How to Get Internet and WiFi in New Zealand

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Internet on the Road in New Zealand

When you get to New Zealand, your life will be much easier and cheaper if you get a New Zealand SIM card, eSIM or mobile plan for your phone. Not only will you stay in touch with friends in New Zealand for less, but you can also use mobile data to access the Internet on the go.

Phone Data Plans

If you are social media crazy, are forever getting lost so need Google Maps, or want to take advantage of recommendations from other travellers on any travel app, make sure you get a phone plan with enough mobile data.

This will also be your saviour if you are staying in a hostel, hotel, holiday park or campsite with slow, limited or paid WiFi. Many New Zealand prepaid plans now include decent data allowances, and some providers offer endless or unlimited-style data plans, usually with fair use rules or reduced speeds after a set amount of full-speed data.

For a full comparison of the New Zealand phone networks and their plans, dive into What are the Best Phone Networks in New Zealand.

For connecting other devices to the phone’s network, set up WiFi tethering (or hotspotting) on your phone. This is a pretty standard tool on most smartphones. Just remember that hotspotting can drain your phone battery quickly and may use a lot of data if you’re streaming, video calling or connecting several devices.

WiFi Modem for Campervans and Cars

An onboard portable modem can be purchased for campervans, caravans and cars. They are useful for connecting multiple devices and can be more convenient than using your phone’s WiFi tethering all the time.

However, portable modems can be quite an investment and, just like phones, they only work when there is mobile coverage. You’ll usually need to be in 4G or 5G coverage for the modem to work, and 5G speeds are only available if you have a 5G-capable modem in a 5G coverage area.

Data plans are usually more cost-effective for travellers, families or digital nomads who use the Internet heavily and need similar amounts of data to what they would use at home or in the office. Wireless Nation, for example, offers portable WiFi plans for vehicles, baches, boats and worksites, with WiFi sharing for several devices.

Find out more about portable WiFi modems in How to Get WiFi in Your Campervan in New Zealand.

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WiFi in Accommodation

One of the selling points for many New Zealand accommodations is “Free WiFi”. Most short-term accommodation in New Zealand offers WiFi, but not all, so check before you book.

The quality of the connection can vary a lot. City hotels, motels and hostels usually have better WiFi than remote lodges, rural holiday parks or campsites, but there are always exceptions. If you need WiFi for video calls, remote work or uploading photos and videos, check recent guest reviews rather than relying only on the facilities list.

Some accommodation may also have time limits, speed limits, device limits or paid upgrades, so check the details before booking.

Additionally, if you get yourself a YHA membership, there’s free WiFi at 25+ YHA hostels around the country.

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WiFi in Towns and Cities

The best way to get WiFi in a New Zealand town or city is often to buy a coffee! Many cafes and restaurants offer free WiFi when you purchase food or drink. Speeds vary, and some places have time or data limits, but cafes are still handy for checking emails, booking accommodation or planning the next part of your trip.

Public libraries are another reliable option. All New Zealand public libraries offer free WiFi, and many also have public computers. They are especially useful if you need a quiet place to research, work or charge your devices.

Many i-SITE Visitor Information Centres also offer free WiFi or can point you to nearby places to get online.

Spark customers who purchase an eligible mobile data pack also get 1 GB of free WiFi per day at more than 1,000 Spark WiFi hotspots throughout New Zealand.

Here are some useful free WiFi options in New Zealand’s three biggest cities:

Auckland: Free WiFi is available in some central city areas, public libraries, cafes, accommodation and transport hubs. For a reliable option, try Auckland Central City Library or cafes around the city centre.

Wellington: For a reliable free WiFi option, try Te Papa, public libraries, cafes and accommodation. Older public waterfront WiFi networks may no longer be reliable, so don’t depend on them.

Christchurch: Look for “Christchurch Free Wi-Fi” in key parts of the central city. Each session provides four hours of free WiFi, and there is no limit to how many sessions you can use. For free WiFi cafes, see here.

For more places to find WiFi, check out the 10 Free Wi-Fi Spots in New Zealand Where You’ll Actually Have a Good Connection.

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Internet in Your Flat

If you are on a working holiday in New Zealand, chances are you will do some flatting to save money on accommodation.

Most flats and rooms to rent will already have WiFi set up, with the cost either included in your rent or added as a shared weekly or monthly expense. Always ask what is included before moving in, especially whether the internet is unlimited, how fast it is and whether there are any setup or leaving costs.

If you need to arrange your own broadband, New Zealand has fibre, wireless broadband and mobile broadband options, depending on the address. Fibre is common in towns and cities and is usually the best option for a flat if it is available.

Typical fibre broadband prices are roughly:

• Basic fibre: around NZ$60/month
• Standard fibre: around NZ$80/month
• Faster fibre plans: around NZ$100/month or more

Many providers offer unlimited broadband, but some plans require a 12-month contract, while others are open-term or have setup/modem fees. If you are not planning to flat for a full year, compare contract terms carefully before signing up.

For short stays, it may be easier to use a data-heavy mobile plan, hotspotting from your phone or a portable WiFi modem instead.