Will my mobile phone work in Australia?
Chances are your mobile phone will work in Australia, however, you have a few different options if you want to stay connected during your travels - activate your international roaming (or your mobile phone's data roaming plan), connect to local wifi, or purchase an Australian SIM card and join a local network.
While Australian GSM frequencies are different to the networks used in the United States and the United Kingdom, most major mobile brands such as Apple and Samsung have introduced models that are compatible with international networks making searching the internet, uploading to Instagram, and contacting your loved ones easier than ever.
Most states and regions in Australia have pretty good mobile coverage, however, there are certainly several areas that experience little to no coverage at all. These areas include remote parts of each state (more specifically wilderness regions in the Northern Territory, far north Queensland, Western Australia, and South Australia), as well as any national parks or high mountainous regions such as Mount Buller in Victoria and the Blue Mountains in New South Whales. Make sure you plan ahead by downloading any important documents you might need including booking confirmation, accommodation details, and area maps/directions before you move out of network range.
Buying a SIM card in Australia
It's extremely easy to purchase a SIM card in Australia as they're readily available in most Australian airports, each mobile phone provider's standalone stores, Australia post stores (Australia's national postal service), supermarkets, or other electronic retailers. Australia has three main mobile phone providers - Vodafone, Telstra, and Optus - all of which operate using 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G frequency bands on the GSM network.
Before your travels, it's wise to check whether your mobile phone network is locked. If it is, contact your local mobile phone provider to unlock it as your phone may not be able to accept Australian SIM cards if it remains locked. Some mobile phone providers don't offer phones that are locked to a specific network so you may not need to worry about this before heading to Australia, however, it's important to check to ensure a smooth transition to local Australian networks and to make sure you can still use your phone during your travels.
Our Australia trips
6 Days
From
1062
Explore Cradle Mountain National Park and the Bay of Fires on this nature-filled...
4 Days
From
915
Discover the history, culture and incredible landscapes of Australia’s Red Centre on a...
5 Days
From
1215
Roadtrip with Intrepid to southern WA. From Fremantle, take five days visiting Margaret...
5 Days
From
1411
Discover the untamed beauty of north west Tasmania on a 5-day tour departing from...
6 Days
From
1290
Tackle one of Australia’s greatest treks, among some of its most incredible scenery, on...
Tailor-Made trips
Take four or more on an exclusive trip and tailor your itinerary
6 Days
From
1660
Discover Australia’s Red Centre in comfort with a six-day Intrepid adventure. Visit...
7 Days
From
1670
Travel from Sydney to Brisbane and soak up the best of Australia’s east coast beaches,...
5 Days
From
1720
Take a five-day adventure tour through the coastal wilderness of Kuku Yalanji land,...
6 Days
From
3485
Uncover 600 million years of history on a Premium adventure through Australia’s Red...
3 Days
From
660
Discover the best of Australia’s Red Centre on a three-day adventure with Intrepid,...
6 Days
From
1595
Discover the staggering landscapes of Australia’s Top End on an incredible 6-day...
4 Days
From
1084
Explore the best of south eastern Tasmania, from Hobart to Bruny Island to Port Arthur,...
Read more about Australia
Aug 09, 2023
What not to do at Uluru
There are plenty of do's at Uluru, but there are also some don't's.
Feb 20, 2020
7 reasons you should explore the east...
Australia is an amazing country. Here are seven reasons to add Intrepid's Sydney...
Dec 14, 2015
The world’s best city rivalries: why...
Whether it’s based on landmarks, music, fashion, food, sport, literature, location...
Feb 07, 2016
Meet the couple that crossed the...
Trina and I sat on my mum’s couch in Manchester, listening to a family friend try...
May 04, 2023
22 new ways we’re creating positive...
Our not-for-profit, The Intrepid Foundation, is welcoming 22 new partners in 2023....
Jun 21, 2023
Everything you need to know before...
You can't just rock up to Uluru (pardon the pun). Here's all the important stuff...