Do you want to enjoy the beauty of nature or have a travel to give yourself peace, New Zealand would be your best choice. You must be surely arriving in New Zealand with a mobile phone, tablet, or laptop – or a mixture of all three. Finding the internet connectivity in New Zealand throughout your travels is easy with a little bit of planning when you first arrive. If you’re in an urban area, you should be able to get an internet connection without too much difficulty. But visiting remote places in New Zealand, unlike most parts of Europe, has large areas that are out of digital range.
If you’re looking to stay connected to the internet everywhere you go, it’s recommended that you purchase a plan from one of New Zealand’s main networks. Free WiFi hotspots are generally found in main cities only and can be sporadic throughout the rest of the country. Purchasing a plan from a network will allow you to have access to a mix of data, calling, and texting throughout your trip to suit your communication and connection needs.
Let us see some easy ways to find Internet connectivity in New Zealand with wifi access points.
Mobile and Data Networks in New Zealand
The main networks are:
- Vodafone
- 2degrees
- Spark
- Skinny
You’ll need to take your mobile device(s) into a branch when you first arrive to purchase your pack. Use the branch locator to find the most convenient location for you. If you’re looking to use a combination of devices for internet connectivity in New Zealand, it is most cost-effective to set up your phone as a wireless hotspot that your other devices can run off as well.
You can purchase data packs that expire after a certain amount of time. The network you choose will advise you on what will work best for your needs. If you choose to purchase a mobile data pack with Telecom, you’ll be eligible to access their free WiFi hotspots, dotted throughout the country.
Data/mobile Costs – Internet connectivity in New Zealand
Data and mobile packs range from $19, depending on how much data you require and how long you are in New Zealand. This is how you will get the internet connectivity in New Zealand.
- 2degrees plans and packs
- Telecom plans and packs
- Vodafone plans and packs
Free WiFi
New Zealand currently has limited access to free WiFi services, although the situation is gradually improving. Free WiFi hotspots are found predominantly in urban areas and are not common in small towns or rural regions.
- All of New Zealand’s Public Libraries have a free WiFi service.
- Many i-SITE Visitor Information Centres provide free WiFi service.
- Some cafes and restaurants also have a free WiFi service when you purchase food or drink.
Free WiFi in city centres
Free WiFi service is available in central Auckland, Rotorua, Wellington, and Dunedin. For occasional Internet connectivity in New Zealand, you can either use a pay-as-you-go service at a holiday park or internet café or try to locate a free wifi service in the location you are visiting.
Free WiFi and accommodation
Some of New Zealand’s accommodation providers provide free WiFi for guests. It’s a good idea to check if this service is offered at the time of booking.
Public Libraries
Many small-town local libraries are members of The Aotearoa People’s Network Kaharoa. This service provides free access to broadband internet in selected public libraries and is available to anyone who has access to a public library. It was designed for locals who don’t otherwise have Internet connectivity in New Zealand so they can benefit from accessing, experiencing, and creating digital content.
However, these islands of free Wifi are increasingly popular at tourist destinations so you’ll see crowds of travelers crammed into the Wifi-room Skyping in every known language. The problems with this service are it isn’t in every town, it only works during daylight library hours and it can be busy it runs on overload.
Cafes and Restaurants
A couple of years ago, the NZ branch of a major international fast-food chain saw a need and filled it by offering free Wifi at almost all their restaurants throughout New Zealand. This soon became hugely popular, causing increasing problems with system overload and various malfunctions. Since then hundreds of cafes and restaurants have got on board with the free wifi gig to sell more hamburgers, coffees, or whitebait fritters.
You just need to make a purchase and ask for the free wifi password. Like most however free wifi, access is time-limited, has limited bandwidth, may not work when you want it to, and maybe insecure Hey but it’s free! As an example Like Starbucks and McDonald’s in many other countries, they provide free wifi hotspots for clients to get Internet connectivity in New Zealand. Also, there are many other cafes, restaurants, and hotels that offer wifi service.
Pay As you Go
You can buy Internet connectivity in New Zealand either on an internet terminal or via Wifi at internet cafes, Tourist Information Centres, and many campgrounds and holiday parks. Other than cost, the major downsides are accessibility and opening hours.
If you plan to stay mostly at commercial campsites, you may wish to consider buying a prepaid internet card from the Internet Access Company (IAC). They provide Internet connectivity in New Zealand in the form of wifi at more than 200 campsites around the country.
Most of the campgrounds in the three main commercial holiday park networks family parks, kiwi holiday parks, and Top 10 have internet access and most use IAC. In fact, all of the holiday’s parks in the Top 10 group except one (Omarama), have guest internet services. Check the holiday park websites for more information about the internet services they provide.
If you purchase a prepaid IAC card, you can use it at any participating campsite or cafe. That way you won’t have to purchase internet access each time you stop at a new location. You can just use your access code to log in using your laptop in your camper. Get your IAC card at any participating campsite or cafe.
