Where to find free Wi-Fi wireless internet in Australian airports

By danwarne, August 31 2011

Sydney Airport charges through the nose for parking, but it's top of the list for when it comes to free Wi-Fi. In fact, it's the only major Australian airport to offer every passenger at T1/T2 full internet access when they connect with a smartphone, laptop or tablet.

That's a pretty sad state of affairs for Australia's two million domestic business travellers.

Adelaide and Darwin Airports also offer free wireless internet but there's a catch: most travellers will be restricted to browsing the web. Apps for email, Skype, Twitter and so on are blocked from use.

Australian Business Traveller compiled this list of which Australian airports provide free wireless internet, and which are yet to get on board.

Make sure you don't connect to any "free wireless internet" hotspots though -- they're bogus.

And if you have an iPhone, you might not realise that you already have a portable hotspot in your pocket -- the iPhone can take the 3G internet signal and turn it into a Wi-Fi hotspot for your laptop or iPad (here's how to do it). Many phones that run on Google Android can also do the same thing.

If you're regularly travelling through many Australian airports it's probably worth investing in a low-cost pocket 3G/Wi-Fi hotspot. We recently looked at the best ones.

Major Australian airports with free Wi-Fi

Free wireless internet at Sydney Airport

Sydney Airport has free Wi-Fi in the international terminal (T1) as well as the domestic T2 terminal used by Virgin Australia, Jetstar, and other smaller airline flights, as well as some Qantas domestic flights. Watch for the wireless network name "sydney airport free wifi".

Sadly, there's no free Wi-Fi in Sydney's Qantas-controlled T3 domestic terminal. Passengers in this terminal can buy access to Wi-Fi for $5 per hour.

Sydney Airport also cautions that although free Wi-Fi is present in most public areas in the international terminal (T1), it's not available once you pass through customs -- which means you won't be able to get it at gate-lounges while you wait for your flight to board.

Free wireless internet at Adelaide Airport

Adelaide Airport has free Wi-Fi but most travellers will be limited to using the web. However, if you're a customer of the ISP Internode you can log onto the airport's hotspot with your Internode ID for full Internet access using any software on your smartphone, tablet or laptop.

Look for the wireless network name "Internode".

Coverage is described as: "excellent at all gates and cafes. Good coverage within airline lounges."

Free wireless internet at Darwin Airport

Darwin Airport has free Wi-Fi but most travellers will be limited to using the web. However, if you're a customer of the ISP Internode you can log onto the airport's hotspot with your Internode ID for full Internet access using any software on your smartphone, tablet or laptop.

Look for the wireless network name "Internode".

Coverage is described as: "good in the domestic and international departures areas on the first floor."

Major airports without free Wi-Fi

Wireless internet at Melbourne Airport

There's a Wi-Fi network in most public areas and gate lounges inside Terminals 2, 3 and 4 of Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport but it's pay-as-you-go.

Passengers in the Qantas terminal can buy access to Wi-Fi for $5 per hour.

Wireless internet at Brisbane Airport

Brisbane Airport doesn't officially have free Wi-Fi, but some passengers have noted that in the domestic terminal, you can get access to the Virgin Lounge's free Wi-Fi if you're near the lounge entrance at gate 41.

Passengers in the Qantas terminal can buy access to Wi-Fi for $5 per hour.

There's also free Wi-Fi available on the Air Train station platforms.

Wireless internet at Perth Airport

There's currently no free Wi-Fi at Perth Airport, however, free internet kiosks are available at the International Terminal (T1) and Domestic Terminal 3 (servicing Virgin Australia, Skywest, Strategic and Alliance domestic flights). There are seven kiosks in total, providing 21 computers for the public to use.

Otherwise, the airport provides pay-as-you-go Wi-Fi access in the international terminal (T1) and non-Qantas domestic (T3). Docomo is the service provider and the minimum charge is $13.20 for two hours.

However, passengers in the Qantas terminal can buy access to Wi-Fi for $5 per hour.