Planning your trip to New Zealand and flying to Auckland and wondering if you can buy a tourist sim card on arrival? Avoid high roaming charges and slow overseas data roaming plans.
This is a complete guide with everything you need to know before buying a sim card at Auckland Airport in 2025.
Find out where to buy a sim card, up to date prices as per January 2025, my recommendation, a vlog about my arrival and experiences and more.
In the past I always used to buy a prepaid sim card in every country, nowadays I always use eSIMs to stay connected when traveling abroad. Super convenient, easy and fast.
Traveltomtom also wrote a complete guide on how to buy a prepaid sim card in New Zealand and a comparison of the best eSIMs for New Zealand in 2025.
Table of Contents
- My recommendation
- Why buying a sim card for New Zealand
- Arrival at Auckland International Airport
- Where to buy a sim card at Auckland Airport
- Prices New Zealand prepaid sim cards at Auckland Airport
- Relay Bookstore
- Best sim card at Auckland Airport
- Best eSIMs for New Zealand
- Order a prepaid sim card for New Zealand online
- Vlog about buying a sim card at Auckland Airport
Some links in this article about buying a sim card at Auckland Airport are affiliate links. If you buy any of the products after using an affiliate link I will earn a small commission. Don't worry this is at absolutely no extra cost to you.
My recommendation
Traveltomtom recommends buying a Spark sim card at Auckland Airport in the duty free area just before immigration. It is the cheapest place to buy your sim card for New Zealand because it is tax-free. In the arrival hall they have the same sim cards but + tax.
The best-value sim card at Auckland Airport is around $24 USD for 10 GB data.
A cheaper way of staying connected is an eSIM and they already start from just $1 USD. For example a Jetpac eSIM for New Zealand with 15 GB data is also only $24 USD.
Find more eSIM plans in my comparison of the best eSIMs in New Zealand in 2025.
If you are traveling to multiple countries in the pacific for example to Australia and New Zealand then you might want to check into an international sim card for traveling. Click on the link to see my comparison of the best travel sim cards in 2025.
Why buying a sim card for New Zealand
No one wants to get stuck with slow overseas data roaming plans. These plans from your mobile internet provider in your home country reduce the data speed and are much more expensive than eSIMs or local prepaid sim cards.
The last thing we want is to get stuck with high data roaming charges, which in 2025 are still ridiculous and providers often charge up to $3 USD per MB, which means opening the Instagram app can easily cost you $100 USD. Not kidding!
Always make sure you switch off data roaming when traveling internationally.
Very important when traveling to New Zealand is to stay connected. Why? What about ordering a taxi through an app or getting directions from Google Maps. Ever thought about what to do in emergencies and not being able to use data on your phone? Or killing time on long train, bus or car rides, accessing your banking apps, etc.
Don't rely on WiFi, there is no guarantee your hotel has good and fast WiFi and another reminder that being connected to the internet through public WiFi is on an UNSECURED network. The use of a VPN is recommended to protect your data.
Traveltomtom is also on a mission to travel to every country in the world and since I like to document what is the best way to get connected you can already find more than 200 sim card guides on Traveltomtom from all over the world: Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Asia, Indonesia, Bali, Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Bangkok, Europe, London, Paris, USA, New York, Canada and many more.
So next time you are planning your adventure abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid and eSIM advice for your next holiday destination. Bookmark me!
Arrival at Auckland International Airport
Arrivals in New Zealand at Auckland International Airport are pretty smooth. Once you leave the plane you will be directed through the duty free area. Right at the end of the duty free there is a sim card store, more about it later.
Passport control goes pretty fast, definitely if your passport allows you to go through one of the electronic gates. Then you take the escalator down into the baggage claim hall. Here you can find a money exchange and an ATM.
The only pain could be the customs baggage check, which sometimes can take a while, especially if you have something to declare. After you pass through this check you walk into a small and fairly busy arrival hall. On your right hand side you see all car rental companies and on your left hand side you see a Mc Donalds.
Auckland Airport is pretty small and the Arrivals and Departures are next to each other in the same building and on the same floor. It is very easy to navigate Auckland International Airport.
Where to buy a sim card at Auckland Airport
There are 4 places to buy a prepaid sim card for New Zealand when landing at Auckland Airport. As I mentioned briefly the first opportunity is the Spark store in the duty free area, even before you get your passport stamped.
You have to act immediately because once you go through immigration, you can't return to the duty free area.
When you walk into the arrival hall there are 3 stores for buying a sim card. On your left hand side opposite the Mc Donalds you will see an official retail store of Spark and One (former Vodafone). It is impossible to miss the stores.
Then there is also a Relay bookstore which is right in front of you when walking into the arrival hall.
Prices New Zealand prepaid sim cards at Auckland Airport
All info and prices are up to date as per January 2025. Prices are in New Zealand Dollar (NZD): $1 NZD = $0.56 USD and $1 USD = $1.79 NZD.
As of 2025 there are now also eSIMs available tourists as well as physical prepaid sim cards.
Spark tax free store
As mentioned before you can get your prepaid sim card for New Zealand straight after arrival even before you get stamped into New Zealand and that even tax free.
- 2 GB data + 200 minutes + 200 sms = $25 NZD - $14 USD
- 10 GB data + 200 minutes + 200 sms = $42 NZD - $24 USD
- 50 GB data + unlimited minutes & sms = $68 NZD - $38 USD
- Unlimited data* + unlimited minutes & sms = $112 NZD - $63 USD
*Data speed reduced after 100 GB
All plans are valid for 3 months and come with international minutes to some destinations. They only offer physical prepaid sim cards for tourists, no eSIMs available.
Spark Arrival Hall
The Spark store in the arrival hall offers the exact same packages, but they are a couple dollars more expensive as it is including VAT. Also these plans come with international minutes and are valid for 3 months.
- 2 GB data + 200 minutes + 200 sms = $29 NZD - $16 USD
- 10 GB data + 200 minutes + 200 sms = $49 NZD - $27 USD
- 50 GB data + unlimited minutes & sms = $79 NZD - $44 USD
- Unlimited data* + unlimited minutes & sms = $129 NZD - $72 USD
*Data speed reduced after 100 GB.
One (former Vodafone) Arrival Hall
As of the beginning of 2023 Voafone New Zealand rebranded to One NZ. 'Coincidentally' One prepaid sim cards cost almost the exact same as the Spark sim cards.
Here are the available data packages:
- 2 GB data + 200 minutes + 200 sms - valid for 30 days = $29 NZD - $16 USD
- 10 GB data + unlimited minutes & sms - valid for 60 days = $49 NZD- $27 USD
- 40 GB data + unlimited minutes & sms - valid for 60 days = $69 NZD - $39 USD
Also One New Zealand offers international minutes to selected destinations, see the photo above.
Relay Bookstore
The Relay bookstore only offers One prepaid sim cards for tourists. Personally, there is no reason to buy your One prepaid sim card here when you can buy it from the official store just 30 meters on your left hand side.
The One sim card deals at the Relay store are the exact same as in the official retail store. The only thing I could think of is if you arrive very early or very late and the One and Spark stores are closed. Then Relay is your only option to buy a sim card for New Zealand on arrival at Auckland Airport.
Best sim card at Auckland Airport
As you can see from the above comparison between the One and the Spark prepaid sim card deals for New Zealand there is not much difference. Prices are basically the same.
To find the best prepaid sim card for New Zealand I also compared the 4G/5G network coverage of One and Spark and came to the conclusion that even the network coverage is more or less the same for both providers.
Check out Traveltomtom's guide on how to buy a prepaid sim card for tourists in New Zealand in 2025 for more info about the mobile data network coverage.
It is cheaper to order an eSIM for New Zealand on the internet than buying a tourist sim card at Auckland Airport.
eSIMs already start from just $1 USD. For example a Jetpac eSIM for New Zealand with 15 GB data is also only $24 USD.
Find more eSIM plans in my comparison of the best eSIMs in New Zealand in 2025.
The only difference is that Spark offers data plans for 3 months and the One prepaid sim card plans are valid for 1 or 2 months. I am sure most tourists stay less than a month in New Zealand anyway, but yeah that is the main difference between a One and a Spark sim card.
However, if you are looking for the cheapest prepaid sim card at Auckland International Airport then you have to buy your prepaid sim card from the Spark store just before immigration. Here you get the same prepaid sim card deals for New Zealand but then tax free! That way you save a couple bucks on getting connected in New Zealand.
Best eSIMs for New Zealand
eSIMs are the easiest way to stay connected when traveling to New Zealand in 2025.
If your phone is eSIM compatible then you simply order an eSIM for New Zealand on the internet, process the payment, receive a QR code, scan it, follow the simple steps and you are connected in just a couple clicks.
If this raises a lot of questions then check my guide with everything you need to know before ordering an eSIM for New Zealand including FAQ about using eSIMs.
There are many eSIM providers on the internet, below you can find some of my recommendations.
Jetpac
Jetpac has the best value eSIM plans for New Zealand with the lowest rate per Gigabyte on top of that the Jetpac eSIMs for New Zealand operate on the Spark network and are also valid in Australia.
More info about Jetpac in our honest Jetpac review.
Here are the Jetpac New Zealand eSIM plans:
- 1 GB data for 4 days = $1 USD
- 3 GB data for 7 days = $8 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $10 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $18 USD
- 15 GB data for 30 days = $24 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $30 USD
- 30 GB data for 30 days = $44 USD
- 40 GB data for 30 days = $54 USD
Click here to order a Jetpac eSIM for New Zealand.
The Jetpac New Zealand eSIMs are data-only and incoming and outgoing calls and sms are not supported. These eSIMs do not come with a phone number and they operate on the Spark and 2degrees 4G/5G network in New Zealand. Yes the Jetpac eSIMs for New Zealand are 5G ready.
SimOptions
SimOptions is another trusted eSIM provider. Read all about it in our full SimOptions review.
Here are the New Zealand eSIMs from SimOptions for 2025:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $4.5 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $4.5 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $4.5 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $24.90 USD*
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $24.90 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $34.90 USD*
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $39.90 USD
- 30 GB data for 30 days = $55.90 USD
- 50 GB data for 60 days = $89.90 USD
*valid in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, UK & USA.
Click here to order a SimOptions eSIM for New Zealand.
The SimOptions eSIMs are also data-only and 5G ready.
Before ordering an eSIM make sure your phone is unlocked and eSIM compatible otherwise an eSIM won't work on your phone.
For more eSIM plans check out my comparison of the best eSIMs for New Zealand in 2025.
Order a prepaid sim card for New Zealand online
If your phone is not eSIM compatible then you can still order an international prepaid sim card for traveling in New Zealand on the internet. These sim cards are valid in multiple countries around the world. After you ordered online, a physical prepaid sim card will be delivered to your home address before your trip to New Zealand.
On arrival it is plug and play.
SimOptions offers the following physical prepaid sim card for New Zealand:
- 10 GB data-only valid in 56 countries for 30 days = 24.90 USD
- 10 GB data-only valid in 56 countries for 14 days = 49.90 USD
Click here for more info or to order an international sim cards for New Zealand online via SimOptions.
Also a last reminder that you can arrange everything online within just a couple clicks if your phone is eSIM compatible. By ordering an eSIM for New Zealand you don't need to visit a phone store anymore.
Questions about using an eSIM for traveling to New Zealand? Check out Traveltomtom's complete guide with everything you need to know and a comparison of the best eSIMs for traveling to New Zealand.
Vlog about buying a sim card at Auckland Airport
To make it all easy for you here is my YouTube video what it looked like when I arrived in New Zealand, watch my vlog about buying a sim card for New Zealand at Auckland Airport below.
I hope all the above information for buying a prepaid sim card for New Zealand at Auckland International Airport was helpful for your upcoming trip. If you have any more questions, remarks or recommendations then please leave me a comment below to help a fellow traveler out.
Curious what it looks like trying to visit every country in the world? Go check out my Instagram account @traveltomtom and follow along. As of January 2025 I have visited more than 155 countries, so still a long way to go.
Enjoy your trip to New Zealand!