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Planning a trip to New Zealand and want to use your regular Telstra SIM card there? Telstra offers several international roaming options, allowing you to stay connected without needing to look for a local SIM card in New Zealand when you arrive. 

Follow along as we take a look at Telstra’s roaming plans, their pricing, and Holafly — a travel eSIM you may want to consider the next time you travel abroad.

telstra new zealand roaming

Does Telstra roaming work in New Zealand?

Yes, Telstra international roaming works in New Zealand, with options for both pay-monthly and prepaid users. When travelling overseas with your Telstra plan, you will be automatically connected to a local network, ensuring optimal coverage throughout your stay.

Disclaimer: The data in this article is accurate as of June 18, 2025, and is subject to change.

Telstra roaming in New Zealand: Plans and pricing

All Telstra international roaming options can be split into three parts: an International Day Pass for pay-monthly users, prepaid roaming packs for prepaid users, and pay-as-you-go rates. Let’s take a closer look at what each of them has to offer and how much they cost.

  • International Day Pass: New Zealand falls into roaming zone 1, which means the Day Pass costs $5/day, which gives you 2 GB of data, unlimited calls, and unlimited messages.
  • Prepaid roaming packs: There are three different roaming packs you can get as a prepaid user, each offering a different call, text, and data allowance:
    • $10 for 400 MB, 15 SMS, and 15 minutes of calls for 3 days.
    • $15 for 2 GB, 25 SMS, and 25 minutes of calls for 7 days.
    • $25 for 4 GB, 50 SMS, and 50 minutes for 14 days.
  • Pay-as-you-go roaming: If you don’t get a day pass or a roaming pack, you will be charged $3 per MB of data, $0.75 per SMS, and $1.50 per minute of calls.

When you land in New Zealand, you’ll get a message from Telstra informing you of these roaming options. All in all, getting a day pass or roaming pack is your best option, since pay-as-you-go rates can quickly run up a massive phone bill.

How to get Telstra roaming in New Zealand

The process of getting your international roaming plan also differs depending on which option you choose. 

  • Activate a Day Pass:
    • Open the Telstra app or website and go to the Services tab.
    • Open the Extras menu.
    • Tap on the International Roaming option.
    • Toggle International Roaming Day Pass to the on position.
    • It takes up to two hours for the Day Pass to become active.
  • Get a prepaid roaming pack:
    • Open the Telstra app or website and go to the Services tab.
    • Open the Extras menu.
    • Select the roaming pack you want to buy.
    • Complete your purchase.
    • You can also call +61 439 12 5109 to have an agent help you get your roaming pack. 
  • Use pay-as-you-go roaming:
    • You will automatically be charged pay-as-you-go rates whenever you use Telstra services abroad without having a Day Pass or a roaming pack.

It’s worth noting that prepaid roaming packs become active the moment you buy them. Therefore, it’s not a good idea to buy packs before you leave Australia. Instead, get yours as soon as you land in New Zealand. 

You’re charged for Day Packs automatically whenever you use your phone abroad, so you can activate the Day Pack service in advance and start using it later.

No matter which roaming option you choose, you will need to turn on data roaming on your phone in order for the mobile internet to work outside Australia.

Stay connected in New Zealand with Holafly

If Telstra’s options confuse you and you just want a simple, traveller-oriented service to keep you connected — look no further than Holafly. It’s a travel eSIM company that offers eSIM plans in 200+ destinations worldwide, including New Zealand. All Holafly plans offer unlimited data and 24/7 customer support, so you won’t have to worry about losing connection.

Holafly’s eSIM for New Zealand starts at $9 AUD per day for the shortest plan, but any plan over 15 days long is cheaper than $5/day, with the longest plans being as cheap as $2/day. This means you can enjoy unlimited data for the same price or cheaper than the New Zealand roaming plans offered by Telstra.

If you’re planning to stay in New Zealand for a while, Holafly Plans might be an even better option for you. It’s a monthly eSIM subscription with prices ranging from $39.90 to $64.90 USD ($61.50 to $100 AUD) depending on the data allowance. Each plan offers coverage in 170+ destinations with a single eSIM and can be cancelled at any time without any extra fees.

Rokas Aniulis

Rokas Aniulis

Senior SEO copywriter

A senior SEO writer from Lithuania, combining my passion for writing and travel at Holafly. With years of experience in technical fields, I'm here to answer all of your questions about staying connected. I specialize in turning even the most complicated topics into something everyone can understand.

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