Dad and I are doing a fly drive trip to New Zealand next year for a month..
What's over there in the way of wifi?
I'm not sure if ill take my laptop or just my ipad 3 yet
I'm thinking of leaving my iPhone home so I don't have bill shock when we get back!!
My ipad does have Telstra 3G and wifi..don't know if Telstra is over there?
Happywanderer said
06:05 PM Dec 14, 2012
I think it's called Telecom over there milo.
bill12 said
08:10 PM Dec 14, 2012
And its called "telecoma" here............
billeeeeeee said
03:00 AM Dec 15, 2012
Howdyeeee Milo, U better start winding your clock back 20 years , if u going to NZ... stay excited Milo,,,,,PS, better wind in back another 5 years , if u going to the South Island,,,,,heheheh stay excited Milo,,,,,,,,,,Billeeeeee
Hi
telecom NZ has just turned on @100 free wifi hotspot in many holiday spots and public phone booths. But that will not see you coverage across the country. So if you want to buy a prepaid sim you have a choice of telecom nth island brst coverage, Vodafone South island best coverage, or 2degrees roams on Voda. Prices are expensive......
But look for zenbu wifi and these donot have a time limit buy by the MB ans use by the kb.they have thousands of wifi hotspots across NZ and are excellent value. Need more info and I can add more.
Happy travels too.
billeeeeeee said
05:00 AM Dec 15, 2012
Howdyeeeeee ppl, I have been told they only have dial up in NZ for internet , is that true,???? Howdyeee Milo,!! behaving u self,????? catch u out there in the play ground........Billeeeeeeee
Hi Milo, I work in IT, and I look after two mobile phone fleets, one here, and one in NZ, and I feel I am in a position where I can give you some advice on this one.
1. MAKE SURE you have data roaming turned OFF on your phone before you go (I would always have it OFF), this means you will not get emails etc. I have had people ignore this advice, and have had bills ranging from $1200 for three days of "I was only reading emails" (users always claim that), to $14,700 for three weeks. Some people have been able to get bill reductions by arguing the case through the ombudsman when they get back, but I believe it is getting harder.
2. Free WiFi is reasonably common, but it is patchy, and the size of the town does not seem to matter.
3. We have WiFi in our plants in NZ, but I am now finding our users want more, so we have purchased a couple of NZ SIMS with 2GB per month, we have these in mobile WiFi hotspots which the user takes with them, and they link their phone to the hotspot. It works well for us. I know at least one carrier in NZ is considering making these devices available to hire at the airport.
Good luck with your trip, it is not nearly as backward as people say, just don't forget to feed the horse.
milo said
09:32 PM Dec 15, 2012
thanks all even tho im with telstra, can i get a pre paid sim and use that when there??
allinone said
01:20 AM Dec 16, 2012
Hi You will need to get a new prepaid SIM when you arrive in New Zealand from one of the local MNOs (Telecom NZ, Vodafone NZ or 2degrees) or one of the local MVNOs (B&W, TelstraClear, Skinny etc)
Your Australian Telecom prepaid SIM will/may work but you will need to donate some of your body parts to pay for the privilege.
Telecom Australia does not operate in New Zealand but allows roaming. :)
Check out their rates but these are of course subject to change at any time! telecom.co.nz, vodafone.co.nz, 2degreesmobile.co.nz, telstraclear.co.nz, skinny.co.nz/ etc
Plendo said
03:00 AM Dec 16, 2012
If you got your phone from Telstra it is probably locked to Telstra, and a sim from any other company will not work. It may be possible to go to a Telstra dealer and get it unlocked.
spida said
06:15 PM Dec 21, 2012
For maybe $50 you can buy a prepaid phone in NZ..... I still have mine from when I came over 4 years ago and it still works. Emails - take your laptop or use webmail on someone elses?
Plodnalong said
08:22 PM Dec 22, 2012
Don't forget McDonalds. Almost all have free wireless internet and they also have clean toilets.
buffy61 said
12:36 PM Dec 28, 2012
Kiwi living in oz here. I often go back to NZ to see the kidlets and friends. I have an iPhone. I bought a nz Vodafone sim for my phone. I take out my oz sim from iPhone when sitting in the plane...no chance of getting charged expensive roaming fees. Put the NZ sim in my iPhone and turn that on as I am coming thru customs! I think I pay about $30nz for a topup. I get data in that plus can make ph calls and text (NZ and oz). Horses for courses when it comes to coverage but I have never had any trouble with Vodafone when travelling the north island. Ps... Don't forget to carry a paper clip or similar to pop the sim carrier out of your iPhone!
Howdyeeee Milo, U better start winding your clock back 20 years , if u going to NZ... stay excited Milo,,,,,PS, better wind in back another 5 years , if u going to the South Island,,,,,heheheh stay excited Milo,,,,,,,,,,Billeeeeee
Howdyeeeeee ppl, I have been told they only have dial up in NZ for internet , is that true,???? Howdyeee Milo,!! behaving u self,????? catch u out there in the play ground........Billeeeeeeee
1. MAKE SURE you have data roaming turned OFF on your phone before you go (I would always have it OFF), this means you will not get emails etc. I have had people ignore this advice, and have had bills ranging from $1200 for three days of "I was only reading emails" (users always claim that), to $14,700 for three weeks. Some people have been able to get bill reductions by arguing the case through the ombudsman when they get back, but I believe it is getting harder.
2. Free WiFi is reasonably common, but it is patchy, and the size of the town does not seem to matter.
3. We have WiFi in our plants in NZ, but I am now finding our users want more, so we have purchased a couple of NZ SIMS with 2GB per month, we have these in mobile WiFi hotspots which the user takes with them, and they link their phone to the hotspot. It works well for us. I know at least one carrier in NZ is considering making these devices available to hire at the airport.
Good luck with your trip, it is not nearly as backward as people say, just don't forget to feed the horse.
even tho im with telstra, can i get a pre paid sim and use that when there??
You will need to get a new prepaid SIM when you arrive in New Zealand from one of the local MNOs (Telecom NZ, Vodafone NZ or 2degrees) or one of the local MVNOs (B&W, TelstraClear, Skinny etc)
Your Australian Telecom prepaid SIM will/may work but you will need to donate some of your body parts to pay for the privilege.
Telecom Australia does not operate in New Zealand but allows roaming. :)
Check out their rates but these are of course subject to change at any time!
telecom.co.nz, vodafone.co.nz, 2degreesmobile.co.nz, telstraclear.co.nz, skinny.co.nz/ etc
If you got your phone from Telstra it is probably locked to Telstra, and a sim from any other company will not work. It may be possible to go to a Telstra dealer and get it unlocked.
I often go back to NZ to see the kidlets and friends.
I have an iPhone. I bought a nz Vodafone sim for my phone. I take out my oz sim from iPhone when sitting in the plane...no chance of getting charged expensive roaming fees. Put the NZ sim in my iPhone and turn that on as I am coming thru customs!
I think I pay about $30nz for a topup. I get data in that plus can make ph calls and text (NZ and oz).
Horses for courses when it comes to coverage but I have never had any trouble with Vodafone when travelling the north island.
Ps... Don't forget to carry a paper clip or similar to pop the sim carrier out of your iPhone!