Heading overseas? Telstra offers several ways to keep your phone connected, but understanding them matters if you want to avoid a nasty bill. This guide breaks down Telstra's International Day Pass, Travel Pass options, and pay-per-use rates so you know what to expect.
Getting Your Head Around Telstra's Roaming Options
When you land in a foreign country, the last thing you want is to scramble to figure out your phone. Telstra keeps things simple for its post-paid customers with the International Day Pass.
How The International Day Pass Actually Works
Think of the Day Pass like a daily ticket for your phone. The first time you make a call, send an SMS, or use mobile data in a supported country, the pass kicks in automatically.
Once activated, you're charged a flat daily fee. This gives you a set amount of data, plus unlimited standard calls and texts for a 24-hour window. If you want to land in the USA, UK, Bali, or Fiji and have your phone just work without swapping SIM cards, that's what it's designed for.
What Happens Without a Pass? Pay-As-You-Go Rates
So, what if you visit a country where the Day Pass isn't available? In these cases, you’ll fall back onto Telstra's standard pay-as-you-go (PAYG) roaming rates.
Be warned: these are the rates that cause "bill shock." Data, calls, and texts are all charged per-unit, and the costs add up fast. Even something as simple as your apps refreshing in the background can trigger charges if you're not careful.
Planning ahead saves you money. Using Wi-Fi whenever possible is a good start. For calls, a VoIP service like CallSky lets you make cheap international calls over Wi-Fi, avoiding voice roaming fees entirely.
Telstra's Day Pass covers over 80 countries. They've set special pricing for New Zealand at just $5 per day. For most other eligible spots, it's a $10 daily pass which gets you 1GB of data. If you use that up, it automatically tops you up with another 1GB for an extra $10. Check Telstra's international roaming page to see if your destination is on the list before you fly.
Cracking the Code on Telstra's International Day Pass
For most Aussie travellers on post-paid plans, the International Day Pass is Telstra's main roaming product. To get the most out of it, you need to understand how its zone-based pricing works before packing.
The tiered system means you won't be paying top dollar for a quick weekend trip across the Tasman.
How the Zone-Based Pricing Works
Telstra has carved up the world into different zones, each with its own daily price tag.
- Zone 1: Just New Zealand. A trip to Auckland or Queenstown will set you back $5 per day.
- Zone 2: This is the big one, covering over 80 of the most common spots Aussies travel to. Think Bali (Indonesia), Fiji, the USA, the UK, and most of Europe and Southeast Asia. For these destinations, you're looking at a flat $10 per day.
- Zone 3 & Everywhere Else: If your destination isn't in Zone 1 or 2, you'll fall back to standard pay-as-you-go rates. Check Telstra's official roaming list if you're heading somewhere less common to avoid a surprise on your next bill.
The Day Pass activates automatically the first time you make a call, send a text, or use mobile data in an eligible country, starting a 24-hour clock on your access. You don't have to do anything to turn it on.
What Does Your Money Actually Get You?
Okay, so you know the daily cost. But what are the real-world inclusions and limitations? The promise of "unlimited" has some fine print, and that daily data allowance is more rigid than you might think.
Here's what your daily fee covers:
- Unlimited standard calls to and from any standard international number.
- Unlimited standard SMS messages.
- 1GB of data to use within your 24-hour pass period.
Here’s the catch you need to know: the 24-hour clock for your pass is tied to Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST), not your local time. This can get confusing. Depending on where you are, your pass could reset in the middle of your afternoon, which is something to keep in mind.
Telstra International Day Pass At a Glance
The table below gives you a quick summary of the features, costs, and included data for Telstra's primary international roaming option.
| Feature | Zone 1 Details (New Zealand) | Zone 2 Details (USA, UK, Bali, Fiji, etc.) |
|---|---|---|
| Daily Cost | $5 | $10 |
| Data Inclusion | 1GB per 24-hour period (AEST) | 1GB per 24-hour period (AEST) |
| Calls & SMS | Unlimited standard calls & SMS to/from any country | Unlimited standard calls & SMS to/from any country |
| Data Top-Up | $10 for an extra 1GB (valid for 31 days) | $10 for an extra 1GB (valid for 31 days) |
| Supported Countries | New Zealand | Over 80 popular destinations |
Use this to compare the daily value against other options below.
What Happens If You Run Out of Data?
So, you've been using Google Maps all day and suddenly burn through your 1GB of data. What's next?
Telstra has an automatic top-up system baked in. The moment you use up that first gigabyte, you'll be charged $10 for an extra 1GB of data.
This extra data block is valid for 31 days. If you don't use it all on the day you buy it, it rolls over and becomes the first data you use the next time a Day Pass is triggered. But the automatic charge can cause bill shock if you're not paying attention. Keep an eye on your usage in the My Telstra app.
Getting Your Roaming Switched On and Managed
Sorting out your Telstra overseas roaming is simple. The My Telstra app handles all the roaming settings. Taking a few minutes to set this up before you head to the airport saves a lot of hassle when you land.
Everything is managed through the app in a few taps, no phone calls to Telstra needed.
How to Turn on Your International Day Pass
Your best bet is to switch on roaming through the My Telstra app before you even pack your bags. Doing it early means your phone will be ready to connect the second you need it.
Here’s the simple play-by-play:
- Open the My Telstra app on your phone.
- Head over to the "Services" tab and tap on your mobile service.
- Find the option for "International Roaming" (sometimes it's under "Extras").
- Flip the switch for the International Day Pass to "On".
Once that's done, the Day Pass sits dormant. It only kicks in and starts the daily charge when you use data, make a call, or send a text in one of the included countries. It can sometimes take up to two hours to activate, so do it before you leave home.
Keeping an Eye on Your Usage Abroad
Bill shock almost always comes from using more data than you expected. The My Telstra app shows you in real time how much of your daily 1GB allowance you've used. Check it at least once a day.
If you notice you're burning through data, jump onto the hotel Wi-Fi for video calls or downloading offline maps. Save your mobile data for when you're actually out and about.
Turning Off Roaming When You Get Back
Just as important as turning roaming on is remembering to switch it off when you're back home. Your phone can latch onto a foreign network from a cruise ship near the coast or during a short flight stopover, which triggers accidental charges.
Disabling it is just as easy as turning it on. Simply retrace your steps:
- Open up the My Telstra app.
- Go back into "Services" and then "International Roaming".
- Flip the International Day Pass switch back to "Off".
This makes sure your travel phone costs end when your trip does.
Choosing the Right Option for Your Trip
Staying connected overseas usually comes down to convenience versus cost. Telstra's International Day Pass is simple to use, but is it the right financial choice for your trip? Here are the numbers for a few typical Aussie holidays.
The flowchart below breaks down the key steps for managing your roaming before you leave, while you're away, and once you get back home.
The whole process is managed through the My Telstra app.
Cost Breakdown for Common Travel Scenarios
To see how this plays out in the real world, let's compare Telstra's Day Pass against two popular alternatives: grabbing a local SIM card or just using Wi-Fi with a VoIP service.
Scenario 1: The Quick Getaway (4 Days in Fiji)
- Telstra Day Pass: Fiji is a Zone 2 country, so at $10 per day, you’re looking at a total of $40. You’re connected the second your plane touches the tarmac.
- Local SIM/Wi-Fi: For just four days, the time spent finding and setting up a local SIM probably isn't worth the small saving. The Day Pass makes more sense for short trips.
Scenario 2: The Bali Holiday (14 Days)
- Telstra Day Pass: At $10 per day for Zone 2, a two-week trip would set you back $140 in roaming fees. That's a decent chunk of your holiday budget.
- Local SIM: You can pick up an Indonesian SIM card with plenty of data for around $20-$30. That's a much cheaper option if you're staying a week or more and don't mind having a temporary number.
Scenario 3: The USA & UK Trip (10 Days)
- Telstra Day Pass: Both countries are in Zone 2, so the cost is a flat $100 ($10 per day). The advantage is that one pass covers both countries. No need to swap SIMs when you fly from London to New York.
- Local SIM: A US or UK SIM might only cost $30-$40 each, but you would need to buy one in each country. Telstra’s single pass for the whole trip is a major advantage for country-hoppers.
Telstra Roaming Cost vs. Alternatives
Here's a quick estimate of what you'd spend on a standard 10-day trip using different methods.
| Travel Scenario (10-Day Trip) | Telstra International Day Pass | Local SIM Card (Estimate) | VoIP + Wi-Fi (Estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bali, Indonesia | $100 | $20 - $30 | $10 (for VoIP credit) |
| USA | $100 | $40 - $60 | $10 (for VoIP credit) |
| New Zealand | $50 | $20 - $30 | $10 (for VoIP credit) |
The Telstra Day Pass is the simplest option, but if budget is a priority, a local SIM or Wi-Fi-only approach will almost always save you money on longer trips.
The Budget-Conscious Alternative: VoIP and Wi-Fi
For budget-conscious travelers who want to keep costs to an absolute minimum, skipping roaming altogether is a perfectly valid strategy. You can avoid data charges completely by simply relying on the free Wi-Fi found in hotels, cafes, and public squares.
The catch is making calls to landlines or mobiles back home, since Wi-Fi alone won't cover that. A VoIP service like CallSky fills that gap. For a few dollars of credit, you can call any number over Wi-Fi, bypassing Telstra's network entirely.
Smarter Alternatives to Standard Roaming
The Telstra International Day Pass is convenient, but that daily fee adds up on a longer trip. If you'd rather spend your money on experiences instead of phone bills, here are some alternatives to Telstra overseas roaming that cost less.
These options take a little planning, but the savings are significant.
Embrace the Local SIM Card
As soon as you land, grab a local SIM card from an airport kiosk, a corner store, or a mobile provider's shop. It's one of the easiest ways to cut your communication costs.
- Pros: A local SIM in Bali might cost $20-$30 for a full month of data. Compare that to $140 for just 14 days with the Telstra Day Pass. You'll also get a local number, which is useful for booking restaurants or tours.
- Cons: It's not without a few small hurdles. You'll have to physically swap out your Aussie SIM and manage a temporary phone number, which can make it harder for people at home to call you directly. Most importantly, your phone has to be unlocked to work with a different carrier's SIM.
Maximize Free Wi-Fi Hotspots
If you're on a shoestring budget, you can get by almost entirely on free Wi-Fi. Most hotels, cafes, airports, and even public squares in major cities offer decent connections. This lets you browse the web, check emails, and use your favourite messaging apps without spending a dime on data.
Plan ahead: download your maps and entertainment while you're at the hotel. The gap in this strategy is making actual phone calls. FaceTime and WhatsApp only work if the person you're calling also has the app. That doesn't help when you need to call a landline.
Use VoIP for Ultra-Cheap International Calls
A VoIP app lets you make calls over any Wi-Fi connection to any phone number, mobile or landline, anywhere in the world for a few cents per minute.
VoIP fills the gap between free Wi-Fi and needing to call someone who isn't on a messaging app. You can call your mum's landline, your bank's customer service, or a relative back home from a cafe in Rome, and none of it counts as roaming.
CallSky works this way. Top up your account with $5 or $10 of credit and use that balance to make calls over Wi-Fi. This sidesteps Telstra overseas roaming fees for phone calls entirely.
We also have a guide on the best apps for wifi calling if you want to compare options.
Common Questions About Telstra Roaming
Here are the most common questions that come up when using Telstra roaming overseas.
What Happens If I Travel to Multiple Countries in One Day?
Telstra's International Day Pass handles this well.
As long as you're travelling between countries in the same zone (e.g., France to Italy, both in Zone 2), your single $10 daily charge covers you. The 24-hour clock starts when you first use your service, and it doesn't reset when you cross a border. You won't get charged twice.
The catch? If you venture into a country that isn't on the Day Pass list, you'll immediately switch over to expensive pay-as-you-go rates. Always double-check your entire itinerary against Telstra's included country list before you go.
Can I Use Telstra Pre-Paid for International Roaming?
This is a big one, and it catches a lot of people by surprise. The International Day Pass is strictly for customers on a Post-Paid mobile plan.
If you're on a Telstra Pre-Paid service, the Day Pass isn't an option. Instead, you'll need to buy a specific Pre-Paid International Roaming Pack (sometimes called a Travel Pass). These come with set inclusions and expiry dates (e.g., 5GB for 14 days) and must be purchased before you travel.
How Do I Avoid Roaming Charges on a Cruise or Airplane?
Be careful here. Cruise ships and airplanes operate their own satellite networks, and these are not covered by your Telstra International Day Pass. The rates for "maritime" and "in-flight" networks are very high.
Here's how to avoid them:
- Switch your phone to Airplane Mode the moment the plane doors close or before the ship pulls away from the dock.
- Leave it in Airplane Mode for the entire journey.
- If you absolutely need to get online, use the onboard Wi-Fi offered by the airline or cruise line. You'll pay them directly, and it won't trigger any Telstra roaming charges.
If you're planning a longer stay abroad, you might also want to look at cities popular with remote workers for their connectivity infrastructure.
CallSky lets you call landlines and mobiles in over 180 countries from any Wi-Fi connection, no subscription needed. Try CallSky with your first $5 credit.