Thanks very much. We'll have four days in Sydney on the way home, I hadn't thought.about using the same SIMs in both places.

Either Vodafone or 2 degrees SIMs will work equally well for you - in Northland, 2 degrees runs off the Vodafone network anyway, so these are effectively the same, and 2 degrees rates are slightly cheaper.

The SIMs are readily available in several shops within Auckland airport, the basic pack is $5.

Northland is notorious for having quite a number of black spots for cellphone coverage, so don't expect great coverage everywhere. In the main towns it is fine though.

You should find free wi-fi available in some places, probably at your accommodation, depending where you have booked.....

So how did the 'sims' workout? Wondering about the same when there in March 2013. Need a microsim for my Iphone 4s and I-Pad 2. Wouldn't mind if they worked in Australia as well as there for a week. Your thoughts post trip??

I find it is cheaper to use an Oz card in Oz, and a NZ card in NZ especially for data roaming.

Every one seems to have a favourite supplier. However my wife and I have the 3 networks covered with business and pvt phones and to be perfectly honest we cant tell the difference. We use 2 degrees for private call as its cheaper, but the others are cheaper for TXT.

There are usually deals for prepaid modem sticks so shop around.

Hi Phil

Either a Vodafone or 2 degrees sim card would be your best bet. I would buy in Auckland at the airport if you can. Paihia does have a vodafone and 2 degrees outlet at the Paihia Bookshop.

We have a 15 minute free Wireless hotspot at our booking office right on the corner of Paihia township.

Regards Sue

Hi,

Is there roaming charges between North & South Island?

In Indonesia, there's' roaming charges' if you go to a different city from your base city.

I will be spending 2 days in North island & 11 days in South island.

Should I buy the SIM card at Auckland or wait till I get to Christchurch?

There are no North/South Island roaming charges. 2 Degrees is probably the best deal $5 prepay. They have far more generous data plans (important when you're travelling I think!) in major city areas i.e. Auck, Christchurch.

That said, NZ mobile charges are still high compared to most OECD countries.

Hi, I have a 2 degrees prepaid card with data on it but next to no 3g coverage in pahia very disappointing. Had to rely on wifi from hotel.

Hi Humey76,

it may be that your phone doesn't operate on the 900Mghz band. 2 degrees automatically roams on vodafone (same data rate) outside large metro areas. Most new phones now cover that spectrum. Vodafones 3g coverage is good in Paihia. Also make sure you have roaming enabled on your phone, otherwise it may not switch to voda automatically. It will then use your 2 degrees data allowance on the Vodafone 3g network - IF it works on 900mghz.

Hope this is helpful.