travel sim brisbane airport

Where the SIM cards are at Brisbane airport, and which one to get

A guide for where to find a SIM card at Brisbane Airport, and a comparison of which ones are available. I made this guide to help anyone confused by which SIM card options are available when arriving at Brisbane Airport. I know what it’s like to arrive somewhere new so I put together this guide to help find a way through some of that confusion.

There are two shops that sell SIM cards at Brisbane Airport:

At the Brisbane Airport International Arrivals area, there are 2 shops to buy prepaid SIM cards:

• Optus, with plans starting from $10 AUD 1 , and
• Vodafone, with plans starting from $20 AUD 2 .

Many travellers arrive in Brisbane having transited in Sydney. It’s more difficult to find a SIM card when arriving at Brisbane domestic terminal. If you have time on your transit in Sydney, a SIM card can be bought while transiting in Sydney Airport . I’ve included how to do this in my guide to Sydney airport here: Where to find a SIM card at Sydney airport

Of the SIM cards available at Brisbane Airport, I usually prefer to buy Optus , starting from $10 AUD.

Which SIM cards are available at Brisbane Airport?

There are 2 mobile phone networks represented at Brisbane Airport, Optus has one and Vodafone has the other. A third network, Telstra, is available and shops selling their SIM cards can be found outside the airport.

Based on my experience and some further research, I compared the options available at Brisbane airport based on their:

• Coverage (I find Optus better),
• Data (Optus as well),
• Making phone calls locally and abroad (Vodafone wins this one).

Great for coverage: Optus, starting from $10 AUD

Optus is my pick of the SIM cards available at Brisbane Airport for coverage.

Coverage is important in Australia if you plan on travelling outside the major cities and towns. If you’re trip is limited to Brisbane, any of the major mobile phone networks (provided by Telstra, Optus, or Vodafone) will work. For other common visitor destinations:

• Sunshine Coast , in my experience the Optus network has full coverage in the towns and highways that make up the Sunshine Coast, Vodafone should have good coverage as well.
• Scenic Rim and Tamborine Mountain , along the major roads both Vodafone and Optus have good coverage. For ventures into the mountains, I found the Optus network to be a little more reliable.
• Gold Coast , Vodafone, Optus, and Telstra all work well on the Gold Coast.

Telstra consistently offers the best network in my experience. Unfortunately Telstra SIM cards are not available in the international arrivals area of Brisbane Airport. If I’m travelling to the outback, I prefer taking a Telstra SIM card with me.

A Telstra SIM card can be picked up in Brisbane itself, rather than at the airport.

Great for data: Optus, from $30 AUD

For visitors staying up to 90 days in Australia, I’ve found Optus to offer the best deal on data. The $30 (AUD) Optus Prepaid Epic Data SIM card includes up to 35GB of data for each 28 day period as a bonus for roughly 3 months. After that it drops down to 10GB/28-days, though this isn’t a concern for most short term travellers.

Great for calls: Vodafone, $20 or $40 depending on current deals

Of the SIM cards available at the airport, Vodafone looks to me like the best deal for making phone calls.

For calls back home, Vodafone includes generous minutes with its prepaid SIM card to dozens of countries . The price for this SIM card seems to be inconsistent, either it’s $20 or $40 AUD. I feel it’s a good deal at either price point if you are interested in making phone calls back home.

The Vodafone prepaid SIM includes:

• 500 minutes of calls to: Singapore, Malaysia, China and territories, Japan South Korea, UK, US and territories, and many more
• 100 minutes of calls to: Most of South America, Most of Europe, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and also many more

For local calls in Australia , both Telstra and Vodafone offer unlimited local calls to standard Australian phone numbers. Optus offers 100 minutes of local calls, which is enough for most people.

Is it better to buy a SIM card in Brisbane city or at the airport?

If buying a Telstra prepaid SIM card, which is a good option if travelling to national parks and outside major towns, the best option is to buy it in Brisbane city itself. As of writing, I couldn’t find any Telstra SIM cards sold in the international arrivals area at the airport.

For convenience, and as I typically buy an Optus prepaid SIM card, I find it better to buy a SIM card at Brisbane airport.

Which SIM cards are better value if bought in the city?

For better coverage: telstra, from $10 aud.

Telstra provides better coverage than Optus or Vodafone. More remote roads are covered by Telstra, as are smaller towns, remote areas, mountains, and national parks. For adventures further afield into the outback of Australia, I like to use Telstra. (An aside though, while Telstra has the best coverage, it is still not available everywhere; if spending a lot of time in remote Australia, consider a satellite phone for emergency use only)

Two preferred options from Telstra are 3 :

• $10 AUD for 2GB data , unlimited local calls, but with 7 days expiry
• $30 AUD for 20GB data , unlimited local calls, and 28 days expiry

All prepaid SIM cards I’ve seen in Australia can be topped up and have the expiry time extended.

For better value data: Coles Mobile for $20 AUD

Coles, a large supermarket chain in Australia, offers a $20 AUD plan that includes 28GB of data. It is valid for 35 days. Coles has a large number of shops that you can buy this SIM card from. Network coverage is the same as Optus. Unlimited local calls are available though the rates aren’t as good as Vodafone.

For calls: Stick with Vodafone

For international calls , it’s hard to beat the Vodafone prepaid deal with 500 minutes to most of the world’s population.

For local calls , Coles has a 10 day $10 AUD SIM card that includes unlimited local calls.

How to get from the airport to the city, while connected

Here are the options on how to get to the Brisbane city before buying a SIM.

Catching the train

Airtrain is the service that runs from Brisbane Airport to the central business district of Brisbane.

Free onboard Wi-Fi is available on the Airtrain service. The Wi-Fi generally works well too.

If getting off at the Central station, there is a Telstra shop in the Queens Street Mall and a Coles in Queens Plaza.

Uber and ride-share, using the airport Wi-Fi to book

It is possible to book an Uber using the Brisbane Airport free Wi-Fi. I don’t like this option as the Wi-Fi coverage isn’t always available after you leave the terminal building, and it’s a short walk to the Uber pick up area.

Similarly, DiDi , Ola , and GoCatch are available using the Brisbane Airport free Wi-Fi.

Taxis in Brisbane do not have free Wi-Fi. The taxi fare can be a bit pricey, but I find it more convenient than Uber.

Some service stations sell prepaid SIM cards, and most shopping malls have outlets for the major mobile phone providers. I often have to hire a car when I visit Brisbane, and heading to a shopping mall to pick up a Telstra SIM card is necessity if I’m planning on driving out to the countryside.

There is a shopping centre near the airport at Toombul which has a Telstra store and a Coles.

Do I need ID to buy a SIM card at Brisbane Airport?

Identification is required to buy a SIM card at Brisbane Airport and anywhere else in Australia. A passport is sufficient, and the address you’re staying at will also need to be supplied. An activation process may be required for the SIM. Staff at the shops are generally friendly and can help you through the activation process. It’s done either on their computer or on your phone.

Recording identification is done either when you buy the SIM card, or when you activate. If you’re not sure about the process, buy from a shop where they can help you activate the SIM card.

Is Wi-Fi available at Brisbane Airport?

Yes, Wi-FI is available at Brisbane Airport. Look to connect to the @BNE_FREE WI-FI network. An email address is required for activation, but I don’t recall having to open the email to use the Wi-Fi (that would be a bit pointless…).

Can I roam with my Australian SIM card to another country

New zealand.

Optus offers 5 days of 10GB data roaming with its prepaid sim cards for an extra $20. This is only worth it for trips to New Zealand of 5 days or less. For trips longer than 5 days, local SIM cards can be bought at most airports that have flights from Australia and further abroad.

This Optus prepaid data roaming also works in Hong Kong, Singapore, USA and UK.

Prepaid roaming credit can be added on the Optus recharge website or in an Optus shop.

Direct flights are just over 3 hours to New Zealand and from Brisbane are available to: Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch.

Despite being neighbours, roaming a prepaid Australian SIM card into Indonesia is expensive.

Telstra offers a very expensive $29 AUD for 100MB of data.

Vodafone is slightly cheaper at $25 AUD for a mix of data or calls (up to 200MB data), but it only lasts 3 days. A 7 day option is available for $35 AUD.

I don’t like the idea of taking an Australian SIM card to Indonesia, especially when there are so many local options available.

From Brisbane, it’s a 6.5 hour flight over to Bali, Indonesia.

For short trips of up to 5 days, the Optus prepaid 10GB data roaming plan is $20.

References:

Optus prepaid plans

Vodafone prepaid plans

Telstra prepaid plans

Coles mobile plans

Tags: sim-card brisbane australia

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Written by Chris who travels frequently for work and understands what it can be like to arrive somewhere new and unfamiliar.

I wrote Landing Last Minute to help the hurried traveler get necessary information about any destination.

Buying a Sim Card at Brisbane Airport in 2024

Are you planning a trip to Australia and flying to Brisbane? Let me help you finding the best way to stay connected in on your trip to Brisbane. In this guide you can read everything about buying a sim card for traveling in Australia at Brisbane International Airport.

Find out where to buy a prepaid sim card, up to date prices as per January 2024, my recommendation, my experiences on arrival and even information about international and e-sim cards for Australia.

When I don't have an e-sim card yet, the first thing I do is buying a prepaid sim card to get connected whenever I get to a new country. Local prepaid sim cards are in general a cheaper way to get a lot of data on your phone compared to an e-sim card. Both avoid high roaming costs though and you don’t need to struggle with slow overseas data roaming plans.

As Traveltomtom is also on a mission to visit every country in the world you can find already more than 200 sim card guides on Traveltomtom from all over the world: Auckland , New Zealand , Vanuatu , Sydney , Melbourne , Asia , Indonesia , Bali , Hong Kong , Thailand , Malaysia Europe , London , Paris , USA , New York , Canada , Dubai , Istanbul and many more.

Traveltomtom also wrote a complete guide for buying a prepaid sim card in Australia in 2024 .

So next time you are planning your adventure abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid and e-sim card advice for your next holiday destination. Bookmark me!

My recommendation

Traveltomtom recommends buying a Vodafone sim card at Brisbane Airport for your trip to Brisbane. You can get one in the arrival hall at the Vodafone store.

Why Vodafone? They have similar 4G/5G network coverage as Optus, but slightly cheaper prepaid sim card plans for tourists. Traveltomtom only recommends a Vodafone sim card for a city trip to Brisbane, not for traveling in Australia.

Is Vodafone the best prepaid sim card for traveling to Australia in 2024? Traveltomtom thinks not. Read more about it in my complete guide for finding the best prepaid sim card for Australia in 2024 . There is a comparison including 4G/5G coverage maps and tips on how to get cheaper data plans.

you may also like...

Traveltomtom definitely recommends e-sim cards for traveling to Australia. E-sim cards start from just $4.5 USD. Recommended e-sim card providers are:  SimOptions , Airalo and  Nomad .

Traveling to several countries on your journey down under then check out my comparison of the best international (e)-sim card for traveling in 2024 . Click on the link to see my recommendations.

Best e-sim cards for Australia

E-sim cards are the easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Australia in 2024. But keep in mind they only work in e-sim compatible phones.

You order an e-sim card for Australia on the internet, you receive a QR code, scan it, follow the simple steps and within less than 2 minutes you have an Australia e-sim card installed on your phone.

Upon arrival it automatically connects you to an available network and you enjoy data on your phone pretty much when the plane lands.

Make sure your phone is e-sim compatible before ordering an e-sim card for Australia.

If this raises a lot of questions then check out my complete guide with everything you need to know about using e-sim cards when traveling to Australia in 2024 , including a comparison of the best available tourist e-sim cards.

There are many e-sim providers on the internet, below you can find my recommendations. All trusted, tested and reviewed by Traveltomtom personally. 

Check out the Airalo e-sim card deals for Australia in 2024:

• 1 GB data for 7 days = $4.5 USD
• 2 GB data for 15 days = $8 USD
• 3 GB data for 30 days = $9 USD
• 5 GB data for 30 days = $12.5 USD
• 10 GB data for 30 days = $20 USD
• 20 GB data for 30 days = $40 USD

Click here for more info or to  directly order an e-sim cards for Australia via Airalo .

The above e-sim cards from Yes! Go! are data-only and phone calls are not supported. They operate on the 4G/LTE network of Optus in Australia.

SimOptions is another trusted e-sim card provider. They sell international e-sim cards that are valid in up to 130 countries around the world.

Here are the international e-sim card plans from SimOptions for 2024: 

• 1 GB data for 7 days = $9.90 USD
• 6 GB data for 10 days = $17.90 USD

SimOptions also sells the e-sim cards from Three HK that are valid in Australia as well.

• 10 GB data for 30 days = $24.90 USD
• 20 GB data for 30 days = $34.90 USD

Click here to order an international e-sim card for Australia via SimOptions .

A third trusted e-sim card provider is Nomad and they offer also e-sim card plans for Australia. Here are the Nomad 4G/LTE e-sim card plans for 2024:

• 1 GB data for 7 days = $5 USD
• 3 GB data for 30 days = $10 USD
• 5 GB data for 30 days = $12 USD
• 10 GB data for 30 days = $19 USD
• 15 GB data for 30 days = $25 USD
• 20 GB data for 30 days = $30 USD

Nomad also offers 5G ready e-sim cards for Australia.

• 30 GB data for 30 days = $80 USD
• 40 GB data for 30 days = $110 USD
• 50 GB data for 30 days = $125 USD

Click here to order an e-sim card for Australia from Nomad .

Before ordering an e-sim card make sure your phone is unlocked and e-sim compatible otherwise an e-sim card won’t work on your phone.

For more info about e-sim cards for Australia check out my article about the best e-sim cards for Australia in 2024 , including tips and tricks on how it works.

Arrival at Brisbane International Airport

When flying to Brisbane for your trip to Australia then expect a pretty hassle free arrival. Brisbane Airport is not that big nor busy. After landing you first get to immigration and if your passport allows you to use the e-gates then you will be ‘stamped’ into Australia in no-time.

After picking up your luggage you walk through the customs bag check. Occasionally there can be a line as Australian customs are pretty strict. But when you pass the customs check you walk into the Brisbane airport arrival hall. 

Where to buy a sim card at Brisbane Airport

There are 2 sim card stores at Brisbane Airport that sell prepaid sim cards for Australia for tourists: Vodafone and Optus. Both sim card stores are in the arrival hall.

When entering from the international arrivals through the sliding door into the Arrival Hall then both stores are right in front of you. Vodafone is on your left hand side and Optus is on your right hand side. In and between there is the exit door to the taxi stand.

Prices prepaid sim cards for Australia at Brisbane Airport

Prices and prepaid sim card plans constantly change. Your help is very much appreciated so please leave me a comment below or reach out to me on Instagram if you have up to date information.

The prices and info below is updated as per January 2024 and prices are in Australian Dollars: $1 AUD = 0.68 USD and $1 USD is $1.46 AUD.

Optus Brisbane Airport

These are the 2 Optus prepaid sim cards for tourists they sell at Brisbane Airport and they are both valid for 30 days:

• 60 GB data on 4G + unlimited local calls/text + international calls = $30 AUD - $20.5 USD
• 60 GB data on 5G + unlimited local calls/text + international calls = $60 AUD - $41 USD

Basically the exact same prepaid sim card deals, but if you want 5G internet you pay double. 

Vodafone Brisbane Airport

Vodafone offers a lot more prepaid sim card plans:

• 4 GB data + unlimited local calls/text for 7 days = $10 AUD - $6.8 USD
• 8 GB data + unlimited local calls/text for 14 days = $20 AUD - $13.6 USD
• 40 GB data + unlimited local calls/text for 28 days + 500 minutes international calls = $25 AUD - $17 USD

For more info and available Vodafone prepaid plans see the picture above.

Best sim card at Brisbane Airport

As you can see from the comparison of the Vodafone and the Optus prepaid sim card deals at Brisbane Airport is that prices are basically the same. However, Vodafone has much more prepaid plans for tourists and they start from much lower prices.

To find the best prepaid sim card for Australia I also compared the 4G/5G network coverage of Vodafone and Optus and came to the conclusion that Optus has better 4G/5G coverage across the country. That said Vodafone covers all the tourists destinations in Australia as well and for traveling to Brisbane it is more than fine.

The major difference between Vodafone prepaid sim cards and Optus prepaid sim cards is that Vodafone offers 5G on all prepaid plans and if you want to use the Optus 5G network you have to pay double the price.

Therefore Vodafone is the best buy prepaid sim card for Australia at Brisbane Airport in 2024.

Personally I also bought a Vodafone Australia prepaid sim card to check it out for my research and I had no problems and was happy with the data speed I experienced.

Here is my speed test that I ran, just outside the airport. I had hoped the upload speed would be a little better, but little too complain about the download speed.

So what about e-sim cards for Australia compared to local prepaid sim cards. E-sim cards are slightly more expensive, but it is just a couple bucks. You can already get 5 GB data for just $ 12 USD and the great thing is that you can order an e-sim within just 2 minutes on the internet.

Traveltomtom recommends using e-sim cards from  SimOptions , Airalo  or  Nomad  when traveling to Australia.

Order a prepaid sim card for Australia online

Is your phone not e-sim compatible, but you would like to arrive prepared and order a physical prepaid sim card for Australia on the internet then check out the following...

Buy ordering an international prepaid sim card for Australia online you save yourself the hassle of buying a sim card on arrival at Brisbane Airport.

These are pre-activated physical travel sim cards and will be delivered to your home address. They automatically activate from its first use. So it is plug and play when you land in Australia.

See the following international prepaid sim card deals from SimOptions:

1. Three Data Pack - $24.90 USD

• 10 GB data-only
• Valid 30 days
• Valid in 56 countries
• Incoming/outgoing calls not supported

2. Orange Holiday World - $49.90 USD

• Valid 14 days
• Valid in124 countries
• Data allowance varies per country

Click here to order an international prepaid sim card for Australia directly online via SimOptions .

Also a last reminder that you can arrange everything online within just a couple clicks by ordering an e-sim card for Australia. Traveltomtom recommends ordering an e-sim card for Australia via either  SimOptions , Airalo or  Nomad .

Curious what is the best e-sim card for traveling to Australia in 2024 then click on the link and read my Australia e-sim comparison, including everything you need to know before ordering an e-sim card.

I am sure the above information for buying a prepaid sim card for Australia at Brisbane International Airport was helpful for your upcoming trip. If you still have any questions, remarks or recommendations please leave me a comment below or reach out to me on Instagram.

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 2024 I have visited more than 155 countries, so still a long way to go.

Enjoy your trip to Brisbane!

Some links in this article about the best sim cards at Brisbane Airport are affiliate links, which means I earn a small percentage in case you decide to purchase something after clicking on an affiliate link. This is at absolutely no extra costs to you!

Complete Guide to Australian Tourist Sim Card & Data Plans 2024

Choosing an Australian Tourist sim card can be confusing, to say the least. We have decided it was time to answer the questions we regularly get in our Facebook group. If you have any more questions, pop over to the group and let us know.

You want to stay in contact with the people you love when you’re travelling to Australia, and that usually means working out the best options for buying a sim card in Australia and discovering which data plan will suit you best. If you’re trying to decide between different travel sims in Australia, then here’s how to make the best choice for your trip.

Is your phone compatible with the Aussie network?

Buying a sim card in australia, mobile virtual network operators, essential card features, tips for phone use in regional areas of australia, pocket wi-fi australia.

This post contains affiliate links. Our full disclosure policy is here .

Using your phone in Australia

Before you choose a prepaid sim card in Australia, you need to know if your phone is compatible with Australia’s network.

Australian networks use the GSM standard, which is common in other countries as well. However, if you’re from Japan or the US, your phone may use the CDMA. If your phone is CDMA only, you won’t be able to talk or text on your phone; however, you may be able to use the 4G network to access data.

Australia has three mobile networks:

All other providers use these networks.

Before you leave home, make sure your phone is not locked to your provider. 

Your phone will also need to operate on the right frequencies to use Australia’s network. You will need to look at your phone’s specifications and match them to Australia’s frequencies to work this out.

Australia uses 850MHz, 900MHz, and 2100Mhz for 3G networks and B1, B3, B5, B7, B7, and B28 for 4G bands. Different areas tend to use different frequencies too, especially rural areas. This is an important consideration if you want to travel outside of the major cities while you’re in Australia.

Before you choose your travel sims in Australia, make sure that your phone is compatible with all these requirements.

Once you’ve worked out if your phone is compatible, buying travel sims in Australia is easy. You can buy a sim card overseas before you leave and have it shipped to you , or buy one at the airport or at the provider’s stores. If you’re going to buy at the airport, spend some time looking at the options and chosen your sim card before you arrive to make the transaction quick and easy. You will need to pay for and register your sim card, but once that’s done, it should be activated in 10 minutes.

To activate your card, you’ll need:

• Passport number
• Australian address (you can use your hotel or hostel address)

For a long time, buying travel sims in Australia was very expensive. Fortunately, the growth of low-cost carriers has recently made it a lot cheaper.

Phone Networks in Australia

The three major networks in Australia are:

This company has the widest coverage and is probably the best choice if you’re planning to visit the outback and want to make sure that you have a signal. There are Telstra shops all over, including in most international airports.

The Optus network isn’t as large as Telstra, but if you’re staying near the cities or towns, it shouldn’t be a problem. You’ll find Optus stores in shopping centres and airports.

Vodafone is the smallest of the three major carriers and has a smaller network as well.

There are also lots of smaller sim providers known as Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNOs). These all use one of the three major networks but can provide cheaper sim plans with fewer extras.

Some of the most popular are:

• Coles / Woolworths / Aldi (Supermarkets)
• Boost mobile

How to choose travel sims – Australia

There are several things you should consider before buying your sim card, including:

• How much money you’re willing to spend?
• Where you want to travel in Australia, if you’re spending a lot of time in rural areas, you will need a sim card that operates on a network with comprehensive coverage (Telstra). 
• How long you will be in Australia, most plans are for 30 days.
• How you use your phone, which means assessing whether you intend to make phone calls back home, watch Netflix on long bus rides, or just use it for emergencies.

There are three essential features to look at when you’re comparing travel sims in Australia. These are:

• The network coverage, because this will help you stay in touch throughout your trip.  
• Data limits, because this will determine how you can use your phone.
• International calling options, just in case you get homesick and want to call home.

The offerings from each company are different. You can find data-only cards, which won’t allow you to make calls or texts but give you access to the internet to make bookings or look at maps. But if you want to make calls, you will need to get a prepaid sim card in Australia that offers a combination of features.  

Don’t always expect to connect to a network in the outback, as many isolated areas in Australia can be unpredictable for network coverage. Telstra has the biggest network, so if you’re planning on visiting rural areas, this is your best overall choice when buying travel sims in Australia.

If you spend time in really remote areas, you may not be able to get coverage no matter what network you go with. Australia is just too large and most of it is too isolated for complete coverage.

If you have long days or weeks in the outback, consider getting a sim only for your city days. You probably won’t be able to use it in the outback anyway, and most phones will allow you to call emergency numbers without being on a network. If you need emergency help at any time, just dial 000 or 112.

Free Wi-Fi can be hard to find in Australia, some travellers like the assurance provided by pocket Wi-Fi devices. The pros of using these devices are:

• Always having coverage in your pocket.
• Simple to use.
• You can connect it to any device or multiple devices.
• A range of plans and devices are available.

And the cons are:

• They can be pricey if you go over your data limits.
• The battery life doesn’t last long, so you can lose power quickly and suddenly.
• Pocket devices only provide data, so you can’t make calls or send messages.
• It means you need to carry around and care for another device.

This is a personal choice that can be a good option if you travel a lot and need to stay connected. It’s also an affordable choice for families which up to 4 devices being able to be used on some pocket wi-fi.

The Takeaway

Choosing the right Australian Tourist sim card is up to you. It depends on how you intend to use your phone, your budget, and how long your trip is. So, before you head to Australia, make sure you do your research and choose the option that works best for you. Then, you can have an amazing holiday!

Ready to plan your holiday, look at our 14-day itinerary for Australia

Got a question? Head over to our Australia Travel Tips Facebook Group and ask a local.

Leave a comment

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Best prepaid SIM card for tourists (April 2024)

These are the best prepaid SIM cards for tourists on the eve of their next Aussie sojourn.

Best SIM card in Australia for tourists overall

• Best cheap SIM card in Australia for travellers
• Best big data prepaid SIM for travellers
• Best prepaid SIM for regional coverage
• Best prepaid SIM for short stays

If you're travelling down under for a holiday, work trip or family visit, you'll want to know which is the best prepaid SIM card in Australia for your needs based on your budget, phone usage habits, coverage requirements and data needs.

Take a tip from a veteran jet-setter: though the romanticised version of a holiday abroad is one of severing all connection to the boring every day, you're still going to need at least one effective line of communication intact. There is no escape from reality. Not truly.

Whatever the case, you're going to need a good SIM plan to accompany you on your travels. Whether you're backpacking on a budget or travelling out to regional and remote areas, we've laid out options for folks with a range of needs.

We'll dive into the best best sim cards for tourists for each category in a sec, but for a quick overview of popular SIM plans that tend to suit most travellers, look at our most popular prepaid SIM plans below. 

How to buy a SIM card in Australia

What documents do tourists need to buy a sim card in australia.

• Your full name
• Your passport number
• An Australian address (or the address of the hotel you are staying at)

How good is mobile coverage in Australia?

In Australia, there are three major networks. In order of size, these are as follows:

• Telstra - 99.8%
• Optus - 98.5%
• Vodafone - 96%

There are also several dozen mobile virtual network operators ( MVNOs ), which operate on top of those three major networks. This includes providers like Boost Mobile, Belong , Amaysim, Kogan , Lebara, Mate and Felix . The full list of Australian MVNOs is as follows:

• Amaysim (acquired by Optus)
• Aussie Broadband
• Boost Mobile
• CMobile Blue
• CMobile Red
• Catch Connect
• Coles Mobile
• Dodo (owned by Vocus Group)
• Felix Mobile (TPG Telecom sub-brand)
• Gomo (Optus sub-brand)
• iiNet (acquired by TPG Telecom)
• Internode (acquired by TPG Telecom)
• Lebara Mobile (acquired by Vodafone/TPG Telecom)
• Moose Mobile

ALDI Mobile

• Belong (Telstra sub-brand)
• Tangerine Telecom
• Think Mobile
• Southern Phone
• Vaya (acquired by Amaysim/Optus)
• TPG (merged with Vodafone)

To check coverage in the area you'll be visiting in Australia, try our interactive map below.

Where to buy a SIM card in Australia?

If you're looking to buy a SIM card in Australia, you likely won't have to search far.

The airport is the first place that travellers to Australia are likely to have the chance to buy a SIM in Australia, though it isn't the only option. These Australian airports will sell you a SIM the moment you touch down:

• Adelaide Airport (ADL)
• Brisbane Airport (BNE)
• Cairns Airport (CNS)
• Canberra Airport (CBR)
• Gold Coast Airport (OOL)
• Melbourne-Tullamarine Airport (MEL)
• Perth Airport (PER) 
• Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) 

Of course, it's not uncommon for airport retail outlets to charge a premium for convenience. If you want a SIM card as soon as possible, you might end up paying a little bit more for it.

Fortunately, you should be able to find a prepaid SIM in many other Australian retailers, including supermarkets, newsagents, post offices and service stations. Here is a list of major retailers that sell SIM cards in Australia.

• IGA Supermarkets
• Harvey-Norman
• Officeworks
• The Good Guys
• Australia Post

Are all phones working in Australia

If your smartphone is made by a mainstream brand like Apple or Samsung, chances are it will probably work just fine in Australia. However, if you're using something a little more niche then it might be worth digging into the spec sheet to make sure it'll play nice with Australia's telecommunications infrastructure.

One thing you'll want to look out for here is whether your device is compatible with the GSM standard. Some handsets use a different standard called CDMA. If this is the case, then you might not be able to call or text on an Australian mobile network with that device.

The other big thing you might want to double-check before hopping on a plane is whether your smartphone is able to operate on the frequencies that Australia's mobile networks use.

Australia's 3G networks use the 850MHz, 900MHz, and 2100Mhz frequencies.

Australia's 4G networks use the 700Mhz, 850Mhz, 900Mhz, 1800Mhz, 2100Mhz, 2300Mhz and 2600Mhz frequencies.

Australia's 5G networks use the 700Mhz, 850Mhz, 1800Mhz, 2100Mhz, 2300Mhz, 3500Mhz and 26Ghz frequencies.

Things you need to consider when deciding on what sim card to buy

If you're looking to decide on a SIM card to buy in Australia, here is a short list of things you should consider and questions to ask yourself.

• Whether it includes enough data for the duration of your stay?
• Does the network the SIM card is associated with meet your coverage requirements? For instance, if you're looking to visit rural and regional areas then Telstra is the way to go.
• Are the expiry terms appropriate? If you're only visiting for a matter of weeks then a long-expiry plan may not be the right fit.
• Will you need to call home during your stay? Picking a prepaid or postpaid plan with included calls might save you some money.

Lastly, it's worth considering whether the mobile provider associated with the prepaid SIM card can get it to you before you travel. Otherwise, you're going to have to get it delivered to a hotel or friend or go out and get it yourself.

Boost Mobile $35 Prepaid Plan

✓ how we picked the best sim card in australia for tourists: .

• We ranked SIM only phone plans under $50 in our database by price and chose one that offered the best coverage for travellers. We also factored in the cost per gigabyte and relevant international inclusions.

Boost Mobile is closely allied with Australia's biggest network, Telstra. So closely allied, in fact, that they have access to the full Telstra network, which covers 99.5% of the population. Considering every other provider on the Telstra network only gets access to part of it, Boost is your best bet for mobile coverage if you don't like the idea of paying Telstra's premium prices.

 Boost Mobile plans range in size from 3GB and 260GB, with prices ranging from as little as $10 to as much as $300. Safe to say, variety is one of this provider's strengths. Boost Mobile offers a variety of plan expiry terms that go all the way up to 365-day-long expiry plans.

Our pick of the lot for travellers visiting Australia is the Boost Mobile $35 Prepaid plan. This SIM-only plan comes with unlimited calls and texts within Australia, unlimited international calls to 20 countries, and 300 minutes to an additional 30 countries. These plans last for 28 days, but if you're staying longer, whatever data you don't use will roll over to the next month.

How does this prepaid SIM card compare?

To see how that compares to other SIM plans, here are the most popular plans around $30 in Australia right now. However, keep in mind that not all of these providers offer the same coverage or international inclusions as the Boost plan above.

Best prepaid plans

If you're looking for more prepaid phone plans, make sure you check out our comprehensive guide to the best prepaid plans in Australia.

Best cheap SIM card in Australia for travellers

Lebara $19.90 extra small plan, ✓ how we picked the best cheap sim card in australia for tourists: .

• We ranked SIM only phone plans under $10 in our database by price and chose one that offered the best coverage for travellers. We also factored in the cost per gigabyte and relevant international inclusions.

We see where your head is at. You've dropped a considerable chunk of money on getting Down Under and you'd much rather spend your remaining funds on the finer things. For you, we'd recommend Lebara as a budget SIM option. This provider runs on the Vodafone network for coverage.

With their Extra Small Plan, you'll get unlimited talk and text within Australia, 10GB of data, plus 5GB of bonus data for the first 3o days. And with prices starting from $19.90, it's great for the old hip pocket.

There's even better value to be had if you open the playing field up to providers that don't offer international calls, but keep in mind some of these SIM plans might not be easy to find at an airport or convenience store. Here are the most popular no-contract plans under $15 in Australia.

Vodafone $40 prepaid SIM Starter Pack

From $14.99

Belong SIM Starter Pack

From $35.00

Telstra Prepaid SIM Starter $10

*Pricing and deals only accurate as of last page update. 

Best big-data SIM card for travellers in Australia

Amaysim unlimited 120gb plan, ✓ how we picked the best big-data sim card for travellers in australia: .

• We ranked SIM only phone plans in our database by price and chose one that offered the best coverage for travellers and at least 120GB We also factored in the cost per gigabyte and relevant international inclusions.

 If you're after both data  and  some international calls, amaysim is pretty hard to beat.

You're going to need a lot of data to share all those happy snaps and Instagram stories, and if you're a particularly heavy data user, you'll need a plan that can keep up with your needs. Each of the Amaysim plans in the widget above comes with a healthy dose of data, unlimited talk and text in Oz, and unlimited international calls and texts to 42 countries. It also runs on the Optus network, which is Australia's second-largest.

For real data gluttons, you'll want to go with the Amaysim Unlimited 120GB plan. You'll get a generous 120GB of data to use, but this gets boosted pretty often with frequent bonus data deals. 

If you're happy to go without international calls, there are even better deals to be had for data lovers. Here are the most popular contract-free plans offering at least 75GB of data. There's often special offers on too, meaning you can nab a great deal while you're Down Under.

Best SIM card for regional coverage in Australia

✓ how we picked the best sim card for regional coverage in australia: .

• We ranked SIM only phone plans under $30 in our database by price and chose one that offered the best coverage for travellers. We also factored in the cost per gigabyte and relevant international inclusions.

You'll not have too big a head-scratching decision with this one. Telstra and Boost Mobile plans are the only two providers available that offer access to the full Telstra network, and you'll need that if you're going to go bush. With that in mind, there are plenty of different plans to choose from, depending on your budget and data needs. Both providers' plans offer some international calls, but only Boost offers unlimited international calls - Telstra only comes with 30 international minutes.

Our pick of the lot for travellers visiting Australia is the Boost Mobile $35 prepaid mobile plan. This SIM-only plan comes with unlimited calls and texts within Australia, unlimited international calls to 20 countries, and 300 minutes to an additional 30 countries.

With that in mind, here are all of Telstra and Boost Mobile's Upfront and prepaid plans, sorted by popularity. Just be aware that Telstra Upfront plans auto-renew at the start of each month, so you'll need to cancel it before you leave. 

Best SIM card for short stays in Australia

Amaysim $10 7-day unlimited plan, ✓ how we picked the best sim card for short stays in australia: .

• We ranked SIM only phone plans with 7-day expiry in our database by price and chose one that offered the best coverage for travellers. We also factored in the cost per gigabyte and relevant international inclusions.

If you're only in Oz for a short stay, you'll be happy to hear you don't have to settle with a more expensive 28 or 30-day plan like those listed above. Both Optus and amaysim (which both run on the Optus network) offer shorter-term prepaid plans.

Our top pick is Amaysim's $10 7-day UNLIMITED Plan, which comes with 10GB of data, unlimited talk and text in Australia and even unlimited international calls to 42 countries.

If you'd rather go day-to-day, Optus's Flex plans include a $1 per day subscription plan or $7 per 7 days, each offering 1GB data per day and unlimited Australian talk in text. On the downside, there are no international call inclusions.

How we choose the best prepaid SIM cards for tourists and travellers visiting Australia

Every tourist's needs are going to be different, however, here's a quick rundown of what we consider the most important plan features.

Our picks are centred on prepaid or no-contract SIMs only with a maximum expiry of 30 days. This is where you can get the most value for money while avoiding any fine print cancellation fees or surcharges for going over your allotted amount of call time or data usage. Trust us ⁠— there's nothing worse than coming back home to find your bank account has taken a hit from holiday expenses and some fees you were up until now blissfully unaware of.

We also focused on options that have wide availability at Australian international airports and major convenience stores, as well as international call inclusions and foreign-language customer support.

Prepaid SIM cards for tourists FAQs

Does australia have prepaid sim cards.

Mobile providers in Australia will provide you with a prepaid SIM card when you sign up for a plan. Some providers also offer eSIM.

Can the best sim cards for tourists be used worldwide?

If you want to use your phone overseas, your best bet is to ensure you have affordable global roaming.

Otherwise, consider purchasing a SIM at your overseas destination.

Which is the best network in Australia?

Australia has three major phone networks: Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone. Telstra is our oldest telecom and covers 99.5% of the Australian population. Optus isn't far behind with 98.5% coverage, and Vodafone is in third with about 96%.

If getting good reception during your holiday is important to you, Telstra (or a provider that uses the Telstra network, like Boost Mobile and Aldi Mobile) is your best bet. However, if you're on a budget or are sticking to mainly metropolitan areas and large regional centres, Optus, Vodafone, and other providers that run on their respective networks (like Amaysim and Lebara) are generally much cheaper. There's no clear-cut "best" network in Australia - it's more a matter of what's most important to you: Coverage or cost.

Can an unlocked phone use a prepaid SIM card in Australia?

If you're a tourist and you're having issues with a prepaid SIM card in Australia, there's a chance that your mobile might be locked to a specific network. Fortunately, most Australian mobile providers (with Telstra being the big exception) are able to unlock your device for free if you ask nicely.

Can I switch to a different prepaid SIM card or mobile plan in Australia

Yep. Swapping between prepaid and SIM-only plans in Australia is as simple as signing up for a new plan and trading out the physical SIM card inside your device.

Tourists can also change prepaid plans via eSIM, depending on the provider.

What documents do you need to buy a prepaid SIM card in Australia?

Unless you're buying it online, you won't need any special documents to buy a prepaid SIM card in Australia. however, you may need additional documentation when it comes to activating your tourist SIM such as your full name, passport number and the Australian address where you'll be staying.

Where to get eSIM in Australia

There are a number of mobile providers in Australia that offer eSIM. If you're visiting Australia, chances are you'd prefer to go prepaid. The list of providers that offer eSIM include felix, Lebara and amaysim.

How long does an Australian SIM card last?

An Australian SIM card should last as long as the terms of your plan dictate. For instance, those on a mobile plan with 30 day expiry will have that long to use the inclusions involved.

What happens if I don't recharge my prepaid SIM?

If your Australian SIM card has no data, talk or text on it, it's likely only a matter of time until your mobile provider will disconnect that number. The length of this can vary between providers. For example, Telstra will give tourists on an expired prepaid plan six months grace to recharge before they kick you off the network.

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Buying a SIM Card in Australia

by Anne Betts | Feb 1, 2020 | Travel Tech , Australia | 3 comments

Updated February 1, 2020

Buying a SIM card in Australia is easy and convenient. Plans are affordable, and built with travellers’ needs in mind. On my last three trips down under, I’ve experimented with Vodafone, Optus, and Amaysim.

Table of Contents

1. Set up and activate at the airport

2. country-wide calling minutes and texts, 3. international calls, 5. validity period, 6. access to top up, 7. app to track usage, research networks, coverage, sellers, plans and costs, it pays to do the research, my experience with optus and vodafone, the verdict, determine your needs.

Chances are you’ve spent many hours travelling to Australia at considerable cost. It’s a big country, and you’re likely staying a while. You might as well spend a little extra for the convenience and security of being connected.

There are lots of choices between networks, sellers, and plans. Choosing the right plan comes down to your circumstances and preferences. If you’re new to the practice of buying local SIM cards, start by identifying your needs. Here are some possibilities.

I like to have a phone connected to a cellular network before leaving the airport. It allows communications with others, especially when faced with travel delays or for confirming meeting arrangements. Hunting down a SIM card at a downtown location, or encountering difficulties activating my phone interfere with my ability to get on with my travels.

Booking accommodation and activities, connecting with travelling companions, meeting up with friends, or making emergency calls are easier with a phone connected to a cellular network.

In Spain and New Zealand , I loved the plans that came with calling minutes to select countries. I’ve come to rely on WhatsApp when connected to Wi-Fi, but international calling minutes is a helpful feature while on the move.

I appreciate the convenience of connecting to the Internet at any time. Travel research, VoIP calls, online bookings, navigation, managing email, looking up stuff on the fly, and posting to social media can be accomplished without having to track down Wi-Fi. Or, without being tied to a specific time of day to perform any of these functions. Having enough data allows me to establish a Wi-Fi connection for my tablet through the hotspot feature on my phone.

Most of my stays in Australia are for four or five weeks. Having the exact number of days at my fingertips can make the difference between choosing a 28, 30 or 35-day plan.

It helps to know which plans permit extensions, allow rollover of unused data or     calling minutes, or the ability to purchase additional calling time or data.

An app takes the guesswork out of figuring what data and calling minutes remain. I find it more convenient than an online account.

1. For a list of networks, sellers, and recommendations, start with Buying Local SIM Cards Around the World at Too Many Adapters.

2. There are three main networks in Australia: Optus, Telstra , and Vodafone . There are several resellers, such as Amaysim , Boost Mobile , and Vaya . Amaysim and Vaya use the Optus network. BoostMobile is powered by Telstra. A quick visit to each site provides the latest information on plans and prices.

3. If you’re planning to spend time outside the major centres, check the network coverage maps. In 2019, my travelling companions had better coverage in Tasmania with Telstra than I had with Vodafone.

4. Check which sellers have a presence at your arrival airport, their locations, and hours of service. Your arrival airport website will likely have this information. Travellers who order a SIM card online or buy one at a location other than an airport will have a different approach. In February 2019, I expected to find Optus and Vodafone in the International Terminal of Brisbane Airport .

Research online, and then again at the airport. With more than one seller, it’s possible you’ll find discounted rates. This was the case in Brisbane in February 2019, when both Vodafone and Optus reduced their popular $40 travel plans to $20.

Or, you may find a deal for an online purchase. For example, at the time of updating this post in February 2020, Vodafone has an online half-price offer on its Combo plans.

In 2017, I chose Optus. In 2019, I went with Vodafone. Both had kiosks at my arrival airport and both offered similar plans. I’ll focus on the more recent 2019 experience with Vodafone.

Set up was quick and efficient. The Starter Pack, included in the cost of the plan, came with a SIM card and SIM card removal tool. Ann, the Vodafone worker, had my phone connected to the network within a few minutes.

Ann removed the New Zealand SIM card from my phone and taped it to the Starter Pack. Attached to the Starter Pack was a handy checklist populated with information such as my Australian telephone number and MyVodafone URL. It’s appreciated when airport kiosks recognize that travellers arrive jet lagged and don’t always ask the right questions. It’s important to send travellers on their way with the necessary information to check balances or obtain service.

In the last few years, plans have become more robust, oozing with features valued by travellers. They’ve also become cheaper. Optus plans were similar in cost and features to those of Vodafone. In February 2019, I chose Vodafone’s Combo Plus Plan with the following features:

• regular price of $40 discounted to $20
• validity of 35 days
• unlimited talk and text within Australia
• 45GB of data
• 500 minutes of international calls to 20 select countries in Zone 1 (Canada, China, Germany, Guam, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Puerto Rica, Romania, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, UK, and USA)
• 100 minutes of international calls to 70 select countries (Zone 2)

It found it very useful to have a user-friendly free app to monitor usage and purchase top up.

I was pleased with both Optus and Vodafone. Both make buying a SIM card in Australia easy for travellers. The features were clearly outlined on the websites, and in the information pamphlets at the airport kiosks. Both recognize that passengers arrive at irregular hours, and have staff available to meet incoming flights. Set up is efficient and activation is immediate.

On my next trip, I’m inclined to buy a Telstra Pre-Paid Max Plan. It compares favourably in price and features to the Optus and Vodafone plans, but network coverage appears to be better. Hopefully there will be a kiosk at my arrival airport. If not, their online search tool will help locate a Telstra point of service.

What’s your experience buying a SIM card in Australia?

Heading to New Zealand, Europe, or the USA? If so, you might be interested in

• Buying a SIM card in New Zealand
• Buying a SIM card in Italy
• Buying a SIM card in the USA

I almost always buy a SIM when traveling. Australia puts Canada to shame when it comes to rates for data. We go with Optus, and get 1G/$2/day over $15. You can top it up, you can go over the limit by half each day for an extra $2. Absolutely fantastic compared to home!

thank you for sharing your experience. Since you mentioned that for your 2021 trip, you are inclined to go with Telstra here is a page where you can get briefed on their outages https://internetoutages.com.au/telstra “.

Network coverage is important – Im an Australian resident and have been with telcos that use Optus, Vodafone and Telstra networks. In a trip to the Tasmanian highlands I could not get a signal to book onward travel. Borrowed a phone with Telstra network. Getting back home I switched to Boost which is a cheap provider who uses the full Testra network. I havent had any problems with their prepaid sims. Will use their roaming when overseas next at $3 per day (in 2024)

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Stay Connected In Australia. Buy Prepaid SIM Cards & eSIMs at Brisbane Airport.

Need eSIM & Sim Card At Brisbane International Airport ? (In Australia)

Planning a trip for Australia ? Here's the Best 10 eSIM & Sim Card (Compared + Reviewed) to buy at Brisbane International Airport.

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I don't need calls or text. Just a data-only sim (if such exist) with probably 3-5GB of data pre-loaded (or not).

I would like to get a recommendation on which provider offer as such and the cost. Should there be also any complications that I need to be aware if a foreigner is buying a SIM card, please share.

Thank you in advance.

11 replies to this topic

Either Telstra or Optus

https://www.telstra.com.au/internet/mobile-broadband/prepaid

https://www.optus.com.au/broadband-nbn/mobile-broadband/sim-only-data-plans/shop?

All pretty straightforward, no pitfalls unless your phone is locked to your carrier.

Does anyone know if BNE has shops like Coles or Woolworth's which is suppose to carry Boost Mobile SIM cards?

I see both a Coles and a Woolworth with Airport Drive street addresses but it appears the Woolworth is quite some distance away from the terminals while Cole is closer but appears to be part of some Shell gas station complex, so not that close to the Domestic terminal either.

Doesn't sound like it's easily reached.

Just google "Coles + name of the suburb you are staying in" and you will find a local one. No need to stop at the ones on Airport Drive unless you really need the SIM prior to checking in to your hotel.

Get Kogan eSIM before hand. So no need to go to shops to get the actual physical sim card. Also costs just $5 for a month.

Yeah Coles and Woolworths have the best deals. I don't know if it's year round or maybe it's around summer time.

But they often have $30 or $40 SIMs from Vodafone or Boost or Telstra for $10 or $15 and you get at least 30-40 GB.

Wow the Australian prepaid market has become so much cheaper for data than when I last visited in 2018.

Only thing though, the Vodafone card I got, to activate was a colossal PITA. They make you register name, email AND a credit card and the default is automatic top ups.

So you need to create an account so that you can make sure the automatic top up is disabled. To do that, they have to send you an SMS to create or register an account with them. Well that was a problem as I only wanted to use the SIM on my iPad, not my iPhone so I couldn't get any SMS.

So I DM'd their Twitter support and they told me it won't automatically charge my card for a top up. I will know for sure in a couple of days.

Otherwise, on Vodafone prepaid, you can get 5G in the big cities.

There's only one telco provider in the airport terminal ... that's Optus.

The Coles Express in the airport precinct is a petrol station ... I'm not sure if they actually sell sim cards. The Woolworths further along is a 24 hour full supermarket.

hi, sorry gonna revisit this post.

Planning to get a SIM card upon arrival at the airport around 7am in the morning, it will be Winter period in late June, will the shop that sell Optus SIM card be open by then?

You’ll be fine.

You will get better deals at grocery stores.

They have weekly sales. Metro or Coles.

You can look up their weekly ads online. You have to enter the postal code of the area where you will be.

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Sim card at brisbane airport - Brisbane Forum

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Sim card at brisbane airport

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As i will be travelling to brisbane, goldcoast and hobart. I will need a tesltra simcard. I will be arriving in brisbane international airport this july. And would like to ask if there a telstra sim card in the airport.

Because we will be travelling to tasmania hobart, and i heard that it would be better to get a telstra simcard as the connections is better.

Where abouts in Tasmania will you be travelling?

Hobart, will be going to mt wellington, bonorong wildlife sanctuary. And some other parks

Will be travelling around hobart and visiting mountains and bonorong wildlife sanctuary etc

The airport has free WiFi if you need to look stuff up or make skype/Watsapp calls. Airport Train also has WiFI.

Telstra is probably available at the Newsagent Judy, . The Newsagents carry various brands - but there is not a Telstra Shop at the airport if the OP needs extra advice (can't imagine that is hugely necessary)

Telstra or Optus will be sufficient for the places you are going in Tasmania.

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Welcome to Travelex at Brisbane Airport

Three convenient ways to get your foreign currency, whether you are planning ahead or require quick service at the airport, travelex has you covered., plan in advance. click & collect for our best rates.

You’ll receive our best exchange rates online and you can conveniently choose to have your foreign currency collected at our Click & Collect Brisbane airport Travelex Store and ATMs , located in Departures.

Benefits of Using Click & Collect

Click and collect and foreign currency atms, our airport store is always here to help.

Brisbane Airport Level 4: Entrance

Brisbane airport atms, find out more about brisbane airport, passenger info, other services, track rates, money transfer, sell your foreign currency, currency converter, travelex info, join the conversation, customer support.

Vietjet Offers Special Deals for Brisbane as Airport Adds New Routes

• Vietjet offers promotional fares for Brisbane customers as it adds a new direct flight route to Ho Chi Minh City.
• The promotional fare is AU$200 ($134) one-way, and customers must act quickly to grab the deal before it ends.
• Passengers can also enjoy other promotional offers from Vietjet, including free domestic connections in Vietnam, discounted SkyBoss Business, and SkyBoss programs.
• Vietjet's SkyJoy loyalty program offers up to 3,300 points, which can be redeemed for vouchers and gifts from 250 brands in Vietnam.
• Brisbane Airport is launching or resuming several new routes, including Samoa, Auckland, Vanuatu, and Seoul, during the Easter travel period.

Brisbane Airport is on the road to recovery, with its first non-stop connection to Vietnam and several new routes to be launched or resumed in the coming weeks. Virgin Australia, Jetstar, Korean Air, and other airlines are offering more choices for quick and easy international connections. The airport is forecasting around 1.4 million people will pass through the airport between April 1-25, up 13% from last year, mainly due to the recovery in international traffic.

Brisbane Airport Offers More Choices for Quick and Easy International Connections

Brisbane Airport is gearing up for the Easter travel period with several new routes to be launched or resumed. Virgin Australia will resume flights to Samoa's Faleolo International Airport, Jetstar will commence services to New Zealand's Auckland Airport, Virgin Australia will restart its flights from BNE to Vanuatu Port Vila Airport, and Korean Air will restart its Brisbane to Seoul Incheon International Airport service. The airport is forecasting around 1.4 million people will pass through the airport between April 1-25, up 13% from last year, mainly due to the recovery in international traffic. The top three most popular destinations for Queenslanders heading overseas are New Zealand, the UK, and Bali in Indonesia. Conversely, the most significant number of inbound travelers will arrive from New Zealand, the UK, and the USA. India is one market showing dramatic growth in two-way traffic. Before the pandemic, it was the 8th biggest inbound market, but now it is the 4th largest. And for Queenslanders traveling abroad, in 2019, India was the 11th most popular destination, but now it's the 6th most popular.

Brisbane Airport is adding more routes to offer passengers quick and easy international connections, and Vietjet's new direct flight route to Ho Chi Minh City offers customers affordable fares with various promotional offers. With the Easter travel period approaching, Brisbane Airport is forecasting a significant increase in passenger traffic, primarily due to the recovery in international traffic.