Staying connected at a glance
- Carriers and shopsTourist SIMs are available from Vodafone.
- At the airportSIM cards are sold by China Welcome Centre.
- In the cityFree VicFreeWiFi covers the central city with 1 GB per device per day and no login. The State Library, Federation Square and the visitor centres offer free Wi-Fi too (City of Melbourne). It adds that Melbourne Airport has no train or tram link, with taxis, rideshare and the Skybus to Southern Cross Station every 15 minutes between 4 am and 1 am.
Local SIM or eSIM
| eSIM | Local SIM | |
|---|---|---|
| Where you get it | In the app, before you fly | At a carrier shop after arrivals |
| Ready when you land | Yes, if installed before the flight | After you have bought and set it up |
| Phone number | Data only, no number | Depends on the pack, see the carrier page |
| Plans and prices | Shown live below, by data size and days | On the carrier or airport page |
Local SIM details change. Confirm them with the carrier or the airport.
Set it up before you fly
- Check that your phone supports eSIM and is not locked: eSIM compatible phones.
- Pick a plan for your destination below.
- Payment is taken once the eSIM is ready.
- Install it at home over Wi-Fi: tap Install in the app or scan the QR code.
- After landing, switch on data roaming for the eSIM line.
- Most plans start when your phone first connects there.
Prefer a daily allowance? 1 GB per day · 7 days for €9.49: full speed up to 1 GB a day, then 1 Mbps until the next day.
Picked like in our shop: the cheapest plan with about 0.7 GB a day. Live prices for Australia.
Questions and answers
Melbourne: can tourists buy a local SIM card?
Yes. Visitors can buy a local SIM from Vodafone. An eSIM set up at home is the alternative if you want data the moment you land.
Can I buy a SIM card at Melbourne airport?
Yes. Look for China Welcome Centre at the airport, or skip the search and install an eSIM at home before you fly.
Melbourne: tourist SIM or eSIM, which is better?
A tourist SIM suits you if you want a local plan or number. An eSIM suits you if you want data the moment you land, without a counter visit.
Australia: how much data does a week need?
About 5 GB suit a typical week of maps, messages and rides. How much data do I need helps you pick a size.
Does the eSIM come with a phone number?
No. Plans are data only. Keep your own SIM for calls and texts, and use messaging apps over data.
Updated 24 Oct 2026 · checked against our live catalogue
How we check our data · Prices and plans come live from our catalogue; facts come from official sources, listed where we use them.
Sources: City of Melbourne: travel essentials · Melbourne Airport: Wi-Fi · Melbourne Airport: China Welcome Centre
