International Roaming

Optus New Zealand roaming: Plans, pricing, and alternatives

Optus New Zealand roaming options allow you to stay connected on your trip abroad. Discover Optus roaming plans, pricing, and digital alternatives.

Traveling to New Zealand from Australia? If Optus is your home provider, the good news is Optus’ roaming services allow you to use your phone just as you would at home. This blog contains everything you need to know about Optus roaming in New Zealand, plans, costs, and alternative solutions such as an eSIM.

You can get a travel eSIM from Holafly and enjoy fast and unlimited data on your trip, along with much-needed peace of mind.

In this article

Does Optus roaming work in New Zealand?

Yes, Optus roaming services work in New Zealand, which is an eligible Zone 1 destination. This means that when you enable data roaming in New Zealand, you’ll be able to use your home plan and Optus eSIM or SIM throughout the country.

That said, there are many Optus international roaming options for both prepaid and postpaid users, varying in price and allowances. You can select according to your current plan and avoid the hassle of getting a local New Zealand SIM card.

Optus New Zealand roaming: Plans and pricing

You have multiple options for Optus international roaming in New Zealand, depending on your plan.

Optus Daily Roaming: $5 AUD for 5 GB and unlimited standard talk and text for 24 hours. This roaming option is available on Optus Choice Plus Plans and is activated by default. You will be charged the fee whenever you use your phone in New Zealand. You can also get this option with Optus roaming in Japan, as it falls in Zone 1 destinations.

Optus will send you data usage alerts by SMS or email at 50%, 85%, and 100% of your 5 GB data usage. You’ll also be charged $5 for 5 GB every time you exceed your data limit or every 24 hours.

If not on an Optus Choice Plus plan, you have two other options:

$10 AUD Optus Roaming Pass: 1 GB data and unlimited national calls and texts for 24 hours in New Zealand. For Roaming Pass users, an additional $10 will be charged for every 1 GB of data used beyond the limit.. Any unused data will be rolled over to the next day.
Standard Roaming Rates: $1.50 AUD per minute for calls, $0.50 per SMS message, and $1 per MB of data used. These rates will only apply if you don’t have Optus Daily Roaming or an Optus Roaming Pass.

Prepaid Roaming Add-ons are only available with Optus Flex Plus prepaid plans and include:

1-day add-on: $5 AUD for 1 GB of data, 100 minutes, and 100 texts
7-day add-on: $35 AUD for 7 GB of data, 700 minutes, and 700 texts.

How to get Optus roaming in New Zealand

Activating Optus roaming in New Zealand looks slightly different for each roaming option. However, you’ll have to turn on data roaming in your phone settings. Otherwise, none of the Optus roaming options will work.

Optus Daily Roaming is activated by default on all Optus Choice Plus plans. You can check if you have it by opening your My Optus app. Select the Services tab, your service, and then scroll down to Add-ons. This is where you’ll find Daily Roaming if it is included.
Optus Roaming Passes are activated through the My Optus app on your phone.
To enable standard roaming rates, head to the My Optus app and turn off Roaming Pass in the International Roaming Settings.
To buy an Optus Prepaid Roaming Add-on, head to the Optus app or website.

Disclaimer: The data in this article is accurate as of October 13, 2025, and is subject to change.

Get an unlimited data eSIM for New Zealand with Holafly

While you do have reliable options for roaming with Optus in New Zealand, an unlimited data eSIM for New Zealand offers more control, predictability, and better value.

With Holafly eSIMs, you can avoid extra charges, surprise bills, or running out of data. Unlimited data eSIM plans mean you can use your data-heavy apps in peace, with no data usage alerts to disturb your browsing.

Activating an eSIM is only a matter of a few minutes. Download the Holafly app, choose your destination, and match your eSIM plan to your trip duration. Holafly’s eSIM for New Zealand starts at $5.90 AUD daily; as the plan duration increases, the daily price decreases. If you opt for a longer plan duration, the daily price decreases and can even be as cheap as $2.43 AUD daily. Manage your plan from the dedicated Holafly app, and pay a fixed price upon eSIM purchase.

Keep your Optus SIM active for calls/SMS, enjoy unlimited data with Holafly’s travel eSIM for New Zealand, and avoid surprise roaming charges.

If you’re traveling abroad for an extended period, consider Holafly Plans instead to stay connected. This monthly eSIM subscription offers flexible data plans in over 170 destinations, including New Zealand. For only $100 AUD ($64.90 USD) per month, you can enjoy unlimited data and unlimited hotspot for multiple devices.

Traveling to New Zealand with another provider? Check out our blogs on:

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Mahnoor Bangush

SEO Content Writer

Born and raised in Queens, New York, I'm a Psychology graduate with a passion for writing that I've been nurturing since 2019. Over the years, I've enjoyed creating meaningful content across various niches, including sports, hospitality, and career development. At Holafly, I focus on crafting useful and inspiring pieces to make your adventures more effortless. One of the best perks of this role? Creating travel content always seems to inspire my next vacation destination!

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