Published on and written by Cyril Jarnias
Moving to or traveling in Tasmania means gaining a slice of paradise: clean air, omnipresent nature, a calmer pace of life. But it almost always also means moving away from family and friends. When your loved ones are in Paris, Montreal, Casablanca, or Hanoi, a postcard is no longer enough. You have to deal with time zones, the cost of communication, network quality… and sometimes the grandmother who has neither a smartphone nor Wi-Fi.
Based on an analysis of hundreds of Australian mobile plans and studies on long-distance communication, this guide offers concrete, economical solutions for staying connected with loved ones from Tasmania, while preserving your digital well-being.
Understanding the Playing Field: Networks, Time Zones, and Habits
Living or traveling in Tasmania means being fully integrated into the Australian telecommunications system. The three major networks remain the same: Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone, along with a myriad of small virtual operators (MVNOs) that lease these networks and drive prices down.
Coverage and Quality: Why Network Choice Matters More Than You Think
If you mostly stay in Hobart, Launceston, or along the coasts, you’ll generally have plenty of choice. But as soon as you venture into less populated areas – which happens quickly in Tasmania – the question of coverage becomes central for your Sunday video calls.
One essential point emerges from comparisons of Australian mobile plans: the Telstra network covers 99.7% of the population and spans approximately 3 million square kilometers, about one million square kilometers more than its competitors. This is, very concretely, the best safety net if you like to hike or go on road trips while keeping up regular calls with your loved ones.
We can summarize it like this:
| Main Network | Main Strength | Typical Limitation for an Expat/Traveler |
|---|---|---|
| Telstra | Largest national and “outback” coverage, 5G covering ~85% of Australians | Plans are often more expensive |
| Optus | Excellent coverage in metropolitan and regional areas | Slightly less robust in very remote areas |
| Vodafone | Very good coverage in cities and coastal areas | Much less suitable for very isolated regions |
Many MVNOs (amaysim, Boost Mobile, ALDI Mobile, TPG, etc.) use these networks at discounted prices. For someone based in Tasmania, a Telstra-powered MVNO (Boost, ALDI, Tangerine, or EZEE Mobile, for example) often offers a good compromise between budget and the ability to make a video call by the side of a country road.
Time Zones: The Real Obstacle Isn’t Distance, but Time
Studies on family communication across time zones are clear: what really complicates exchanges isn’t so much geography as the time difference and how it overlaps with everyone’s schedules.
Researchers who interviewed families separated by 3 to 12 hours of time difference found that:
Although families prefer live exchanges (voice or video) for their warmth and authenticity, the time difference, perceived as a major challenge, complicates finding common windows of availability.
Interesting particularity: a 12-hour difference can paradoxically be easier to manage than an 8-hour one, because one person’s mornings correspond to the other’s evenings, potentially creating two “comfortable” windows per day. Conversely, with an 8-hour gap, one person is often at work when the other is sleeping.
The families interviewed almost never engage in formal negotiation of their communication schedules. They rely more on what researchers call “flexible routines”: informal slots, for example “Sunday morning for us, Sunday evening for them,” known to all without any shared calendar showing it.
For a French person who has moved to Tasmania, this often translates to: a culture shock, a different lifestyle, breathtaking landscapes, and a welcoming community.
| Toward Europe (from Australia’s East Coast) | Recommended Windows for Calling |
|---|---|
| From Tasmania to Europe | 6–8 a.m. or 5–10 p.m. |
| From Europe to Australia | 7 a.m.–12 p.m. or 9–11 p.m. Europe time |
You can immediately see the importance of ritualizing calls: a fixed weekly slot, put in a shared calendar, becomes a backbone that prevents weeks from going by without talking “because time flies.”
Choosing a Mobile Plan Suited for Calls Abroad
Staying reachable and making regular international calls from Tasmania means choosing your plan with a bit more nuance than just “more data for less money.” The good news: a recent large-scale comparison scrutinized 194 plans from 40 Australian providers, with a precise focus on international calls.
Prepaid or Post‑Paid: Which to Prioritize When Living Far from Loved Ones?
There are two main families of plans:
– Prepaid offers, topped up for a given period (28 to 365 days), with no commitment. Ideal for keeping control of your budget, but watch out for 28-day top-ups that ultimately have you paying 13 times a year.
– Post‑paid offers (with a monthly bill), often more attractive in terms of “price per GB,” sometimes with small perks (shared data, discounts on fixed internet, etc.), but sometimes requiring automatic payment or a contract.
For someone who needs to call abroad frequently, the key criterion quickly becomes: how many international calls or minutes are included, to which countries, and at what price beyond the quota.
A basic rule emerges from the analyses: clarity in communication is essential to avoid misunderstandings and ensure mutual understanding.
If you spend more than an hour per month on calls abroad, it is more economical to opt for a plan that includes international minutes or a dedicated pack. Beyond two hours monthly, an “internationally oriented” plan with minutes, or even unlimited calls to many countries, becomes recommended.
Some Concrete Examples of Useful Plans for Staying Connected
Several providers offer plans calibrated for international calls. Without getting into all the promotional details (which change), certain profiles deserve mention, as they illustrate well what you can get to maintain regular contact from Tasmania.
| Plan (example) | Typical Base Price | Approx. Monthly Data | Key International Inclusions | Network Used |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| amaysim 32GB | Around A$30/28 days | 32 GB | Unlimited calls/SMS to 28 countries (Canada, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Singapore, NZ, Japan, UK, USA, etc.) | Optus |
| EZEE Mobile (≤ A$30) | < A$30/month | Variable | Unlimited calls/SMS to 15 countries (Bangladesh, Canada, Ireland, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, etc.) | Telstra (wholesale) |
| TPG Medium 50 GB | ~A$35/month (after promo) | 50 GB | Unlimited calls/SMS to 31 countries (Italy, China, Germany, UK, USA, Mexico, NZ, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, etc.) | Vodafone |
| Tangerine 75 GB 5G | ~A$42/month (after promo) | 75 GB | Unlimited calls to 15 countries | Telstra (wholesale) |
| Dodo (studied offer) | ~A$40/month | Variable | A$400 international credit | Optus |
| Boost Mobile 365 days (SIM A$300) | A$250–300/year | 240–290 GB/year | Unlimited calls to 20 countries + 3600 minutes to 30 others + 3600 SMS worldwide | Telstra |
The case of Boost on the Telstra network is emblematic for someone settling in Tasmania with a real need for international calls: by paying a single amount for 12 months, you get both very good coverage, a large volume of data, and a very generous bundle of included countries (unlimited calls to 20 destinations, several thousand minutes to 30 others).
Alongside these “flagship” offers, many providers include international minutes in a more modest, but sometimes sufficient, way:
| Provider | Typical Form of International Inclusion |
|---|---|
| ALDI Mobile | Unlimited calls/SMS to 20 countries + up to 600 minutes and 300 SMS to 30 additional countries |
| Lebara | Unlimited calls to 26, 35, 50, or 60 countries depending on plan level, plus a small credit (A$3–10) for other destinations |
| Optus post‑paid | Standard unlimited calls/SMS to 35 selected countries |
| Telstra | 30 international minutes + unlimited SMS abroad on some plans, optional call packs by zones (1, 2, 3) |
| Vodafone post‑paid | Unlimited calls to “Zone 1” countries + 300 minutes to “Zone 2” countries |
The important thing, for someone in Tasmania, is to check precisely two things:
Verify that your key destination countries (e.g., France, Belgium, Morocco, Vietnam, United Kingdom) are included in the unlimited call plans or international credit. Also note the potential difference in rates between calls to mobiles and landlines, a crucial point if you regularly contact loved ones on a landline.
Realistic Monthly Budget for Staying Connected
Plan comparisons in Australia paint a sort of price scale:
– On a very small budget, you can find options around A$10–15 per month (e.g., amaysim 10 GB for A$10, TPG 12 GB for A$10 for the first six months, Lebara 4 GB for A$14.90), but with limited international inclusions.
– The heart of the market sits around A$30–40 per month for 30–50 GB, often with a certain level of international calls included.
– Generous annual prepaid offers (like Boost) run around A$250–350 for the year, equivalent to a little over A$20–30/month.
For someone who calls their family abroad a lot, aiming for this market sweet spot (A$30–40/month) with an MVNO well-equipped for international calls is often more effective than saving a few dollars on a mini‑plan and making up for it with out-of-plan charges.
Using Internet Apps to Call (Almost) for Free
Internet-based calls have become the backbone of long-distance family life: WhatsApp, FaceTime, Messenger, Zoom, Google Meet, etc. Research shows these tools have become so commonplace that scattered families use them daily without even thinking about it.
Voice, Video, and Data Consumption: What It Really Represents
On a standard mobile plan, an internet audio call uses surprisingly little data. A useful reference figure: a WhatsApp voice call uses about 1 MB per minute. In other words, even with 10 GB per month, you can chat for dozens of hours without emptying your quota.
Video, however, climbs much faster, especially if you’re on 4G or 5G:
– A medium-quality video call can reach several hundred MB per hour.
– Several long conversations per week can, by the end of the month, eat up a significant portion of your data, especially if you also use video streaming, music, etc.
For heavy, long-duration video calls, it is advisable to use a Wi‑Fi connection. In Tasmania, free Wi‑Fi hotspots are available in Hobart and Launceston, among other Australian cities. Furthermore, a fixed internet connection at home offers better comfort for long conversations, especially with family.
Which Tool for Which Family Audience?
Literature on communication tools shows there isn’t one “best” service, but rather platforms more or less suited to your family circle’s composition.
We can draw up a table of typical usage:
| Profile of Your Loved Ones | Most Practical App(s) from Tasmania |
|---|---|
| Family very scattered, multi‑platform | WhatsApp (2 billion users), Facebook Messenger, Google Meet, Zoom |
| Very “Apple” family | FaceTime (pre-installed on iPhone, iPad, Mac), with possibility for non‑Apple users to join via web link |
| Gamer friends, teenagers | Discord (voice/video channels, screen sharing), Houseparty (more for younger people) |
| Family in China | WeChat, QQ Mobile (WhatsApp calls are restricted there) |
| Family in Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Taiwan | LINE, very dominant in these countries |
| Grandparents uncomfortable with apps | Solutions like FaceCall (focused on simplicity, personalized video IDs) or dedicated devices like Facebook Portal (where sold) |
Without forgetting options like Signal for those who prioritize privacy, or Telegram for very large family groups.
When Internet Isn’t Enough: Apps for Calling Landlines
We often forget this since we live with smartphones, but nearly half of the world’s population lacks reliable internet access. If your loved ones are in an underserved region, services like Talk360, Yolla, Rebtel, or KeepCalling.com step in.
Their principle is always the same:
– You install an app, purchase credit in your local currency (with a wide choice of payment methods);
– You dial the international number normally from the app;
– The recipient receives a “real” call on their mobile or landline, without needing to be connected or install anything.
Rates vary by country, but some references give an idea: Google Voice charges around US$0.01/minute to Australian landlines and US$0.02/minute to mobiles; some services like Rebtel offer unlimited call options to a given country for around twenty dollars a month.
For an expat or working holiday maker in Tasmania, these solutions are invaluable for staying in daily contact with an elderly parent or a loved one who hasn’t switched to a smartphone.
Optimizing Call Schedules: Routines, Tools, and Best Practices
The study by Cao and colleagues on families separated by several time zones provides a key lesson: those who manage best don’t leave their calls to chance. They establish routines, know the rhythm of the other’s life, and sometimes use a few simple tools to visualize time differences.
Establishing “Flexible Routines” Rather Than Rigid Appointments
The families interviewed in this study communicate anywhere from daily to every two weeks. In almost all cases:
– Calls happen during informal windows, known to all (for example, Sunday afternoon for the parents, Sunday morning for the child abroad).
– These time slots rely on a deep understanding of each other’s work schedules, sleep patterns, and activities.
– People avoid disrupting their own routines for a call as much as possible, except for special events (New Year’s Eve, big news, etc.).
“We know Mom is free Saturday morning, and for us it’s Saturday evening; we often call during that window, even if the exact time varies.”
In real life
For couples or parents/children very close emotionally, regularity seems to play a decisive role. Researchers recommend setting aside time for organization:
– Discuss together the desired frequency (weekly, bi‑weekly, more or less).
– Define preferred days and time slots.
– Mention the average call duration (10 minutes? an hour?).
– Specify the channels (video for long discussions, written messages for quick updates).
Useful Tools for Not Getting the Time Wrong
Even if many families develop an “instinct” for the other’s time zone, a few simple tools make life easier, especially for grandparents or loved ones less comfortable with technology:
To facilitate coordination across time zones, several solutions exist: websites like WorldTimeBuddy or Dateful, which display several time zones side by side to quickly identify compatible slots; calendar apps, such as Google Calendar, which automatically convert an event’s time to each participant’s zone; and simpler methods like setting multiple clocks on your computer or symbolically displaying several clock faces on a wall to show the time in different important places (like ‘home’ or ‘at grandma’s’).
It’s striking to see that, in the study, everyone knew exactly the time difference with their loved ones, but that conversion remained difficult for some, particularly elderly people. A small paper memo near the phone or a dedicated wall clock may seem trivial, but they prevent many calls in the middle of the night.
Managing Unforeseen Events Without Guilt
The other striking observation from researchers is that schedule conflicts are inevitable. When one person’s schedule changes (new job, exams, travel), they usually warn the other in advance via message, email, or during a previous call. And if the person isn’t available at the usual time, the conversation is simply postponed to the next slot, without drama.
Again, a small family WhatsApp group plays a very practical role: you can slip in a “tonight I might be late, shall we talk tomorrow morning instead?” without having to dial the number to say… you won’t be able to talk.
Not Relying Solely on Video: Photos, Writing, and Private Social Networks
Video calls are powerful, but they can’t do everything. Research shows that asynchronous communication – messages, photos, letters – retains an essential place, especially for filling the silences between two big conversations.
Sharing Photos and Life Moments Privately
While Facebook or Instagram remain classic ways to show your life from afar, many families are uncomfortable with the idea of exposing children and intimate moments on public platforms. Hence the rise of apps focused on the private sharing of photos and videos.
For example: different ways of expressing emotions.
– “Private circle” apps like PhotoCircle or Cluster, highly rated, which allow you to create a private family album where everyone adds their snapshots.
– Family journals like Tinybeans, initially focused on sharing childhood moments in a secure setting.
– Services like 23snaps or Notabli, which mix photos, short videos, kids’ quotes, and audio notes, accessible only to invited guests.
These platforms centralize all photos in a single, structured space, preventing them from being scattered across emails, SMS, different messaging apps, and hard drives. They also offer simplified access for less connected loved ones, who can view albums via a simple web link without having to install a complex app.
| Private Tool | Typical Use for a Scattered Family |
|---|---|
| PhotoCircle, Cluster | Private photo/video albums, multiple contributors |
| Tinybeans | Baby/family journal, day-to-day tracking |
| Dropbox/Google Drive | Shared folders for high‑definition photos, documents, long videos |
| Event services (GUESTPIX, Kululu…) | Sharing photos from a wedding, family reunion, grandparents’ trip |
The key point is to preserve quality (avoid aggressive compression from some messaging apps) and to maintain control over privacy.
The Discreet Strength of Letters and Parcels
In the age of 4K video, researchers remind us how much paper letters continue to play a unique role. A handwritten letter, by its tangible, slow, and reflective nature, remains a powerful gesture: it materializes the time spent writing, can be reread, and is kept like a small treasure in a drawer.
For someone expatriated in Tasmania, alternating emails and real letters gives a different density to the relationship: a detailed account of your hikes in national parks, a description of local wildlife, some impressions of life in Hobart… are savored differently on paper.
Australia Post is the main service for sending letters and parcels in Australia.
– Economical options by sea (International Economy Sea Mail), slow but cheaper for large parcels.
– Faster air services, from a few days to over two weeks depending on the destination.
– Optional tracking, signatures, insurance, particularly useful for valuable gifts.
For major occasions, many specialists recommend using Australian gift websites, which deliver directly to your loved ones’ country: this avoids customs delays, restrictions on certain products (food, alcohol, fragile items), and bad surprises upon arrival. But for a small parcel full of symbols – a travel journal, a printed photo album of your first months in Tasmania – traditional mail remains irreplaceable.
Social Networks: Benefits, Risks, and Reasoned Use
The numbers are telling: nearly half of social media users cite “keeping in touch with family and friends” as their main reason for being online. Teenagers surveyed in a recent study are more than 80% to say they feel more connected to their friends thanks to these platforms.
However, the same research points to several negative effects.
– Excessive use, especially passive browsing and social comparison, is associated with more depressive symptoms and anxiety.
– In the family sphere, “phubbing” – ignoring someone by looking at your phone – undermines relationship quality and fuels conflict.
– Studies on Instagram show a link between intensive use and decreased marital satisfaction, with more arguments related to time spent online.
For someone in Tasmania, the solution isn’t to give up social networks entirely – often essential for following cousins, childhood friends, news from home – but to establish clear rules:
– Screen‑free zones or times (meals, couple evenings, hikes) where you fully dedicate yourself to the people present.
– Prioritizing private family groups (on Facebook, WhatsApp, Confinity, or Kinscape) for the most personal content.
– Limited, or even disabled, notifications to avoid being constantly pulled away from the moment.
Staying in touch isn’t just about “catching up.” Many scattered families build genuine long‑distance rituals: game nights, simultaneous watch parties, online birthdays. These practices create a sense of event, of belonging to the same circle, despite the miles and oceans.
Virtual Game Nights: A Powerful Lever to Strengthen Bonds
Modern video platforms (Zoom, Google Meet, Skype, Microsoft Teams, Discord, WhatsApp video, FaceTime) easily allow several family members to gather for a fun evening. Studies on these practices show several positive effects:
– Strengthening bonds and sense of closeness.
– Improved communication and teamwork, even across generations.
– Creation of shared memories, which become genuine traditions over the months.
For families scattered across multiple continents, like between Tasmania, Canada, and Europe, it is essential to rely on precise logistical tricks to maintain the connection and organize exchanges.
– Choose a weekend evening (Friday or Saturday), easier for everyone.
– Adapt the time if there are children, favoring earlier in the evening.
– Use a quick poll (via a WhatsApp group or a tool like Doodle) to set a date.
Once logistics are sorted, the choice of games is very wide: Online Pictionary, guessing games (like “Heads Up”), family quizzes, board games transposed into digital versions (Catan, Ticket to Ride, Scrabble, Codenames), all the way to virtual escape games.
For parents geographically separated from their children, the essence isn’t the specific activity (like a game) but the atmosphere created. Recurring appointments, even monthly, can become as structuring and meaningful as an actual family meal.
Sharing Experiences: Movies, Music, Cooking
Other simpler rituals complement calls well:
– “Distance movie” nights synchronized via an extension like Teleparty, which allows watching the same film at the same time on Netflix, Disney+, etc. while chatting in a chat window.
– Cooking workshops: you teach your parents how to prepare a typically Tasmanian recipe via video call, or vice versa, you recreate a family recipe together from your Hobart kitchen.
– Virtual tastings (wine, tea, chocolate) where everyone gets similar products and comments on them live.
These moments count even more because studies show the natural tendency of families in different time zones to limit their exchanges to “news bulletins” (health updates, work, weather). Introducing shared activities helps recreate the carefree nature of moments once lived in person.
Traveling, Moving, but Staying Reachable: Roaming and Security
Leaving Tasmania for a trip abroad, or going back “home” for a few weeks, poses a new puzzle: how to stay reachable without blowing your bill?
International Roaming: What Australian Providers Offer
The major Australian players have developed fairly clear roaming offers:
| Provider | Typical International Roaming Offer |
|---|---|
| Vodafone | A$5/day in over 100 countries, using your plan’s usual inclusions; capped at 90 days per calendar year; additional data charged at A$5/GB |
| Telstra | “International Day Pass” at A$10/day for unlimited calls/SMS + 2 GB/day in zones 1 and 2; A$5/day in some Pacific countries; over 80 destinations covered |
| Optus | A$5/day for unlimited calls/SMS + 5 GB/day in over 100 zone 1 destinations; 7‑day pass for A$35/35 GB |
For a short stay in Europe or Asia, these options are very convenient for continuing to use your Australian number, thus staying easily reachable from Tasmania and elsewhere. For long stays, however, combining a local SIM abroad with internet apps (WhatsApp, etc.) often remains more economical.
Securing Your Connection: VPN and Wi‑Fi
General recommendations for travelers also apply to a Tasmanian on the move:
Use a VPN when connected to a public Wi‑Fi network to encrypt and protect your exchanges. This precaution is particularly important for family communications via messaging apps and sending sensitive documents. Always prioritize secure networks (with a password) and avoid unprotected Wi‑Fi access, especially for any activity related to your bank accounts or personal data.
This won’t change the quality of your conversations with your loved ones, but reduces the risk of these communication channels being exploited for malicious purposes.
Building Regular Presence, Not Digital Dependency
Staying in touch with loved ones from Tasmania isn’t just about stacking up tools. Research in psychology and sociology reminds us of the challenge of balance: being present, without being constantly sucked into the screen.
Some guiding principles emerge from studies on technology use in families:
Prioritize quality exchanges: one attentive weekly hour‑long call is more effective than many quick calls. Maintain closeness through small regular gestures like sending a photo, a voice message, or a postcard. Establish clear boundaries, like managing screen time and creating phone‑free rituals, to protect your local life while preserving dedicated space for your long‑distance relationships.
Finally, an idea runs through almost all accounts of scattered families: the bond isn’t measured by the number of notifications, but by consistency over time. A parent who calls every Sunday morning, a grandchild who sends a small printed photo album of their Tasmanian adventures every month, a sibling who suggests an online game night every first Saturday of the month… weave, little by little, a strong network, capable of absorbing geographical separations, moves, and life changes.
From Hobart to Paris, from Launceston to Casablanca, the technologies available today make these connections infinitely easier to maintain than thirty years ago. But you still have to tame them, choose the right tools, and, above all, give them meaning.
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Cyril Jarnias is an independent expert in international wealth management with over 20 years of experience. As an expatriate himself, he is dedicated to helping individuals and business leaders build, protect, and pass on their wealth with complete peace of mind.
On his website, cyriljarnias.com, he shares his expertise on international real estate, offshore company formation, and expatriation.
Thanks to his expertise, he offers sound advice to optimize his clients' wealth management. Cyril Jarnias is also recognized for his appearances in many prestigious media outlets such as BFM Business, les Français de l’étranger, Le Figaro, Les Echos, and Mieux vivre votre argent, where he shares his knowledge and know-how in wealth management.
