan that includes Telstra, such as Nomad | Nomad lists Optus and Telstra, at US$4 for 1GB and US$10 for 5GB |
| Taking calls on your NZ number all day | Roaming, such as Spark's NZ$40 pack | Includes calls and texts, which a data-only eSIM doesn't |
| Phone without eSIM | Roaming or a local SIM | A travel eSIM won't install |
| Carrier-locked phone | Roaming, or ask your carrier to unlock it | Locked phones can't use another provider's eSIM or SIM |
How much does an Australia eSIM cost from NZ?
These are SIMNOVA's prices for each kind of trip. The web store and the Simnova app are priced separately, and the app is cheaper on larger plans.
| Trip | Plan | Web store | App |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long weekend with light use | 1GB / 7 days | NZ$2.95 | NZ$2.95 |
| Weekend with more maps and social media | 3GB / 30 days | NZ$7.95 | NZ$7.95 |
| A week with family or friends | 5GB / 30 days | NZ$10.95 | NZ$9.95 |
| Two weeks, or sharing by hotspot with a laptop | 10GB / 30 days | NZ$16.95 | NZ$15.45 |
| A month, or heavy use | 20GB / 30 days | NZ$27.95 | NZ$24.95 |
| A week without counting data | Unlimited / 7 days | NZ$19.95 | NZ$17.45 |
Web prices read from the SIMNOVA store, and app prices from the current app plan list, on 5 November 2026. The trip suggestions are our rule of thumb, not measurements.
Unlimited plans include up to 1GB a day at full speed, then drop to 1 Mbps. For most trips a fixed plan is better value. To size one, see how much data different apps use.
Hotspot is supported on every plan. Only the app offers top-ups and a data balance check. Plans bought on the website can't be topped up, so you would buy another eSIM if you ran out.
Australia eSIM price comparison
All figures below are US dollars for Australia-only plans, because that is how Nomad and Saily list them and how the comparison data is published. Regional and global plans also work in Australia, but they are different products, so they are left out. We chose these three rivals because they are widely recognised brands that sell Australia-only plans and publish prices on their own sites.
| Plan | SIMNOVA | Nomad | Saily | Airalo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1GB / 7 days | US$2.00 | US$4.00 | US$3.99 | US$4.00 for 3 days (no local 7-day 1GB plan) |
| 5GB / 30 days | US$7.00 | US$10.00 | US$10.99 | US$11.00 |
| 10GB / 30 days | US$10.00 | US$15.00 | US$17.99 | US$18.00 |
SIMNOVA, Nomad and Saily prices read from their own sites on 5 November 2026. Airalo US dollar figures from the eSIMDB Australia table, updated 2 November 2026. Prices change often, so check before you buy.
Airalo's own site shows NZD prices, which give a direct comparison. On 5 November 2026 it listed 1GB for 3 days at NZ$7.50, 5GB for 30 days at NZ$20.50 and 10GB for 30 days at NZ$33. SIMNOVA's web prices were NZ$2.95 for 1GB over 7 days, NZ$10.95 and NZ$16.95.
Price is not the only difference. Nomad's site lists Optus and Telstra for Australia. SIMNOVA and Saily list Optus, and Airalo's site lists Optus for its Australia-only plans.
Check which currency you will be charged in as well. SIMNOVA shows NZD to New Zealand buyers, while a provider that charges in US dollars can leave you with a currency conversion and any fee your bank adds.
Revolut advertises Australia data plans from NZ$2, which is below SIMNOVA's lowest price. It isn't in the table because its site shows plan prices only inside the Revolut app, so we couldn't compare them like for like. It is worth checking if you already use Revolut.
Australia eSIM vs roaming from NZ
Daily Roaming is simple and includes your normal calls and texts, but it charges you for each day you use it. These rates come from each carrier's own website, read on 5 November 2026.
| Carrier | Option | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spark | Daily Roaming, Pay Monthly excluding Kids Plan | NZ$10 a day | Your plan's allowance |
| Spark | Roaming Pack | NZ$40 for 10 days | 3GB, 300 outgoing and 300 incoming minutes, 300 texts |
| Spark | Roaming Pack | NZ$65 for 30 days | 20GB, 300 outgoing and 300 incoming minutes, 300 texts |
| Spark | Roaming Data Pack | NZ$50 for 30 days | 20GB, data only |
| One NZ | Daily Roaming, most Pay Monthly plans | NZ$10 a day, per device | Your plan's minutes, texts and data |
| 2degrees | Daily Roaming, selected Prepay and Pay Monthly plans | NZ$8 a day | Your plan's calls and texts, and 1GB of data a day at full speed, then 128Kbps |
Prepaid options and rates differ by carrier, so check yours if you aren't on Pay Monthly. Here is the cost of a whole trip, using your phone every day. Spark's NZ$65 pack adds calls and texts to the 20GB on 14-day and 30-day trips.
| Trip | SIMNOVA eSIM, web price (data only) | Spark pack | 2degrees daily | Spark or One NZ daily |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 days | NZ$2.95 (1GB) | NZ$40 (3GB) | NZ$24 | NZ$30 |
| 7 days | NZ$10.95 (5GB) | NZ$40 (3GB) | NZ$56 | NZ$70 |
| 14 days | NZ$16.95 (10GB) | NZ$50 (20GB, data only) | NZ$112 | NZ$140 |
| 30 days | NZ$27.95 (20GB) | NZ$50 (20GB, data only) | NZ$240 | NZ$300 |
These aren't like-for-like products. Roaming includes calls and texts, and data allowances differ: Spark's and One NZ's daily rates use your plan's allowance, while 2degrees gives 1GB a day at full speed.
Our full eSIM vs roaming comparison covers other destinations.
When roaming is the better choice
- You need to take calls on your NZ number all day. Data-only travel eSIMs, including SIMNOVA's, have no voice service, so those calls run on your NZ line and its roaming terms anyway.
- You are on a 2degrees business plan. 2degrees offers $0 daily roaming in Australia on business plans for NZ businesses whose staff frequently travel there, subject to its terms.
- You will barely use your phone. All three carriers charge only for days you use roaming. For one or two days on an otherwise Wi-Fi trip, you may prefer to pay the fee and skip the setup, even though an eSIM still costs less.
- Your phone can't take an eSIM or is carrier-locked. Check our device compatibility page first.
Will an Optus eSIM work where you are going?
SIMNOVA's Australia plans connect to Optus, with 5G where it is available. Check the actual places on your route, not just the city you land in.
Optus's coverage map shows predicted outdoor coverage at ground level, so indoor reception can differ. Compare it with Telstra's coverage map if your trip includes the outback or long regional drives. If Optus doesn't cover your route, choose a plan that includes Telstra.
Download offline maps before driving between towns, as no eSIM can connect where there is no network.
How to keep your NZ number working in Australia
Most recent phones can run two lines at once, so you can use the eSIM for data and keep your NZ SIM on to receive texts.
- At home, on Wi-Fi: install the eSIM, but keep using your NZ SIM for mobile data until you leave.
- Before you board: turn data roaming off on your NZ line. This stops background data starting a charged day when you land.
- When you land: switch the eSIM on, set mobile data to it, and turn data roaming on for the eSIM only.
The carriers' terms differ for everything else:
- Spark says receiving a text, or an unanswered call going to Spark Voicemail, doesn't activate Daily Roaming. Making or answering a call, or sending a text, does. So does a call diverted to a non-Spark voicemail service.
- One NZ charges for days you make or receive calls, send texts or use data.
- 2degrees charges for days you make or receive calls, including via voicemail, send texts or use data. A missed call that goes to voicemail could therefore cost NZ$8, so ask about voicemail settings before you leave.
Check your own plan if you rely on calls. 2degrees notes that 3G is switched off in Australia, so your phone must support VoLTE roaming to use your NZ number for voice calls there.
Banks can send verification codes to your NZ number while your data runs through the eSIM. Delivery still depends on your carrier and the bank, so set up your bank's app-based login or approval before you leave if it offers one.
When to buy and install your eSIM
Buy and install your eSIM before you fly, while you are on home Wi-Fi. The plan doesn't start until your phone connects to a network in Australia, so installing early doesn't use any of your days. You have 180 days from purchase to install it.
Step-by-step instructions are on our eSIM installation guide. Your phone needs to support eSIM and be carrier-unlocked.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an eSIM for Australia from New Zealand?
No, but it is usually much cheaper than roaming for data. Spark, One NZ and 2degrees charge NZ$8 to NZ$10 a day for Daily Roaming, while a SIMNOVA Australia eSIM starts at NZ$2.95 for the whole 7-day plan.
Which network does a SIMNOVA Australia eSIM use?
Optus, with 5G where it is available. Check the Optus coverage map for your route. If you are heading somewhere remote that Optus doesn't cover, a plan that includes Telstra may suit you better.
Can I keep my New Zealand number?
Yes. Leave your NZ SIM on to receive texts, use the eSIM for data, and turn data roaming off on your NZ line. Making or answering calls, or sending texts, can still trigger your carrier's daily roaming charge.
Should I buy an Australia and New Zealand eSIM?
Usually not if you are travelling from New Zealand. Your NZ plan already covers you at home, so an Australia-only plan is cheaper for the same trip. Regional plans make more sense for an itinerary with several countries.
Can I get a refund?
You can request a refund within 7 days of purchase if the eSIM has not been installed, scanned or activated. Check your phone is compatible before buying, because an installed eSIM can't be refunded. See our refund policy.
Get your Australia eSIM
Browse SIMNOVA Australia eSIM plans from NZ$2.95, usually delivered by email within seconds. To top up and check your data balance on the road, buy through the Simnova app on Google Play or the App Store.
About this guide: SIMNOVA is a New Zealand-based travel eSIM store run by Venture Bytes Limited in Auckland. The SIMNOVA team writes and checks these guides, and we haven't field-tested each rival's network for this comparison. Read about us or contact us with a correction.
Last updated: 5 November 2026. SIMNOVA prices, carrier rates and Nomad, Saily and Airalo listings were read on this date. Check them again before you travel.
