Best way to prepare for travelling in Australia

There’s something romantic about hitting the wide open road. And there’s no greater place to do it than Australia.  

Maybe you're an international traveller finally ticking off The Legendary Pacific Coast (tip: don’t forget to pit stop at the Big Banana!). Maybe it’s your dream to hit The Big Lap in a van.  

The last thing you’d want is getting lost because you missed a turn. Or clicking the ‘send security code’ to your netbanking 5 times, then getting locked out. Or when your Airbnb host makes the ‘key scavenger hunt’ impossible and you need to message them.  

Suddenly, not having mobile data feels less like "disconnecting to reconnect with yourself" and more like a hair-pulling exercise that makes you want to never ‘switch off again’  

Scroll on for the A to Z on staying connected while travelling from A to B. Here are our tips for travelling around Australia. 

The Pre-Travel Checklist: eSIM Setup  

eSIMs are basically SIM cards that exist inside your phone instead of being a tiny piece of plastic rattling around your luggage that you'll definitely lose.  

Setting them up before you travel is one of those "future you will thank you" moments. And before you ask, no, you can’t just bring your home router while travelling. Trust us, it won’t work the way you think it will.  

Step 1: Check if your phone supports eSIM 

Most phones from the last few years do (iPhone XS and newer, Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer). But some don't. Make sure you check before hitting buy.  

1. Go to Settings.  

2. Look for "eSIM" or "Cellular Plans" or "SIM card manager."  

3. If those options exist, your phone supports eSIM.  

4. If not, you'll need a physical SIM when you land. 

Step 2: Pick a plan (aka, which is the best eSIM for Australia?)  

For Australia, you want coverage. Not "technically covers 60% of the population" coverage, but actual "works in the Outback” type coverage.  

Exetel's Plus One eSIM runs on the Telstra Wholesale Mobile Network, which covers 98.8% of the Australian population and over 1.7 million square kilometres.  

Yes, that means it works in cities, regional areas and most places you'll realistically visit unless you're doing some serious off-grid exploration. 

What it comes with: 

• 130GB data (Imagine all the Google Maps-ing and Instagram story-ing you can do)  

• 5G speeds where available (capped at 150 Mbps, arguably a lot faster than you need for travel) 

• 1000GB Data Bank (unused data rolls over, so you're not losing gigs at the end of the month) 

• Unlimited calls and texts in Australia and to 15 countries 

• $40/recharge on a 30-day cycle 

Step 3: Set it up before you leave home 

eSIMs get delivered digitally, so you can activate them while you're still at home. Don't wait until you're tired and confused on the road.  

• Order your eSIM online  

• You'll get a QR code emailed to you  

• Scan it in your phone settings. The eSIM installs. It really is that easy.  

Takes about 5 minutes when you're calm. Takes 45 minutes when you're stressed out.  

Step 4: Keep your home SIM active (dual SIM setup) 

Most modern phones support dual SIM, meaning you can have your home SIM and your Australian eSIM running at the same time.  

This means you should be able to receive texts and calls on your home number (useful for banking security codes) while using Australian data for everything else.  

Just make sure to turn off data roaming on your home SIM or you'll get a hefty bill when you get home.  

For Australians heading away: What’s the deal with Exetel’s Hibernate feature?  

Say you're paying $80/month for home internet, but you're about to spend 3 weeks driving up the East Coast. Your internet just sits there at home, running at full speed, costing you full price, while you're not even there to use it.  

It’s such a waste, right?  

What Hibernate actually does: 

Hibernate is like popping your internet on standby. How to use it:  

1. Open the Exetel app  

2. Switch Hibernate to ON  

3. Your speed slows down at midnight the next day  

4. Save $1 a day while you’re away  

But wait, why not just turn it off completely? 

Because sometimes you need your internet to still do basic stuff while you're away: 

• Security cameras stay connected so you can check your house from the road 

• Smart home devices that freak out if they lose connection 

• Someone house-sitting who needs to check email or browse (slowly, but it works) 

At 12/1 Mbps, you're not streaming Demogorgons and El battle it out in 4K, but you can absolutely check emails, browse websites and keep essential smart home stuff running.  

When you get home:  

1. Switch it to OFF.   

2. Speeds return to normal.  

3. Regular pricing resumes. 

4. It really is that easy 

That's it. No calling customer service, complicated menus, or "are you sure you want to do this?" pop-ups. We get it. And we’re here to help.  

Data Planning & Coverage Mapping  

Nothing kills travel vibes faster than your GPS losing signal in the middle of nowhere. So let's make sure that doesn't happen.  

One of the most important travel tips Australian visitors and locals alike should be aware of is planning your data before you hit the road.  

How much data do you actually need?  

130GB sounds like a lot. And it is, if you're sensible. But if you're uploading Instagram Reels every day, streaming Spotify for road trip soundtracks and video-calling home multiple times a week, you can go through data faster than you'd think.  

Average data usage while travelling: 

• Google Maps navigation: 5-10MB per hour (minimal) 

• Instagram scrolling: 2-3GB per hour (medium) 

• Streaming music: 100-150MB per hour (medium) 

• Video calls: 500MB-1.5GB per hour (heavy) 

• Streaming video: 3GB+ per hour (very heavy) 

If you're a heavy user, 130GB lasts about a month with regular streaming and social media. If you're more conservative, it'll last way longer. And thanks to our Data Bank, unused data rolls over up to 1000GB.  

Download offline maps before you leave Wi-Fi: 

Google Maps lets you download entire regions for offline use. Do this before you hit the road. That way, if you lose signal between towns (it happens), you're not completely lost:  

• Open Google Maps.   

• Search the area you're travelling.   

• Tap "Download."  

• Choose the region.  

• You’re ready to go off-grid.  

Check Mobile coverage for your route: 

Exetel runs on Telstra's network, which has the best regional coverage in Australia. That’s more than 98.8% of the population and covers more than 1.7m sq km of our landmass. Check coverage maps for specific routes. 

Managing data usages for long trips

If you're planning a multi-month trip around Australia, here are our tips on not blowing your budget on mobile data.  

Use Wi-Fi whenever possible 

Places like cafes, libraries and accommodations offer Wi-Fi. Use it for the heavy stuff like uploading photos, video calls or downloading shows. Save your mobile data for on-the-road activities.  

Set data limits on your phone 

Go into your phone settings and set a data warning at, say, 100GB. That way, you'll get a heads-up before you accidentally use your entire month's allowance in two weeks. 

Turn off auto-play videos 

Social media apps are obsessed with auto-playing videos. Turn this off in app settings. 

Download instead of stream 

Almost every streaming service (i.e., Spotify, Netflix, Disney+, YouTube) lets you download content for offline viewing these days. Use Wi-Fi to download your playlists and shows, then watch them without using data. 

Monitor usage in the Exetel app 

The app shows your data usage in real-time, so you're never left guessing how much you have left. It's one of the essential travel tips Australian visitors often overlook.   

Make travel easy with Exetel’s Plus One eSim  

The internet should be the boring part of travel. It should just work so you can focus on doing more of the good stuff.  

In fact, Australia’s roads reward travellers who dare to detour. So whether you’re finding aquamarine bays or meeting wildlife that's trying to kill you (kidding, mostly) we’ll keep you connected while you get gloriously lost… then get back on track.  

Still wondering which is the best eSIM for Australia? The Plus One eSIM gives you 130GB on Telstra’s network with Data Bank rollover and no lock-in contracts.* 

Get your Plus One 5G eSim, learn more about Hibernate and actually enjoy your trip instead of stressing about getting (and staying!) connected.  

*Note: Exetel Plus One requires an Australian service address to activate, so it’s best set up once you’ve arrived in Australia. 

FAQ 

Can  I activate my eSIM before leaving for my trip?  

Exetel Plus One requires an Australian service address to activate, so it’s best set up once you’ve arrived in Australia.  

Can I use Hibernate if I'm only away for a weekend?  

Absolutely. Hibernate works for any length of time. A weekend trip saves you $2-3, a month-long trip saves you $30. Every bit counts, and it takes 30 seconds to turn on. 

What happens if I run out of data while travelling?  

You can top up anytime through the Exetel app. Plus, with Data Bank rolling over unused data up to 1000GB, you've got a solid buffer if you're conservative with usage. When considering Australia travel tips, always have a backup plan for data… and we've made topping up super easy!