Is there signal on a Bay of Islands dolphin cruise?

You'll have good coverage in Paihia and Russell before boarding, but it weakens out among the islands and open water. Confirm your booking and download anything you need while still onshore.

Does one eSIM cover all of Northland?

Yes. It's the single national New Zealand plan roaming on Spark, One NZ and 2degrees. Coverage is strongest in Whangārei and the Bay of Islands and thinner in the Far North, but it's one allowance throughout.

Northland eSIM.

Name: Northland travel eSIM
Brand: My Holiday SIM

The Bay of Islands, Cape Reinga's meeting seas, Waitangi's history and Tāne Mahuta's kauri.

from $3.14/day · unlimited dataAll of New Zealand →

Unlimited data5G where availableInstant QR by emailKeep your number

1 · How many days?

10 daysOther:days

2 · How much data?

3GBBest pricevalid 15 days$10.05$1.01/day

Cheapest plan covering your trip: 3GB, valid 15 days.

Travellers (one eSIM each)

1 × 3GB (valid 15 days) · 10-day trip$10.05

Good to know in Northland

The Far North is genuinely remote: coverage drops for long stretches towards Cape Reinga, on Ninety Mile Beach and through Waipoua Forest. Fuel up, download offline maps and check tide times before leaving Kaitaia or Paihia.

Best time to visit Northland

Northland is mild year-round, but December to March is ideal for swimming and cruising the Bay of Islands, and winter stays far warmer than the south.

Two simple ways to buy

Northland eSIM plans: unlimited, or by the GB.

Every Northland eSIM from My Holiday SIM is one of two straightforward types. Pick whichever fits how you travel in Northland — you can always top up or switch on your next trip.

Traveller streaming and browsing freely on an unlimited-data travel eSIM

Unlimited plans

High-speed data, nothing to count

Priced per day — the longer you stay, the better the daily rate. Ideal for streaming, hotspot and longer trips where you'd rather not watch a data meter. A fair-use policy keeps speeds fast for everyone; see each plan for the detail.

Best for streaming, video calls & hotspot
Great for longer or open-ended trips
One price per day — no GB anxiety

By-the-GB plans

3GB10GB20GB

A set bundle, brilliant value

A fixed data allowance (say 3 GB or 10 GB) valid for your travel days. The best-value pick for lighter trips built around maps, messaging and a bit of browsing. Running low? Top up in a couple of taps — nothing to reinstall.

Best value for lighter, shorter trips
Clear allowance — pay only for what you need
Top up any time from your phone

Compare plans →Not every destination has both types — the picker shows what's available where you're headed.

Plan your data

How much data do you need in Northland?

A rough, honest guide to sizing your Northland eSIM so you're not guessing. Most travellers in Northland are comfortable on 3–5 GB a week — heavy streamers just go Unlimited.

Traveller checking maps and messages on her phone using a My Holiday SIM eSIM

Not sure? Start with a 5 GB plan — you can top up in seconds if you run low.

Light

~1 GB / week

Maps, messaging & email

Google Maps, WhatsApp, email and the odd search. Plenty for a city break where you mostly need directions.

Suits 1–3 GB plans

Balanced

3–5 GB / week

Everyday holiday use

Everything above plus social scrolling, music, cloud photo backups and a little video. Where most travellers land.

Suits 5–10 GB plans

Northland eSIM: your local data guide.

Northland, the Winterless North, runs from the Waitangi Treaty Grounds and the Bay of Islands up to Cape Reinga, where two oceans meet, and Ninety Mile Beach. A Northland eSIM keeps you connected for booking dolphin cruises out of Paihia, navigating to the giant kauri Tāne Mahuta in Waipoua Forest and exploring historic Russell.

One eSIM for Northland and all of New Zealand. It's the national New Zealand eSIM — from $3.14/day with unlimited data, working the same in Northland as it does the moment you leave it.

Landing at Whangārei Airport (WRE)?

Install the QR at home, then switch the eSIM on as you taxi in — you're online before you reach the arrivals hall.

Northland eSIM pricingbest-value plan · per day

Days

Per day

Total

Saving

3 days1GB

$1.28

$3.83

—

5 days1GB

$0.77

$3.83

−40%

7 days1GB

$0.55

$3.83

−57%

10 days3GBPopular

$1.01

$10.05

−21%

15 days3GB

$0.67

$10.05

−48%

30 days5GB

$0.48

$14.26

−63%

Each trip length shows the best-value plan that covers it. Total always shown before you pay.

eSIM vs the old ways in Northland

eSIM

ROAMING

AIRPORT SIM

Data allowance

Unlimited

Usually capped

Rarely unlimited

Price known upfront

Prepaid

Billed after

Varies at the desk

Ready when you land

Instantly

After the queue

Keep WhatsApp number

SIM swapped

Northland eSIM from $3.14/day — the whole bill, agreed before you fly.

Across the region

Where you'll lean on data in Northland.

Bay of Islands (Paihia & Russell)

Good 4G around Paihia and the wharf for cruise and ferry bookings, weaker out on the water.

Whangārei

Strong coverage across the city and Town Basin for maps and dining apps.

Cape Reinga & Ninety Mile Beach

Expect long dead zones up the far north, so download maps and tide times before you drive.

Waipoua Forest

Patchy signal among the kauri, so sort your Tāne Mahuta visit details before entering the forest.

The practical bit

Getting around Northland on your eSIM.

Apps you'll want online in Northland

CityLink Whangārei— Whangārei's local bus service, topped up with the Bee Card.
InterCity— Books coaches linking Auckland, Whangārei and Paihia in the Bay of Islands.
CamperMate— Essential for Far North campsites, fuel stops and beaches off the grid.
Fullers GreatSights— Books Bay of Islands cruises and the Paihia–Russell passenger ferry.

How long to stay in Northland

Three to five days suits Northland, typically basing in the Bay of Islands for cruises and Waitangi, with a long day trip up to Cape Reinga.

How much data for Northland

About 2–3 GB covers a week of coastal maps, cruise bookings and photos, though light users manage on 1 GB; the Far North's dead zones mean you'll lean on offline maps anyway.

Coverage in Northland

Whangārei and the Bay of Islands have solid 4G/5G, but coverage genuinely thins up the Far North towards Cape Reinga, along Ninety Mile Beach and inside Waipoua Forest.

Where you're headed

Discover Northland.

A scenic aerial view of a pier extending into turquoise waters in Northland, New Zealand, surrounded by lush greenery.

Scenic view of Cape Reinga Lighthouse against the vast ocean backdrop, New Zealand.

Stunning view of Cape Reinga Lighthouse on a sunny day in Northland, New Zealand.

Stunning aerial shot of Northland's coastline, showcasing serene islands with clear waters and dramatic skies.

How to activate your Northland eSIM.

Full installation guide →

A traveller happily planning her next trip with a map and phone

Buy your plan

Choose your days — the QR code arrives by email in seconds.

A traveller installing her eSIM from the sofa in two minutes

Install at home

Scan the QR on Wi-Fi before you fly. About two minutes, no app needed.

Friends laughing together while packing for a holiday

Fly relaxed

Nothing counts down yet — your days start only at first connection.

A joyful family reunion at the airport arrivals hall

Switch on in Northland

Turn the line on when you land. Connected before baggage claim.

New to eSIM in Northland?

What is a Northland eSIM?

A Northland eSIM is a digital SIM that's already built into your phone. Scan one QR code and a local Northland data plan installs alongside your home SIM — no plastic, no tray tool, no swap. Your number and WhatsApp stay exactly where they are.

✓ 2-minute install✓ Keep your number✓ Works on phones from 2018+

How eSIM works →Check my phone

A traveller with a backpack smiling at her phone — online abroad with My Holiday SIM

Connected · 5G

Home SIM · calls & WhatsAppHoliday eSIM · unlimited data

30-day refund promiseUnused, uninstalled eSIM? Full refund, no questions.

The price is the billPrepaid and final — roaming charges can't happen.

Days start when you landInstall early with zero pressure; counting begins at first connection.

Humans, 24/7Real people answer, before, during and after the trip.

Why travellers choose My Holiday SIM for Northland.

Instant eSIM deliveryQR code in your inbox seconds after checkout — even at the departure gate.

No physical SIMNothing to collect, lose or poke out with a paperclip. Your home SIM stays put.

Keep your WhatsApp numberData flows through us; WhatsApp stays on your home number. Family always reaches you.

A traveller at the departure gate, eSIM ready on her phone

eSIM ready in ~2 minutes

No bill shock, everOne clear price before you fly. Roaming charges simply can't happen.

Secure paymentsCards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal and Klarna — encrypted end to end.

Real human supportReal people — before, during and after your trip. Live chat and email, no bots. Easy top-ups too.

Coverage in New Zealand.

5G where available, fast 4G everywhere else

Connected · 5G

Your eSIM joins New Zealand's partner networks automatically — no settings to choose, no manual network hunting. If signal drops in a remote spot, toggling Airplane Mode for a few seconds forces a fresh connection.

Spark
One NZ
2degrees
Skinny

Popular places covered

AucklandWellingtonChristchurchQueenstownRotoruaDunedinNapierNelson

Keep data roaming ON for the eSIM line only — that's the switch travel eSIMs use, and it never adds charges on our plans.

Trusted networks, honest numbers.

No invented star ratings behind your Northland eSIM — just the numbers we actually stand behind.

Friendly globe with location pins — coverage on every continent

My Holiday SIMSTAY CONNECTED. ANYWHERE.

200+

destinations — every continent covered

regions covered by a single regional eSIM

~2 min

typical install — QR to connected

Live

chat & email support

Before you fly

Northland eSIM questions, answered.

Only intermittently. Signal is decent around Kaitaia and the coastal towns, but there are long gaps up the far north and along Ninety Mile Beach. Download offline maps and tell someone your plans before setting out.

Your Northland eSIM glossary.

eSIMA SIM built into your phone's hardware. Plans install onto it digitally — no plastic card involved.

QR profileThe code we email you. Scanning it downloads your holiday plan onto the eSIM. One scan per device.

Data roaming (the switch)The toggle travel eSIMs use to join partner networks abroad. On our plans it never adds charges — keep it ON for the eSIM, OFF for your home SIM.

Hotspot / tetheringSharing your phone's data with laptops and tablets. Included on our plans wherever networks allow.

Top-upExtra days added to a live plan from your account. They append to the end — nothing overlaps.

First connectionThe moment your eSIM first joins a network at the destination — that's when your days start counting, not before.

Travelling wider in New Zealand?