📶 How to Stay Connected on the Road: Mobile Data & SIM Tips

When you’re living or travelling in a campervan, staying connected isn’t just a luxury — it’s essential. Whether you’re working remotely, booking campsites, navigating remote backroads or just checking in with whānau, having a stable internet connection makes vanlife smoother.

After travelling across Aotearoa – New Zealand and internationally, here are our best tips for staying connected on the road — plus the tools and SIM options we rely on.

📡 Choosing the Right Mobile Provider (NZ Edition)

If you’re travelling within Aotearoa – NZ, you’ll find SIM cards readily available at arrival airports, supermarkets, dairies (corner shops), and mobile provider stores in most malls. The airport is usually the most convenient option. The major mobile providers are:

• Spark – Good nationwide coverage, especially in remote areas.
• One (formerly Vodafone) – Decent coverage in cities and towns, but less reliable in rural zones.
• 2degrees – Affordable plans with growing coverage.
• Skinny – A prepaid budget option that uses Spark’s network.

🔁 Prepaid vs Monthly

If you’re on a short-term trip or working seasonally, a prepaid SIM gives you flexibility with no contracts. Long-term travellers might benefit from rolling data packs or shared data plans.

🚐 TIP: Some freedom camps and DOC sites have poor or no signal. Download maps and entertainment before heading off-grid.

🌍 Travel Tip: Use an eSIM

If you’re arriving from overseas or hopping countries often — an eSIM is a game-changer.

💡 What’s an eSIM?

An eSIM is a digital SIM card you install via app — no swapping physical cards. Just scan the QR code, activate and you’re online.

🌐 Our Pick: Airalo eSIM

We use Airalo while travelling through Asia, Europe and beyond. You can choose a local, regional or global data plan and be connected before you even land.

Why we recommend it:

• Works in 200+ countries
• Instant setup via app
• No need to find a SIM shop
• Top-up options available mid-trip

🔄 Combine an Airalo eSIM with your home SIM in dual-SIM phones for flexibility and backup.

🔒 Use a VPN on Public Wi-Fi

When you’re using campground Wi-Fi, café hotspots, or airport networks, you’re exposed to security risks. A VPN keeps your personal data safe and your browsing private.

🛡️ Our Pick: Surfshark VPN

We recommend Surfshark for:

• Safe internet banking while on public Wi-Fi
• Streaming from home (Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer etc.)
• Hiding your IP address to avoid trackers or price targeting
• Unlimited devices under one account

⚠️ Some booking links may be sensitive to VPNs — if a page won’t load, try pausing or switching your location/server.

🔌 Bonus Tools to Stay Online

Even with good mobile coverage, these tools keep you reliably connected:

• Mobile Router or Pocket Wi-Fi: Portable hotspot with its own SIM — great for sharing data across devices.
• Signal Booster: Boosts weak reception in rural areas (best installed in your van).
• Power Banks: Keep your phone and router charged during long hikes or power outages.
• Offline Maps & Docs: Download key files, PDFs and maps in advance for when signal drops out.

🧠 Final Thoughts

Staying connected on the road is about more than just scrolling social media. It’s your lifeline for planning, work, safety and real-time travel updates. Whether you’re road-tripping across NZ or flying into your next destination, the right tools — like Airalo eSIM and Surfshark VPN — make digital life easy, secure and flexible.

🌍 Travel Planning Resources

These are the tools we personally use and trust when planning our travels from finding a place to stay to booking activities, transport and insurance. Let your Tohu guide you — Trust the Journey and follow what feels right for you.

• ✈️Flights – Compare great deals with Trip.com then Kiwi.com for flexible, affordable options.
• 🚐 Campervans – Compare rental deals with Motorhome Republic across Aotearoa and beyond.
• 🛏️ Stays – Compare hotels on Trip.com and TripAdvisor or Booking.com.
• 🚐 Rental Cars – Compare prices and book through Airport Rentals by Motorhome Republic for trusted brands and easy airport pickup.
• 🎟️ Activities – Browse tours and experiences on Viator, Get Your Guide, or TripAdvisor
• 🚆12Go Asia – Compare and book trains, buses, and ferries across Asia in one place with 12Go.
• 🛡️ Travel Insurance – Get flexible short-term coverage with Insubuy for your next holiday.
• 🔒 Protect Your Privacy with a VPN – We recommend Surfshark VPN for secure and private browsing while travelling. It’s fast, affordable and works worldwide — perfect for public Wi-Fi at airports, cafes and hotels.
• 📱 Travel eSIM – Stay connected with Airalo
• 💼 Lounge Access – Treat yourself with Priority Pass – for UK or US
• 🎶 Events & Concerts – Book tickets worldwide through Ticketmaster.

🧭 Note: Some booking links can be a bit shy when you’re using a VPN. If one doesn’t open, try pausing your VPN or switching to a different server location or secure Wi-Fi network to get things flowing again.