Destination guides > Australia > Travel essentials > Communication > Internet
Connecting to the internet when travelling in Australia
It's easy to get online virtually everywhere you travel in Australia, but it is cheaper in the bigger cities and more popular tourist destinations.
Internet cafés
It is easy to find internet cafés in big cities like Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane and popular tourist destinations like Airlie Beach, Byron Bay and Cairns. You can get online cheaply - as little as $2 an hour - in Sydney but more remote places - like Ayers Rock - are a lot more expensive and in small towns and less touristy areas you may have to use slow and expensive coin-operated terminals.
Many internet cafés, including big chains like Global Gossip (website www.globalgossip.com), are now fitted with webcams and headsets to make Skype calls and many also let you download photos from your digital camera.
We list internet cafés in the Practical Information section at the beginning of each destination guide.
Using your own computer
More and more travellers are chosing to travel with their own notebook computer.
Wi-Fi hotspot access
Australia isn't as well set up with wireless hotspots as you would expect and when you do find them they tend to be expensive. However free hotspots are slowly starting to catch on.
Most backpackers use the Global Gossip Connect hotspots that are in many backpackers' hostels around Australia (and in New Zealand). They're not cheap but they are an affordable option if you can't find a free hotspot and you can use any remaining credit and other Global Gossip Connect hotspots. If you're really desperate to get online and can't find anywhere to connect you can use the expensive Telstra hotspots at McDonalds and Starbucks.
Fortunately free hotspots are starting to catch on, although they are still a bit thin on the ground in some parts of the country. Adelaide and Melbourne are the most connected cities although there are a few free hotspots around Brisbane and Sydney. Check the Free Wireless Internet directory (website www.freewifi.com.au) to find free Wi-Fi hotspots around Australia.
We list free Wi-Fi hotspots in the Practical Information section at the beginning of each destination guide.
Mobile HSDPA & WiMAX broadband access
All Australia's mobile phone networks operate their own wireless broadband service using HSDPA technology, which gives you internet access whereever there is mobile phone coverage. This isn't such a popular option with backpackers but it is an affordable option with medium to high usage plans for around $40 a month. It is worth considering if you're on a working holiday and will be travelling for a while.
Basically your options are Optus (website www.optus.com.au), Telstra (website www.telstra.com.au), Three (website www.three.com.au) and Vodafone (website www.vodafone.com.au).
Optus have good prices and coverage with broadband speed across their entire network; Telstra have the widest coverage but are the most expensive; Three are the cheapest but only have coverage in the major cities (useless if you're travelling in North Queensland) and Vodafone have coverage across their whole network but broadband speeds are only available in the big cities.
If you have a Three mobile phone you may also be able to use your phone as a modem and use the bandwidth allowance from an X-Series plan to connect your computer to the net.
At the time of writing both Telstra and Vodafone only offered their mobile broadband service with a long contract, effectively ruling it out as a viable option for travellers; but Optus and Three will let you use their service without signing a contract (although they may want you to pay full price for an HSDPA modem, which you would otherwise get for free if you go with a 24-month contract).
Another option is wireless broadband using WiMAX technology with Unwired (website www.unwired.com.au); which are limited mostly to the bigger cities but are a reliable connection that is worth it if you're spending most of your time the bigger cities.
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