Stay Connected in New Zealand When Travelling
With so much epic scenery, wildlife, and #nzmustdos, we can’t resist sharing their travels on the Internet. Having access to the web is the way people usually stay in contact with home, whether it’s taking travel selfies for Instagram or Whatsapping friends. However, compared to many other countries, the Internet in New Zealand is shoddy! There are so many remote areas where there is no network service. Also, decent free WiFi hasn’t really hit off over here… So how to do you get Internet and WiFi in New Zealand?
Alas, all is not lost! You don’t have to feel like you’re living in a cave while in New Zealand. You just have to be more aware of how to find the Internet and be prepared to pay a little for it.
Before we begin, be sure to bookmark The Best Travel Guide to New Zealand for even more tips.
Give Me WiFi!
This article will help you find an Internet connection in the following travel scenarios:
- While on the road
- In a hostel
- In towns and cities
- In your flat.
© pexelsInternet on the Road in New Zealand
When you get to New Zealand, your life will be so much easier and cheaper if you get a New Zealand sim card for your phone. Not only will you stay in touch with friends in New Zealand for less, but you can use network data to access the Internet.
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 which includes a lot of network data. This will also be your saviour if you are staying in a hostel/hotel/holiday park with expensive WiFi.
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.
WiFi Modem for Campervans and Cars
An onboard portable modem can be purchased for campervans and cars. They are good for connecting multiple devices and having a stronger and more reliable connection than using your phone’s WiFi tethering. However, portable modems can be quite an investment and, just like phones, they only work when there is a signal.
Data plans are usually more cost-effective for travellers or digital nomads who extensively use the internet and require similar amounts of data than they would at home or in the office. Find out more about portable WiFi modems in How to Get WiFi in Your Campervan in New Zealand.
© PexelsWiFi in Accommodation
One of the selling points for a lot of New Zealand accommodations is “Free WiFi”. That’s because they know how hard free WiFi is to find! However, don’t expect a super speedy connection with free WiFi. It’s often unlikely going to work when Skyping your mum or uploading a ton of photos onto Facebook.
Sometimes it is worth paying a little for good WiFi. It’s usually cheaper to pay over a period of time rather than per MB. One Internet service worth having if you are staying in selected accommodations is Global Gossip. You can either pay NZ$4 for 24 hours or NZ$12 for 7 days. This means you can connect to unlimited WiFi at any Global Gossip hotspot within that time period. Additionally, if you get yourself a YHA membership, there’s free WiFi at 25+ YHA hostels around the country.
© NZPocketGuide.comWiFi in Towns and Cities
The best way to get WiFi in a New Zealand town or city is to buy a coffee! Many cafes have free WiFi that is decent enough for uploading photos and videos. Some cafes have time or MB limits on WiFi. Also, internet cafes are an obvious solution, be prepared to pay NZ$3-NZ$6 an hour.
Spark customers on a pay monthly phone plan can use the 1000+ free WiFi zones all over the country.
Here are the hotspots for free WiFi in New Zealand’s three biggest cities:
Auckland: Search for “AucklandWiFi@Tomizone” while cruising around Auckland central! But if you want specifics, look here.
Wellington: Search for “cbdfree” for WiFi over much of Wellington CBD. Find locations here.
Christchurch: For the CBD find “Trade Me FREE WiFi”. 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.
© PexelsInternet 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.
While the majority of flats and rooms to rent will include WiFi for an extra cost per month, there is a slim chance you will have to install your own broadband. But, just in case you do, typical plans include:
- For unlimited broadband, expect to pay NZ$75-NZ$110 for a 12-month contract
- For 40GB it is around NZ$75 for 12 months
- There is a budget option at the sacrifice of a slower download and upload speed. NZ$40 for 50GB, NZ$50 for 100GB, and NZ$75 for unlimited.
However, if you are not planning to flat for a whole 12 months, which is the case for most backpackers, then we suggest getting a data-heavy phone plan and using the WiFi tethering off your phone.
Other Places You Can Find Free WiFi
Some have good connections, others not so much.
- Libraries
- YHA hostels for YHA members
- Te Papa, Wellington
- NZOne, Queenstown
- McDonald’s
- Starbucks.
