Mobile phone while in Oz?

[elportodelgato]

Hi there, I wondered if anyone could advise me the best way to get a mobile phone for use only in Oz? We go over for 6 weeks this summer and just want a basic handset so we can stay in touch with relatives over there and also as an emergency contact for people back in the UK. I assume taking our iPhones over there will be super-pricey? Has anyone done this before? Thanks!

I was in oz last year and our phones on the UK Three network did not incur international charges! So it was exactly the same as using your phone here. It was like that in Singapore too.

Are your phones still in contract? If not, or if you have an old unlocked phone, the cheapest and easiest will be to get a PAYG sim from Telstra, Vodafone or Optus when you arrive.

If not, Telstra do some decent cheap PAYG phones but you'll pay more than you would for just a sim.

Just buy a SIM card when you get here. I'd recommend Telstra as they have the best coverage. All phone companies are evil but at least I get reception with them.

Thanks for the replies this is super helpful. Now to dig out an old handset from somewhere...

Second three, just get a payg sim and use your iphone.

Mobile phone calls seemed so much more expensive than UK - I had a Telstra sim and it didn't last long then someone recommended me a Lebara one. (Both purchased in Oz) and the Lebara was much cheaper.

Lebara are cheaper and coverage should be OK in the cities. If you are travelling outside the cities though, telstra is probably your best bet. I've had dodgy coverage with optus in the heart of Sydney and Melbourne recently.