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How to Get an Australian IP Address in 2024: VPNs to Get Down Under

In the mood for some good Aussie football but you’re blocked by websites because you’re not in Australia? An Australian IP can put your pain at ease. Don’t know how to get an Australian IP address? We can help.

Arjun RupareliaSandra Pattison

Written by Arjun Ruparelia (Writer)

Reviewed by Sandra Pattison (Editor)

Last Updated: 2024-02-14T16:55:09+00:00

All our content is written fully by humans; we do not publish AI writing. Learn more here.

Aussies trying to access Australian content from outside their home country need an Australian IP address to bypass geoblocks. However, what if you don’t know how to get an Australian IP address? The good news is, it’s not difficult. You can easily get one with a virtual private network (VPN). 

Key Takeaways:

  • While there are many VPNs with servers in Australia, not all of them are equally capable of bypassing geoblocks or keeping your data safe online.
  • We recommend ExpressVPN because it’s the fastest VPN and offers excellent security. However, if you’re looking for something less expensive, NordVPN and Surfshark are great alternatives.
  • Free VPNs are usually a bad idea because they don’t ensure your security and offer slow connection speeds. However, TunnelBear is a decent VPN that can get you a free Australian IP address.

With an Australian IP address, you can access Netflix Australia or Australian channels like Foxtel and 9Now to watch the Australian Open. The reason is that when you connect with an Australian server and get an Australian IP address, it makes the websites you visit think that you’re physically located in Australia, regardless of where you actually are.

If you’ve never used a VPN, we’ll quickly walk you through the setup process so you can unblock streaming services or access your online bank accounts. Our favorite is ExpressVPN, so that’s the example we’ll be using, but any of our top picks will work.

  • Cloudwards.net updated the article to reflect changes in Australia’s privacy legislation and updates to VPN providers.

  • 11/14/2023

    Updated the article to reflect ExpressVPN’s recent increase of 5 simultaneous connections to 8, as well as its expansion of server presence to 105 countries, previously 94.

Quick Guide: How to Get an Australian IP Address With a VPN

Using a VPN for getting an Australian IP address isn’t difficult. If you’ve never used a VPN before, we’ll walk you through the simple three-step process you need to follow. First, however, you’ll need to sign up with a VPN service provider that has servers in Australia — we recommend ExpressVPN.

  1. Download and Install the VPN

    Once you’ve signed up with a VPN, you’ll need to download and install its app on your device.

    ExpressVPN Compatible Devices
  2. Connect to a Server in Australia

    When you’re trying to get an Australian IP, you’ll need to connect with one of the VPN servers in Australia. Log in on the app and search through the list of servers in your VPN app and connect to a server in Australia.

    australian server expressvpn
  3. Access Geoblocked Content

    Once you’re connected to a VPN server located in Australia, you should be able to access Australian streaming services. Try to access geoblocked content like Netflix Australia and verify that everything is working as it should.

    netflix australia

What Are the Best VPNs With Australian Servers?

When trying to get an Australian IP address, choose a VPN that has servers in Australia. Almost any major VPN will have server locations in Australia, but not all may be able to gain access to Australian websites or Australian TV channels. Ideally, your VPN should provide a good combination of speed and security as well.

  1. ExpressVPN — Lightning-fast connection speeds and unlimited bandwidth
  2. NordVPN — Large server network with excellent security
  3. Surfshark — A low-cost VPN with an easy-to-use interface

This is why you shouldn’t choose a VPN solely based on the fact that a VPN has an Australian server. You should pay attention to the full feature portfolio to understand how well the VPN will perform while streaming or performing data-sensitive tasks like online banking.

Speed

When you’re watching something on one of your favorite streaming sites, and the video suddenly starts buffering, do you feel like throwing your PC out the window? To make sure it doesn’t come to that, you should get a VPN that offers good connection speeds.

In most cases, a VPN connection will at least slightly reduce the speeds. To use Australian IP addresses, you’ll need to connect to an Australian server, which means your data will travel through an intermediary server. Since the data will need to travel a longer distance, your speeds might be reduced. However, using one of our fastest VPNs like ExpressVPN ensures that this reduction is minimal.

Security & Privacy

A VPN that uses strong encryption and a secure protocol ensures that your traffic can’t be intercepted by anyone. This is especially important when you’re using online banking. But those aren’t the only things you should pay attention to. A good VPN also comes with other security features like a kill switch, DNS leak protection and split tunneling.

Privacy is also important when you’re online. Before signing up, make sure that the VPN has a strict no-logs policy.

Streaming Services

Whether you want to binge-watch a sitcom on Australian Netflix or spend an evening watching the Australian football league, a VPN can help. But not all VPNs are equally good at bypassing geoblocks.

With websites like Netflix imposing VPN bans, you’ll need a VPN that can reliably get you access to geoblocked Australian websites. Using one of our best VPNs for streaming will ensure you have the right VPN for streaming Australian content.

The 3 Best VPNs for Getting an Australia IP Address

Almost all major VPNs have server locations in Australia. However, to help you decide which VPN will work for you the best, we’ve narrowed it down to three VPNs that you can rely on to get an Australian IP address when outside Australia.

1. ExpressVPN

australian servers expressvpn
ExpressVPN has servers in four Australian cities.

Pros:

  • Fastest VPN out there
  • Excellent streaming ability
  • No-logs policy

Cons:

  • Expensive
  • Doesn’t offer dedicated IP addresses

ExpressVPN is the best VPN overall. It comes with all the bells and whistles and has servers in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth. Plus, it has a total of 166 server locations worldwide distributed in 105 countries. 

It offers blazing-fast connection speeds, has a strict no-logs policy and all the essential security features like AES-256 encryption and a kill switch. In fact, it’s our most secure VPN

ExpressVPN offers a comprehensive feature portfolio, and it’s priced accordingly. If you’re someone who’s open to paying top dollar for premium features, ExpressVPN is the best VPN out there. If you want to learn more, give our ExpressVPN review a read, or get some first-hand experience by signing up and claiming the 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re not fully satisfied.

2. NordVPN

nordvpn australia servers
NordVPN has one of the largest server networks of any VPN and offers best-in-class security features.

Pros:

  • Massive server network
  • Double-hop & P2P servers
  • Top-notch security

Cons:

  • No on-call support

NordVPN has one of the largest server networks of any VPNs. It has 5,100 servers worldwide, and five server locations in major Australian cities: Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney. NordVPN and ExpressVPN have almost identical feature portfolios, with a few differences. For instance, only NordVPN offers dedicated IPs, but ExpressVPN offers better connection speeds.

You get some top-of-line security features with NordVPN though. It has double-hop servers, which means it uses two VPN servers instead of one to provide an extra layer of security and privacy. 

If you’re looking for a pocket-friendly VPN, NordVPN is a good choice. If you want to get to know NordVPN a little better, we have a thorough NordVPN review where we discuss all its  features in detail. Or, you could take it for a spin using its 30-day money-back guarantee.

3. Surfshark

surfshark australian server
Surfshark is a simply to use VPN that allows unlimited simultaneous connections.

Pros:

  • Pocket-friendly long-term plans
  • Unlimited simultaneous connections
  • Bypasses geoblocks on all major streaming sites

Cons:

  • No free plan

Surfshark offers a lot of the security features you’ll find on ExpressVPN and NordVPN, but at a lower price tag on its extended plans. For instance, it uses the AES-256 encryption along with protocols like OpenVPN, IKEv2 and WireGuard. If you’re using it on an Android or Windows device, the app has an in-app split-tunneling feature. If you’re on a Mac, you can use split tunneling through its browser extension.

However, Surfshark also offers unlimited simultaneous connections, while ExpressVPN and NordVPN only offer eight and six, respectively. If you want to know more about what Surfshark offers, we discuss all of its features in our Surfshark review, or you could give it a try yourself using its 30-day money-back guarantee.

Can I Use a Free VPN to Get an Australian IP Address?

You can use a free VPN to get an Australia IP address. However, free VPNs typically aren’t very secure or reliable, especially if you choose one of the worst free VPNs.

There are a few good free VPNs, though, but not all of them offer Australian servers on their free plan. So, TunnelBear is the best free alternative that has a free server in Australia. Check out our free VPN for Australia guide to find TunnelBear alternatives.

What Are the Dangers of Using VPNs for an Australian IP Address?

Australian residents have access to fast and affordable internet. Freedom House rates Australia’s internet freedom as “free.” However, there have been some key developments in Australia’s internet freedom over the past years. For instance, freshly introduced restrictions on accessing content, changes in laws that affect free online expression and a cyberattack have caused the score to drop from 79 in 2018 to 75 in 2021.

When you’re using an Australian IP address, even if only to watch Australian sports channels or just some good old Netflix, you’ll be subject to the same regulation. If you plan on visiting Australia, be sure to check out our best VPN for Australia guide.

Final Thoughts

When trying to get an Australian IP address, you’ll need a VPN. Australia is home to many VPN servers, so you’ll find plenty of VPNs that have a server in Australia. But not all VPNs are equally good. Look for a good combination of features and the ability to bypass geoblocks — we recommend ExpressVPN

For similar posts, see our guides on how to get Indian IP address, Mexico IP address, French IP address, Malaysia IP address, Chilean IP address or German IP address.

Have you ever used a VPN to get an Australian IP address to access Australian content? If yes, were you able to bypass the geoblocks? How were your connection speeds affected while using the VPN? Let us know in the comments below, and as always, thanks for reading!

FAQ

  • It’s always best to use a premium VPN to ensure security and privacy while you’re surfing the internet. TunnelBear is a decent VPN that has an Australia server that you can connect to for getting a free Australian IP address.

  • You can get a VPN in Australia by paying for a VPN subscription. Choose a good VPN like ExpressVPN, sign up and install the app on your device. You’ll now be able to use the VPN and bypass geoblocks no matter where you are.

  • You can get a foreign IP address using a VPN. Sign up with a VPN service provider, download and install the provider’s app and select a server location based in a foregin country of your choice.

  • You can get a free IP address by using a free VPN. However, free VPNs are usually unreliable and often insecure, though there are a few good ones like Windscribe and TunnelBear.

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