# eSIM for travellers from Australia: where you go and what it costs

> Australian travellers go to Indonesia, New Zealand and Japan most (ABS, 2025-26). A 5 GB, 30-day eSIM costs $8.99 for Indonesia, $12.99 for New Zealand and $9.49 for Japan, in US dollars. Delivered by email in seconds.

Indonesia, New Zealand and Japan top the list of short-term resident returns from Australia by country of stay, from ABS Overseas Arrivals and Departures for the 2025-26 financial year. A travel eSIM lets you add a local data plan to your phone before you leave, so you can use mobile data on a local network once you land.

- Shop: eSIMology (esimology.com), travel eSIM data plans
- Delivery: instant, by email and on the order page, with a QR code, a one-tap install link for iPhone (iOS 17.4+) and manual codes
- Checkout: guest checkout, Apple Pay, Google Pay and cards; prices in GBP, EUR or USD including any taxes
- Refunds: an eSIM never installed can be cancelled within 30 days for a full refund to the card
- Plans are data only (no phone number); most start when the eSIM first connects at the destination
- URL: https://esimology.com/guides/esim-for-travellers-from-australia

## Where Australian travellers go

| Rank | Destination | Plan | Price | eSIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indonesia | 5 GB, 30 days | $8.99 | https://esimology.com/esim/indonesia |
| 2 | New Zealand | 5 GB, 30 days | $12.99 | https://esimology.com/esim/new-zealand |
| 3 | Japan | 5 GB, 30 days | $9.49 | https://esimology.com/esim/japan |
| 4 | China | 5 GB, 30 days | $9.99 | https://esimology.com/esim/china |
| 5 | United States | 5 GB, 30 days | $11.49 | https://esimology.com/esim/united-states |
| 6 | Thailand | 5 GB, 30 days | $6.49 | https://esimology.com/esim/thailand |
| 7 | India | 5 GB, 30 days | $16.99 | https://esimology.com/esim/india |
| 8 | United Kingdom | 5 GB, 30 days | $10.99 | https://esimology.com/esim/united-kingdom |
| 9 | Vietnam | 5 GB, 30 days | $11.99 | https://esimology.com/esim/vietnam |
| 10 | Fiji | 5 GB, 30 days | $22.99 | https://esimology.com/esim/fiji |

Ranking: ABS, Overseas Arrivals and Departures, Australia: 2025-26 financial year (short-term resident returns by country of stay), 2025-26 (https://www.abs.gov.au/articles/overseas-arrivals-and-departures-australia-2025-26-financial-year). Indonesia 1.78m returns, New Zealand 1.49m, Japan 0.99m. China excludes SARs and Taiwan.

## Roaming from Australia

| Carrier | Zone | Price | What it gives | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Telstra | International Day Pass Zone 1: New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu and others | $5 AUD a day | 2 GB data per day plus unlimited standard calls and SMS | https://www.telstra.com.au/international-roaming |
| Telstra | International Day Pass Zone 2: USA, UK, Europe, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand (80+ destinations) | $10 AUD a day | 2 GB data per day plus unlimited standard calls and SMS | https://www.telstra.com.au/international-roaming |
| Optus | Daily Roaming, Zone 1 (150+ destinations incl. New Zealand, USA, UK, Japan, Indonesia) | $5 AUD a day | 5 GB data for 24 hours plus unlimited standard talk and text; another 5 GB auto-added for $5 | https://www.optus.com.au/mobile/plans/international-roaming/roaming-add-ons |
| Vodafone | $5 Roaming, 100+ destinations | $5 AUD a day | Your plan's included data, calls and texts; extra 1 GB auto-added for $5; up to 90 days per calendar year | https://www.vodafone.com.au/mobile/international-roaming |

Read 7 November 2026.

## Good to know

- Telstra's Day Pass is only charged on days the phone is used abroad; extra data is $10 per 2 GB, valid 31 days. (https://www.telstra.com.au/help/critical-information-summaries/personal/mobile/international-roaming/international-day-pass)
- Vodafone's $5 Roaming works for a maximum of 90 days per calendar year. (https://www.vodafone.com.au/mobile/international-roaming)
- Optus Daily Roaming is a $5 add-on giving 5 GB for 24 hours. (https://www.optus.com.au/mobile/plans/international-roaming/roaming-add-ons)

## Which eSIM do I need for a trip from Australia?

Your destination decides which local networks your eSIM uses, so check the country you're visiting before you buy.

- **[Indonesia](/esim/indonesia):** your eSIM uses Indosat, Telkomsel or XL, with 5G where the network offers it. Indonesia is also in the Asia bundle and the Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand & Indonesia bundle. Heavy data users should look at eSIMology's daily allowances or bigger fixed plans.
- **[New Zealand](/esim/new-zealand):** your eSIM uses One NZ, with 5G where the network offers it. Oceania and Australia & New Zealand bundles are also available, so check which one fits your route.
- **Japan:** your eSIM uses KDDI/au, NTT docomo or Rakuten Mobile, with 5G where the network offers it. Japan is in the Japan & South Korea bundle and the China, Japan & South Korea bundle, so check both if you're visiting more than one country.

## What do Australia networks charge to roam?

Your mobile from Australia can roam overseas, but the carriers charge by the day. Prices below were read on 7 November 2026, in AUD.

- **Telstra:** AUD 5 a day for New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu and others, or AUD 10 a day for the USA, UK, Europe, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand and 80+ destinations. Each day gives 2 GB plus unlimited standard calls and SMS, and you pay only on days you use the phone abroad.
- **Optus:** Daily Roaming at AUD 5 a day for 150+ destinations, including New Zealand, USA, UK, Japan and Indonesia. You get 5 GB for 24 hours plus unlimited standard talk and text.
- **Vodafone:** Vodafone's $5 Roaming at AUD 5 a day for 100+ destinations. It uses your plan's included data, calls and texts, and works for up to 90 days per calendar year.

Extra data costs more on top; Telstra's is AUD 10 per 2 GB, valid 31 days. A travel eSIM works differently: you buy data for one price, and [your home number](/help/keep-whatsapp-and-home-number) stays on for calls and texts. Heavy users can compare eSIMology's daily allowances and larger fixed plans.

## Questions

### Where do Australian travellers go most?

Indonesia, New Zealand, Japan, China, the United States, Thailand, India, the United Kingdom, Vietnam and Fiji, in that order, according to ABS, Overseas Arrivals and Departures, Australia: 2025-26 financial year (short-term resident returns by country of stay).

### How much does roaming cost from Australia?

Telstra $5 AUD a day (International Day Pass Zone 1: New Zealand); Optus $5 AUD a day (Daily Roaming); Vodafone $5 AUD a day ($5 Roaming), from each carrier's own page, read 7 November 2026. A 5 GB, 30-day Indonesia eSIM costs $8.99 for the whole trip.

### Can I keep my Australian number with a travel eSIM?

Yes. A travel eSIM from eSIMology is data only: keep your home SIM switched on for calls and texts (your carrier's own rates apply to those), and use WhatsApp, FaceTime or any calling app over the eSIM's data.

### Which currency do I pay in?

Pounds, euros or US dollars: pick yours at the top of any page. This guide shows US dollars. Cards from Australia pay in US dollars and convert to AUD at the card's own rate.

### Do I need an eSIM for a trip from Australia to Indonesia?

You don't need an eSIM, but it's a simple way to get data in Indonesia. eSIMology's plans run on Indosat, Telkomsel or XL, with 5G where the network offers it.

### Is roaming included on Telstra in Indonesia?

Telstra's Indonesia roaming is a day pass, not a free extra, billed only on days you use the phone abroad. It costs AUD 10 a day and gives 2 GB per day plus unlimited standard calls and SMS.

### Which network will my eSIM use in New Zealand?

eSIMology's plans run on One NZ in New Zealand, with 5G where the network offers it. Telstra and Optus also cover New Zealand with AUD 5 daily passes.

### Is there an unlimited data option for Thailand?

For heavy use in Thailand, eSIMology's daily allowances and bigger fixed plans are the ones to choose. Telstra's Thailand day pass gives 2 GB per day plus unlimited standard calls and SMS, not unlimited data.