Using your eSIM in New Zealand
What you get with every New Zealand plan
Where it works
New Zealand
Networks
One NZ
Hotspot
Allowed
When your plan starts
When you land
Install by
Within 180 days of buying
Questions about New Zealand eSIMs
What does a New Zealand eSIM cost?
It depends on the size you choose.
Each plan on this page states its total data, how many days it lasts and the whole price before you pay, so a city weekend and a three-week drive are not priced as the same purchase.
Which networks does a New Zealand eSIM use?
The coverage list on this page names them, and the handset moves between them without being asked.
Spark and One NZ are the two names you are likely to see in the status bar once you land.
Can I set my New Zealand eSIM up before I leave home?
Yes, and that is the easier way to do it.
Adding one to a phone takes a connection, so your own Wi-Fi beats hunting for a free network at Auckland airport after an overnight flight.
Each card says when the data starts counting.
Will I have signal on the road to Milford Sound?
For most of it, no.
The stretch past Te Anau loses coverage for a long way and the Homer Tunnel has none at all.
Download the drive and tell someone when you expect to be back in range.
Is there mobile coverage on the Great Walks?
Almost none, and that is deliberate.
The huts on the Routeburn, the Milford and the Abel Tasman tracks sit well outside network reach.
Fill in an intentions form and leave your plans with someone.
How is coverage on the South Island?
Thin between the towns, and that is the terrain rather than the plan.
The alpine passes, the West Coast and the Catlins all have gaps.
Start with the coverage list on this page, which answers for the country and not for Queenstown or Dunedin.
Questions about every Ryvo plan
Will it work on my phone?
Does it come with a phone number?
No.
Ryvo eSIMs are data only.
There's no phone number, and you can't make calls or send texts on the eSIM itself.
Can I keep my usual number?
Yes.
Keep your main SIM on for calls and texts, and set the eSIM as your mobile data line.
Your carrier's roaming rates still apply to calls and texts, so check them before you go.
Can I share my data as a hotspot?
It depends on the plan.
Each plan says whether hotspot is allowed before you pay.
What if I run out of data?
Add data from your order page if your plan can be topped up.
If it can't, buy another plan for the same destination.
What if my eSIM won't connect?
Email us and we'll work through it with you, starting with your phone's mobile data settings.
If we can't get it working, our refund policy explains what happens next.
Before you go
Spark and One NZ are among the biggest networks here, and the list on this page names the ones your plan uses.
Fiordland, the Tongariro high country and the East Cape are another story.
Uber runs in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and a few other centres.
Outside them you are ringing a local taxi or taking the shuttle your accommodation books.
Save your maps, your walking tracks and your ferry booking while you are still in a town.
Long stretches of state highway have no signal, and that is the terrain rather than a fault.
Keep your usual SIM switched on for calls and texts, and choose the eSIM for mobile data.
Still need help?
Email us your order reference, and we'll help you get connected.