Best Roaming Plans NZ

What is roaming?

Roaming (commonly referred to as global roaming, international roaming or data roaming) is when your phone uses another provider’s network to use functions such as calling, SMS, and mobile broadband (data) when your own network is unavailable. This is typically done when travelling overseas.

For example, if you’re on holiday in Australia, your regular NZ Mobile plan won’t be of much use. However, with roaming, you can use an Aussie carrier’s network to continue surfing the web and texting/calling from your phone.

It’s important to note that unless you select a specific roaming plan, you’ll be charged casual rates while roaming, which can be very expensive.

So when travelling it pays to purchase a designated roaming phone plan, which can make keeping in touch while abroad considerably cheaper.

Roaming phone plans

Below is a brief overview of roaming options from a selection of NZ telco providers. For further details, be sure to visit individual retailers’ websites.

Note that most roaming plans start at time of purchase, so don’t buy one too far ahead of time. Ideally, you should buy your plan using wi-fi at your destination.

Spark

One NZ

One NZ customers on pay monthly plans can use their phone plans as usual overseas for an additional $10/day (in select locations). Prepay customers can purchase the following roaming add-ons:

2degrees

As with One, 2degrees customers can continue using their NZ plans for just $8/day in over 100 destinations worldwide.

Skinny

Kogan

Kogan’s roaming pack works in 56 overseas destinations.

Do I have any alternatives?

If you’re looking to avoid data roaming altogether, but want to remain connected while abroad, options include:

Get a local SIM

Most overseas telcos offer travel SIM cards pre-loaded with calls, texts and data specifically designed for tourists, and these often provide better value than roaming plans. Note that if you get a local SIM, you’ll have to use a new number while away.

Stick to wi-fi

If you’re taking a quick trip to a major metropolis awash with free wi-fi, you might find you don’t really need to use mobile data while overseas.

Should I use roaming when overseas?

Casual roaming rates overseas can be very expensive, so if you’re planning to use your phone while away it pays to pre-arrange a roaming pack before you travel. Otherwise, the moment you land and turn off your phone’s airplane mode it could connect directly to a foreign carrier’s network and start using expensive data.

Switching off your phone’s mobile data usage can prevent this from happening.

Compare phone plans with Canstar Blue

About the editor of this page

Bruce Pitchers is Canstar NZ’s Content Manager. An experienced finance reporter, he has three decades’ experience as a journalist and has worked for major media companies in Australia, the UK and NZ, including ACP, Are Media, Bauer Media Group, Fairfax, Pacific Magazines, News Corp and TVNZ. As a freelancer, he has +worked for The Australian Financial Review, the NZ Financial Markets Authority and major banks and investment companies on both sides of the Tasman.
In his role at Canstar, he has been a regular commentator in the NZ media, including on the Driven, Stuff and One Roof websites, the NZ Herald, Radio NZ, and Newstalk ZB.
Away from Canstar, Bruce creates puzzles for magazines and newspapers, including Woman’s Day and New Idea. He is also the co-author of the murder-mystery book 5 Minute Murder.