Stay online in New Zealand from the moment you land in Auckland, Christchurch or Queenstown. Install a data eSIM before you fly and keep your usual number for calls and texts, with plans that also cover Australia if your trip crosses the Tasman.
New Zealand eSIM
New Zealand eSIM plans
Every plan is data only, priced in US dollars, with no contract and nothing to return.
Our picks
Three plans we would buy ourselves, by the trip you are taking. Every plan we sell is listed below.
Short trip
4.2 GB
0.6 GB a day
7 days
A week or so away: maps, messages, rides and the odd video call.
Part of the Australia and New Zealand bundle
$4.99
Buy this planLong trip
22.5 GB
1.5 GB a day
15 days
Two weeks or more, with room for photos, streaming and work email.
Part of the Australia and New Zealand bundle
$12.99
Buy this planHeavy use
Unlimited data
15 days
You stream, work online or share your connection every day.
Part of the Australia and New Zealand bundle
$27.99
Buy this plan
Also covered by Asia Pacific
One eSIM that also works in the other countries of the bundle, for a trip that crosses borders.
See every country in Asia Pacific
Also covered by Australia and New Zealand
One eSIM that also works in the other countries of the bundle, for a trip that crosses borders.
Also covered by Global (170 countries)
One eSIM that also works in the other countries of the bundle, for a trip that crosses borders.
See every country in Global (170 countries)
Also covered by Global (75 countries)
One eSIM that also works in the other countries of the bundle, for a trip that crosses borders.
See every country in Global (75 countries)
No eSIM, no charge. If your payment goes through and we cannot issue your eSIM, we refund you in full. Refund policy
Real people. A person answers every day, 07:00 to 23:00 Paris time, within 2 hours. How we look after you
Safe checkout. Secure payment by Stripe. Cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Local networks. See which ones it uses in New Zealand
Which plan fits your trip
New Zealand is sold on our Australia and New Zealand plans, which cover both countries in one install, and on our wider regional and global plans. The plan cards above show the days and data on sale:
- Daily data suits steady use: maps, messages and photos every day. A road trip or a campervan loop is steady from day to day, so this is the usual pick.
- Unlimited suits heavy users, video calls and remote work. A fair-use policy applies; the plan details say how.
See fixed, daily or unlimited for how each type behaves, and our Australia page if you are visiting both.
Landing in New Zealand
Most international flights arrive at Auckland, with Christchurch, Wellington and Queenstown for the south and the capital. Install the eSIM at home while you are on your own Wi-Fi, then turn on data roaming for the eSIM line once you are off the plane. You can then check your shuttle, campervan pickup or domestic connection before you leave the terminal.
Coverage on a road trip
Coverage is good in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Queenstown, Rotorua and the other towns. New Zealand is mountainous and thinly populated, and signal drops quickly between towns: on the road to Milford Sound and in Fiordland, along much of the South Island's West Coast, on Arthur's Pass and Lewis Pass, in the Catlins and on the Great Walks. Download offline maps and your campsite bookings before each day's drive.
Campervans and campsites
Many visitors travel by campervan. Mobile data is how you find a campsite for the night, check the road and weather, and book ferries and activities on the go. Campsites in remote spots often have no signal, so book the next night's stop while you still have coverage.
How much data do you need?
A typical traveler using maps, messaging and photos uses about 1 GB a day. Video calls, streaming and working from a laptop push that up, so remote workers are better served by an unlimited plan.
Networks in New Zealand
New Zealand's mobile networks are One NZ, Spark and 2degrees. A travel eSIM connects to one of them as a roaming partner, which is why data roaming must be on for the eSIM line. The partner network can differ from plan to plan, so check the plan details, or ask us at support@esimlounge.com before you buy.
How to install your eSIM
Install it at home before you fly, then switch it on when you land.
Check your phone
Your phone must support eSIM and be carrier unlocked. Most phones from the last few years do.
Scan the QR code
Scan the code from your email while you still have Wi-Fi at home. It takes about two minutes.
Switch on when you land
Turn on the eSIM line and data roaming for it. Keep your usual SIM for calls and texts if you like.
New Zealand eSIM questions
Is an eSIM cheaper than my own carrier's roaming in New Zealand?
Usually, yes. UK, US and Australian carriers typically charge a daily pass for each day you use your phone abroad, and over a week those passes add up to more than a plan here. Check your own plan's roaming terms to compare.
Can I use the same eSIM in New Zealand and Australia?
Yes. The Australia and New Zealand plans cover both countries in one install, so your data keeps working when you fly across the Tasman.
Is there signal at Milford Sound?
Mostly not. Coverage ends well before Milford Sound and is limited across Fiordland. Download offline maps and your cruise booking before you set off from Te Anau.
Does it work for a campervan trip?
Yes, in and around the towns. Expect long gaps on mountain passes, on the West Coast and at remote campsites, so book the next stop while you have signal.
Should I buy a SIM card at the airport instead?
For data, an eSIM is simpler: you set it up at home, skip the counter in arrivals and keep your usual SIM in the phone. A local SIM gives you a New Zealand phone number, which a travel eSIM does not. For maps and messaging, the eSIM does the job.
Will I keep my phone number?
Yes. Your usual SIM stays in the phone for calls and texts, and the eSIM carries your mobile data. Keep data roaming off on your usual SIM to avoid roaming fees from home.
When does the plan start counting days?
On most plans the days start when the eSIM first connects to a network in a covered country, not when you install it. The plan details say how yours works.
New Zealand travel guides
Our guides for getting online there.
October 20, 2026 1 min read
Telstra international roaming (2026): Day Pass prices, and when an eSIM is cheaper
Telstra's International Day Pass costs $5 a day in New Zealand and the Pacific and $10 a day in 80+ destinations, with 2GB of data a day. How to turn it on, which countries are included, what a trip costs, and when a travel eSIM is the better buy.
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October 14, 2026 1 min read
ALDI Mobile roaming (2026): Roaming Packs, prices and when an eSIM is cheaper
ALDI Mobile's 7 day Roaming Packs start at $5 for 1 GB, but roaming is off until you enable it and pay-as-you-go data costs $0.50 per MB. Each pack, where it works, the Vietnam catch, and when a travel eSIM is the better buy.
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October 14, 2026 1 min read
amaysim roaming (2026): packs, prices and when an eSIM is cheaper
amaysim sells four roaming packs, from $20 to $70, each valid for 365 days across as many trips as you like. What each pack includes, where it works, what a trip costs, and when a travel eSIM is the better buy.
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October 14, 2026 1 min read
Belong international roaming (2026): the travel pack, prices and when an eSIM is cheaper
Belong roams only with its $30 travel pack: 3 GB, 150 minutes and unlimited SMS for 15 days in 45+ destinations. Where it works, what a trip costs, and when a travel eSIM is the better buy.
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