Which operator and phone plan to pick for your working holiday in Australia

It’s important to have a local phone line for things like applying to jobs and opening a bank account, and Australia is no exception. In this article, we’ll tell you about mobile phone offers in Australia and how you can get connected while staying within budget.

What to do about your phone plan from home

Getting ready for a working holiday in Australia means saying goodbye to parts of life at home. You probably already have a cell phone—you could put your plan on hold, cancel it or upgrade to an international roaming package, depending on your budget and needs.

1. Put it on hold

If you’re going on a working holiday to Australia, putting your current phone plan on hold will save you from paying an unnecessary recurring expense. You may, however, still have to pay a smaller fee to keep your number. If you have the budget to do so, this is likely the best option, as you’ll likely need the same number again once you return home.

2. Cancel it completely

Another option is to simply cancel your plan. There is usually no fee associated with this, but the obvious downside is that you would lose your number forever.

Be careful if you are locked into a contract. Breaking a contract early usually incurs a penalty. Check with your operator on what your contractual obligations are.

3. Upgrade it to an international plan

It may be worth asking your carrier if they have any international options. If it’s not too expensive, this option would allow you to have an operational phone ready for use the moment you land in Australia.

The one big downside to this option is that some situations in Australia (like elsewhere) require a local phone number, especially when it comes to financial and banking services that send multi-factor authentication codes to a phone. A foreign number may not be accepted.

Another important example is in job applications: employers might be hesitant to reach out to a candidate who lists a foreign number on their resume.

4. Do nothing

If none of the above options are appropriate for your needs and situation, the last option would be to do nothing. Keep paying for your home plan even if you’re not using it. This is obviously an expensive option, but might make sense if it is still cheaper than breaking contract or upgrading to an international plan (assuming putting your line on hold is not possible).

How to get an Australian plan and number

It’s best to bring your phone to Australia to avoid buying a pricey new device. Make sure your phone is unlocked, i.e., that it’s not tied to a specific carrier or contract back home.

Next, you’ll need to get an Australian SIM card and phone plan. There are two categories of mobile providers in Australia.

The main carriers:

• Telstra
• Optus
• Vodafone

The low-cost carriers:

• Boost (Telstra)
• Belong (Telstra)
• Aldi (Telstra)
• Woolworth (Telstra)
• Amaysim (Optus)
• Yomojo (Optus)
• Dodo (Optus)
• Coles (Optus)
• Spintel (Optus)
• Southern Phone (Optus)
• Kogan Mobile (Vodafone)

Obviously, these two types of companies will differ in their network coverage, services, and pricing.

To give you an idea, here’s a prepaid phone plan price comparison between a major carrier and a low-cost carrier in Australia, as well as the upsides and downsides of each solution.

Why choose a prepaid plan with a major carrier

• Advantages: access to high-quality network coverage. With the main carriers (listed above), you’re guaranteed to find network coverage almost anywhere in Australia.
• Downsides: For great network coverage, these carriers charge the highest price on the market. Also, prepaid offers from main carriers are often only a good deal for the first three months—that’s the issue with the “starter kits.” Let’s do the math below.
• Example: let’s take Telstra, Australia’s most famous carrier. As of 2024, one of the featured offers is an AU$17 prepaid plan with 35GB. However, it’s 35GB on the first three recharges, and future recharges are full price. . . and the offer isn’t that great anymore.

Why choose a prepaid plan with a low-cost carrier

• Advantages: the price! These carriers offer attractive plans and competitive prices.
• Downsides: “slightly” less network coverage. However, low-cost operators piggyback on the main carriers’ network and it works very well.
• Example: let’s take ALDImobile. You can get 65GB of data, unlimited calls and text messages to Australian numbers and 20 select countries for AU$39. There is no “starter pack” tricky fine print. So when you want to top up your package, the price remains the same month after month (unless you want to move to a cheaper or more expensive plan)!

For more info, read shopping for a phone plan and data.

Contract plans or commitment-free prepaid cards?

Generally speaking, long-term residents choose to sign a 12- or 24-month contract (mostly for the free shiny new phone). This kind of long-term commitment may not be appropriate for a working holiday maker, unless you are sure to commit several years to Australia.

Prepaid plans are straightforward and flexible, and they let you manage your spending based on your needs and budget, though they certainly won’t be giving you a brand new phone as a perk.

Internet access and coverage in Australia

Finding internet access in Australia can be a challenge at times—it’s a huge country and coverage can be patchy, especially outside the major cities.

Depending on your travel plans, you may need to prepare accordingly. For example, if you are planning to backpack nomadically in Australia, make sure to download offline maps on Google Maps before going offgrid.

Free wifi in Australia

Free wifi is not very common, but thankfully there are a few places where you should be able to connect:

• Libraries (free unlimited access)
• Cafés (unlimited and free access, excluding the price of drinks of course)
• Fast-food restaurants (free access for a limited time)
• Supermarkets and most major Australian retailers

On-the-go Internet access in Australia

If you need a reliable wifi connection or if you’re going to spend most of your working holiday on road trips, consider mobile broadband options.

Mobile broadband gives you access to high-speed Internet on a wide range of devices through a dongle, model or SIM card.

Telstra, Vodafone, Amaysim and Southern Phone offer mobile broadband data plans. You will have your own network to connect your phone, laptop, tablet, etc. Prices can seem rather steep but it’s the most reliable way to connect anywhere on your terms—even from your converted van!

You can compare prepaid Internet plans here.