New Zealand South Island Road Trip (South Island Loop / Te Waipounamu)
eSIM plans checked against measured mobile signal along the route — see the exact coverage map before you buy.
Duration
20 GBValid for 30 days
Best Value$27.98$1.40/GB
Estimated route coverage46%
New Zealand
One NZ 5G
Included with every order
- Secure checkout by Stripe
- eSIM QR code and coverage report by email within minutes
- Plan days start on first use, not at purchase
- 14-day self-service refund before installation
Other 30-day plans
3 GBValid for 30 days
$5.32$1.77/GB
Estimated route coverage46%
New Zealand
One NZ 5G
1 GBValid for 30 days
$7.40$7.40/GB
Estimated route coverage36%
New Zealand
Spark 4G
+ 19 more countries covered
5 GBValid for 30 days
$8.36$1.67/GB
Estimated route coverage46%
New Zealand
One NZ 5G
3 GBValid for 30 days
$10.60$3.53/GB
Estimated route coverage36%
New Zealand
Spark 4G
+ 1 more country covered
10 GBValid for 30 days
$15.24$1.52/GB
Estimated route coverage46%
New Zealand
One NZ 5G
5 GBValid for 30 days
$17.00$3.40/GB
Estimated route coverage36%
New Zealand
Spark 4G
+ 1 more country covered
3 GBValid for 30 days
$22.80$7.60/GB
Estimated route coverage56%
New Zealand
One NZ 5G · Spark 5G
+ 117 more countries covered
10 GBValid for 30 days
$31.60$3.16/GB
Estimated route coverage36%
New Zealand
Spark 4G
+ 1 more country covered
5 GBValid for 30 days
$36.00$7.20/GB
Estimated route coverage56%
New Zealand
One NZ 5G · Spark 5G
+ 117 more countries covered
20 GBValid for 30 days
$58.00$2.90/GB
Estimated route coverage36%
New Zealand
Spark 4G
+ 1 more country covered
10 GBValid for 30 days
$68.00$6.80/GB
Estimated route coverage56%
New Zealand
One NZ 5G · Spark 5G
+ 117 more countries covered
20 GBValid for 30 days
$120.00$6.00/GB
Estimated route coverage56%
New Zealand
One NZ 5G · Spark 5G
+ 117 more countries covered
Coverage map
Segment-by-segment
| Stage | km | 4G/5G | 2G/3G | No signal | Best network |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linwood-Central-Heathcote Community, Canterbury → Woodend, Canterbury | 0–25 | 100% | 0% | 0% | One NZ |
| Woodend, Canterbury → Hurunui District, Canterbury | 25–50 | 100% | 0% | 0% | One NZ |
| Hurunui District, Canterbury → Hurunui District, Canterbury | 50–75 | 42% | 36% | 22% | One NZ |
| Hurunui District, Canterbury → Hurunui District, Canterbury | 75–100 | 0% | 24% | 76% | One NZ |
| Hurunui District, Canterbury → Hurunui District, Canterbury | 100–125 | 0% | 0% | 100% | — |
| Hurunui District, Canterbury → Hurunui District, Canterbury | 125–150 | 0% | 0% | 100% | — |
| Hurunui District, Canterbury → Kaikōura, Canterbury | 150–175 | 0% | 0% | 100% | — |
| Kaikōura, Canterbury → Kaikōura District, Canterbury | 175–200 | 0% | 0% | 100% | — |
| Kaikōura District, Canterbury → Kaikōura District, Canterbury | 200–225 | 84% | 0% | 16% | One NZ |
| Kaikōura District, Canterbury → Marlborough District, Marlborough | 225–250 | 0% | 0% | 100% | — |
| Marlborough District, Marlborough → Marlborough District, Marlborough | 250–275 | 0% | 0% | 100% | — |
| Marlborough District, Marlborough → Marlborough District, Marlborough | 275–300 | 0% | 0% | 100% | — |
| Marlborough District, Marlborough → Renwick, Marlborough | 300–325 | 0% | 0% | 100% | — |
| Renwick, Marlborough → Marlborough District, Marlborough | 325–350 | 30% | 0% | 70% | One NZ |
| Marlborough District, Marlborough → Marlborough District, Marlborough | 350–375 | 26% | 0% | 74% | One NZ |
| Marlborough District, Marlborough → Nelson | 375–400 | 0% | 0% | 100% | — |
| Nelson → Nelson | 400–425 | 0% | 0% | 100% | — |
| Nelson → Wakefield, Tasman | 425–450 | 0% | 0% | 100% | — |
| Wakefield, Tasman → Tasman District, Tasman | 450–475 | 0% | 0% | 100% | — |
| Tasman District, Tasman → Tasman District, Tasman | 475–500 | 0% | 0% | 100% | — |
| Tasman District, Tasman → Tasman District, Tasman | 500–525 | 0% | 0% | 100% | — |
| Tasman District, Tasman → Tasman District, Tasman | 525–550 | 0% | 0% | 100% | — |
| Tasman District, Tasman → Buller District, West Coast | 550–575 | 0% | 0% | 100% | — |
| Buller District, West Coast → Buller District, West Coast | 575–600 | 36% | 0% | 64% | One NZ |
| Buller District, West Coast → Reefton, West Coast | 600–625 | 100% | 0% | 0% | One NZ |
| Reefton, West Coast → Buller District, West Coast | 625–650 | 56% | 0% | 44% | One NZ |
| Buller District, West Coast → Grey District, West Coast | 650–675 | 0% | 0% | 100% | — |
| Grey District, West Coast → Runanga, West Coast | 675–700 | 50% | 0% | 50% | One NZ |
| Runanga, West Coast → Westland District, West Coast | 700–725 | 100% | 0% | 0% | One NZ |
| Westland District, West Coast → Hokitika, West Coast | 725–750 | 32% | 0% | 68% | One NZ |
| Hokitika, West Coast → Westland District, West Coast | 750–775 | 0% | 0% | 100% | — |
| Westland District, West Coast → Hokitika, West Coast | 775–800 | 0% | 0% | 100% | — |
| Hokitika, West Coast → Westland District, West Coast | 800–825 | 0% | 0% | 100% | — |
| Westland District, West Coast → Westland District, West Coast | 825–850 | 0% | 0% | 100% | — |
| Westland District, West Coast → Westland District, West Coast | 850–875 | 0% | 0% | 100% | — |
| Westland District, West Coast → Westland District, West Coast | 875–900 | 0% | 0% | 100% | — |
| Westland District, West Coast → Westland District, West Coast | 900–925 | 0% | 0% | 100% | — |
| Westland District, West Coast → Westland District, West Coast | 925–950 | 64% | 0% | 36% | One NZ |
| Westland District, West Coast → Westland District, West Coast | 950–975 | 0% | 0% | 100% | — |
| Westland District, West Coast → Westland District, West Coast | 975–1000 | 0% | 0% | 100% | — |
| Westland District, West Coast → Westland District, West Coast | 1000–1025 | 0% | 0% | 100% | — |
| Westland District, West Coast → Westland District, West Coast | 1025–1050 | 0% | 0% | 100% | — |
| Westland District, West Coast → Westland District, West Coast | 1050–1075 | 0% | 0% | 100% | — |
| Westland District, West Coast → Westland District, West Coast | 1075–1100 | 0% | 0% | 100% | — |
| Westland District, West Coast → Westland District, West Coast | 1100–1125 | 0% | 0% | 100% | — |
| Westland District, West Coast → Queenstown-Lakes District, Otago | 1125–1150 | 0% | 0% | 100% | — |
| Queenstown-Lakes District, Otago → Queenstown-Lakes District, Otago | 1150–1175 | 0% | 0% | 100% | — |
| Queenstown-Lakes District, Otago → Lake Hāwea, Otago | 1175–1200 | 0% | 0% | 100% | — |
| Lake Hāwea, Otago → Wānaka, Otago | 1200–1225 | 88% | 0% | 12% | One NZ |
| Wānaka, Otago → Queenstown-Lakes District, Otago | 1225–1250 | 40% | 0% | 60% | One NZ |
| Queenstown-Lakes District, Otago → Arrowtown, Otago | 1250–1275 | 80% | 0% | 20% | One NZ |
| Arrowtown, Otago → Queenstown, Otago | 1275–1300 | 100% | 0% | 0% | One NZ |
| Queenstown, Otago → Queenstown-Lakes District, Otago | 1300–1325 | 100% | 0% | 0% | One NZ |
| Queenstown-Lakes District, Otago → Northern Community, Southland | 1325–1350 | 66% | 0% | 34% | One NZ |
| Northern Community, Southland → Northern Community, Southland | 1350–1375 | 100% | 0% | 0% | One NZ |
| Northern Community, Southland → Northern Community, Southland | 1375–1400 | 100% | 0% | 0% | One NZ |
| Northern Community, Southland → Northern Community, Southland | 1400–1425 | 100% | 0% | 0% | One NZ |
| Northern Community, Southland → Fiordland Community, Southland | 1425–1450 | 100% | 0% | 0% | One NZ |
| Fiordland Community, Southland → Fiordland Community, Southland | 1450–1475 | 88% | 12% | 0% | One NZ |
| Fiordland Community, Southland → Northern Community, Southland | 1475–1500 | 100% | 0% | 0% | One NZ |
| Northern Community, Southland → Northern Community, Southland | 1500–1525 | 100% | 0% | 0% | One NZ |
| Northern Community, Southland → Southland District, Southland | 1525–1550 | 20% | 0% | 80% | One NZ |
| Southland District, Southland → Southland District, Southland | 1550–1575 | 0% | 0% | 100% | — |
| Southland District, Southland → Gore, Southland | 1575–1600 | 0% | 0% | 100% | — |
| Gore, Southland → Clutha District, Otago | 1600–1625 | 0% | 0% | 100% | — |
| Clutha District, Otago → Clutha District, Otago | 1625–1650 | 0% | 0% | 100% | — |
| Clutha District, Otago → Balclutha, Otago | 1650–1675 | 18% | 0% | 82% | One NZ |
| Balclutha, Otago → Milton, Otago | 1675–1700 | 100% | 0% | 0% | One NZ |
| Milton, Otago → Dunedin City, Otago | 1700–1725 | 98% | 0% | 2% | One NZ |
| Dunedin City, Otago → Dunedin, Otago | 1725–1750 | 100% | 0% | 0% | One NZ |
| Dunedin, Otago → Dunedin City, Otago | 1750–1775 | 100% | 0% | 0% | One NZ |
| Dunedin City, Otago → Waitaki District, Canterbury | 1775–1800 | 100% | 0% | 0% | One NZ |
| Waitaki District, Canterbury → Waitaki District, Canterbury | 1800–1825 | 100% | 0% | 0% | One NZ |
| Waitaki District, Canterbury → Waitaki District, Canterbury | 1825–1850 | 100% | 0% | 0% | One NZ |
| Waitaki District, Canterbury → Waitaki District, Canterbury | 1850–1875 | 100% | 0% | 0% | One NZ |
| Waitaki District, Canterbury → Waimate District, Canterbury | 1875–1900 | 100% | 0% | 0% | One NZ |
| Waimate District, Canterbury → Waimate District, Canterbury | 1900–1925 | 100% | 0% | 0% | One NZ |
| Waimate District, Canterbury → Timaru, Canterbury | 1925–1950 | 100% | 0% | 0% | One NZ |
| Timaru, Canterbury → Temuka, Canterbury | 1950–1975 | 100% | 0% | 0% | One NZ |
| Temuka, Canterbury → Ashburton District, Canterbury | 1975–2000 | 100% | 0% | 0% | One NZ |
| Ashburton District, Canterbury → Ashburton, Canterbury | 2000–2025 | 100% | 0% | 0% | One NZ |
| Ashburton, Canterbury → Rakaia, Canterbury | 2025–2050 | 100% | 0% | 0% | One NZ |
| Rakaia, Canterbury → Selwyn District, Canterbury | 2050–2075 | 100% | 0% | 0% | One NZ |
| Selwyn District, Canterbury → Christchurch City, Canterbury | 2075–2100 | 100% | 0% | 0% | One NZ |
| Christchurch City, Canterbury → Linwood-Central-Heathcote Community, Canterbury | 2100–2113 | 100% | 0% | 0% | One NZ |
Dead zones — download offline maps before these
| # | Near | Section | Length | Coords |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hurunui District, Canterbury | 61–66 km | 6 km | -43.03294, 172.81966 |
| 2 | Hurunui District, Canterbury | 81–201 km | 120 km | -42.60568, 173.39786 |
| 3 | Marlborough District, Marlborough | 222–343 km | 121 km | -41.68499, 174.07927 |
| 4 | Tasman District, Tasman | 357–591 km | 235 km | -41.45444, 172.83669 |
| 5 | Grey District, West Coast | 639–688 km | 49 km | -42.29465, 171.63842 |
| 6 | Westland District, West Coast | 733–931 km | 198 km | -42.89317, 170.81009 |
| 7 | Westland District, West Coast | 947–1203 km | 256 km | -43.82444, 169.06395 |
| 8 | Queenstown-Lakes District, Otago | 1231–1246 km | 15 km | -44.80506, 169.06922 |
| 9 | Queenstown-Lakes District, Otago | 1255–1260 km | 5 km | -44.94852, 168.96031 |
| 10 | Queenstown-Lakes District, Otago | 1330–1339 km | 9 km | -45.30623, 168.75615 |
| 11 | Gore, Southland | 1530–1671 km | 141 km | -46.08319, 168.93687 |
How this is estimated. Coverage is modelled from OpenCellID crowd-sourced cell-tower locations. A point counts as covered by an operator if it falls within a conservative per-technology range of one of that operator's towers (5G 3 km / 4G 6 km / 3G 5 km / 2G 12 km). This flags stretches where you're likely to lose signal, but it is an estimate from public data—not a field measurement or guarantee. Real signal varies with terrain, weather and network load.
Coverage: OpenCellID (CC-BY-SA 4.0), data snapshot 2026-08-02. Route: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Place names © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). © 2026 TrailSim.
Frequently asked questions
How much data do I need for New Zealand South Island Road Trip (South Island Loop / Te Waipounamu)?
Aim for at least 500 MB a day — comfortable headroom for daily navigation, booking accommodation, messaging home and uploading photos. The featured plan is picked on exactly that rule; size up if you stream, video-call or share your connection.
When do the plan days start counting?
On first use — installing the eSIM and connecting starts the clock, not the purchase date. You can safely buy weeks before your trip.
Does my phone support eSIM?
Most phones released since 2019 support eSIM, including iPhone XS and later, Google Pixel 3 and later, and most recent Samsung Galaxy models. Your phone must also be carrier-unlocked.
What if I change my mind after buying?
Uninstalled eSIMs qualify for a full self-service refund within 14 days of purchase — no questions asked. Once the eSIM is installed on a device it can no longer be returned. See the refund policy.