If you have traveled out of Australia for whatever reason or live outside it, there are many websites and apps you won’t be able to access. That includes sports streaming services such as Kayo Sports, banking apps like ANZ Australia, and much more. The reason behind this all is geo-restriction. However, obtaining an Australian IP address will help you bypass these constraints.
In this guide, I’ll show you how to get an Australian IP address from anywhere. While there are multiple methods to do so, the simplest way to achieve it is through a Virtual Private Network (VPN). When you connect to a server in Australia, it will automatically change your IP address to Australian. Let’s cover the details.
The quick guide on getting an Australian IP address
- Choose a reliable VPN. Multiple good Australia VPNs exist today, as this article features a little later below. But ExpressVPN is my #1 recommendation, courtesy of its fast speeds, stealthy security, and incredible unblocking capabilities.
- Pick your preferred subscription and register.
- Install the appropriate app on your device.
- Connect to an Australian server.
That’s it, you now have an Australian IP address.
Test if your IP address has been changed to an Australian one
After installing the VPN on your device and connecting to any server in Australia, it isn’t easy to know whether your IP address has changed successfully. Luckily, you can use our free simple online tool to check where the device’s IP address reads, plus other relevant information.
If the tool shows a different country other than Australia, then the VPN is not working correctly. If so, you can try to connect to another server and rerun the IP checker. On the other hand, you can get in touch with your VPN support for help.
How will a VPN help you get an Australian IP address?
Nowadays, many premium VPN services have a global network with servers distributed worldwide. By connecting to a server, your traffic will be encrypted and routed through the server location before reaching the destination.
This process is known as VPN tunneling. It will make your connection seem to be originating from the VPN server rather than from the device you are using. As a result, your web traffic will bear the server’s IP address and not your device’s. If it is a dependable service like ExpressVPN or NordVPN, your location will be masked completely.
In fact, the sites you visit will see like you are within Australia. That is how you’ll gain access to whichever Australian geo-blocked content and apps you want.
What else can a VPN do?
Besides altering your IP address, there is much more a VPN can do. Below are just a few ways how a VPN can come in handy.
Protect your online security and privacy
Most VPNs employ military-grade encryption to protect your connections. This means third parties such as your ISP, government, or hackers cannot access your information or track your activities. Moreover, some top-rated services such as NordVPN and Surfshark include ad and malware blockers to keep you completely safe.
Once your data is secure, you can access Australian financial sites without fearing or worrying about government surveillance or hackers. What’s more, if you run a business, the Australian IP address will help you explore new markets to expand your business.
Stream anything you want
Popular streaming services such as Netflix restrict their content to specific geographic locations. A VPN will help you to bypass the geo-restrictions and access your favorite movies and TV shows. How? By hiding your IP address, the content provider will think you are browsing from the server location.
Avoid bandwidth throttling
If you notice that your speed drops when accessing certain websites, your ISP might be throttling your bandwidth. This is intentional slowing down of internet service by the provider to regulate network traffic and minimize congestion. A VPN will help by encrypting your traffic, preventing anyone from seeing what you are doing.
Things to look out for when choosing a VPN
Security features
The first thing you should consider in terms of VPN security is encryption. AES 256-bit is standard in the industry, but you can also go with 128-bit encryption. Other security features to consider include kill switch, double VPN, leak protection, malware blocker, etc.
Speed
Speed is another crucial factor to consider when choosing a VPN. Usually, connecting to a server will slow down your speed. Premium VPNs like ExpressVPN and NordVPN use state-of-the-art features and servers to minimize speed loss. This means you will never struggle with buffering or lags, especially when streaming in HD.
Unblocking capabilities
Some VPNs can help you get an Australian IP address but will not unblock all the sites and services you want. One common way streaming sites use to discourage VPN usage is blocking the IP address. So, if the VPN you choose does not have enough IP addresses and doesn’t add new IPs to its pool consistently, chances are your connection will be blocked. Top VPNs update their IP addresses frequently, making it easy to bypass geo-restrictions without getting detected.
Server network
A VPN with an extensive server network will help you access blocked content and apps whenever you want. More importantly, it should have at least one server in Australia so you can change the IP address to Australia.
Best VPNs to get an Australian IP address
1. ExpressVPN
The best Australian IP address generator having servers in 4 Australian cities. The VPN outclasses its competitors with outstanding speeds, remarkable unblocking capability, easy-to-navigate interface, and much more.
3,000+ servers in 94 countries
AES-256-bit encryption
Boasts DNS/IPv6 leak protection
P2P sharing
Network-lock feature
TrustedServer technology
Split tunneling
Live chat support
Allows up to 5 devices simultaneously
30-day money back guarantee
Pros
- Several servers in Australia
- Blazing fast speeds
- Advanced security and privacy features
Cons
- Expensive than market average
Talking about its server network, ExpressVPN has over 3,000 servers in 94 countries spread across 160 locations. In fact, it operates servers in several Australian cities, including Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney. So, if you need an Australian IP outside Australia, this is an excellent choice.
With a massive network like this, it becomes straightforward to access geo-blocked content. ExpressVPN has an outstanding unblocking capability, so you’ll be able to watch movies and TV shows on whatever site you want. Moreover, it offers great speeds and unlimited bandwidth to give you a smooth streaming experience.
The company has thousands of IP addresses that it recycles frequently. So, your connection is unlikely to get blocked.
ExpressVPN employs several security features to protect your connection. First, the AES 256-bit encryption is fortified with AES 256-bit cipher, SHA-512 HMAC authentication, and 4096-bit RSA key. This combination makes it near-impossible to intercept your traffic or steal your data.
Secondly, it has perfect forward secrecy that assigns you a new encryption key every time you start a session. This means that anything you were doing before will not be related to what you’ll be doing presently.
Thirdly, the VPN offers several protocols and will automatically choose the suitable one for your connection. OpenVPN is the default protocol, but it also supports PPTP and L2TP/IPsec. Read our expert research to know more about VPN protocols.
The kill switch is an advanced feature designed to secure your IP address and traffic if the VPN stops working. ExpressVPN calls its Network Lock and is automatically enabled on all the apps except iOS.
Split tunneling is a standout feature that will allow you to choose the traffic to encrypt. For example, you can leave your banking traffic on your regular connection and use a VPN to stream Australian movies and TV shows. Fortunately, adding and removing apps on the encrypted tunnel is super easy.
The VPN also uses TrustedServer technology on its servers. It ensures that the entire network runs on Random Access Memory (RAM). This space is incapable of storing anything, so your data will be completely wiped out after every session.
In terms of privacy, ExpressVPN uses the best measures to maintain your anonymity. For instance, its privacy policy indicates that it doesn’t retain any logs of your connection or activity. ExpressVPN includes online traffic, sites visited, DNS queries, and data content. In fact, these claims have been independently audited by advisory titan PwC and renowned cybersecurity firm Cure3.
The company is headquartered in the British Virgin Islands. This is a privacy-friendly territory and is not a member of the 5/9/14 Eye Alliance.
2. Surfshark
A budget-friendly option to acquire an Australian IP address – thanks to its 90+ servers from 5 Australian cities. It has a polished interface and offers unique privacy features.
3,200+ servers in more than 65 countries
AES-256-bit encryption
P2P servers
MultiHop mode
DNS/IPv6 leak protection
Automatic kill switch
CleanWeb feature
Camouflage Mode
Unlimited simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
Pros
- Multiple servers in Australia
- Excellent speeds
- It does not limit the number of connections
Cons
- P2P servers have poor speeds
Surfshark has recently expanded its network and now has over 3,200 servers in more than 65 countries. It even has servers in 5 Australian locations, including Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, and Melbourne. As a result, you’ll get an Australian IP if you connect to any of the servers.
I tested its ability to bypass geo-restrictions, and it performed really well. Unblocking popular services such as Channel 7, Netflix, Disney, and Kayo Sports was seamless, and I didn’t face any issues. The speeds are fast and consistent, so you’ll be able to stream in high definition.
Surfshark employs watertight security measures to protect your online activities. For instance, it uses AES 256-bit encryption that is impossible to penetrate. This means that your internet service provider, government, hackers, and other third parties cannot access your data or traffic.
There are four VPN protocols you can choose from to secure your connection. IKEv2 is the default protocol, but you also switch to OpenVPN TCP or UDP. I was impressed to find out that Surfshark also offers WireGuard and Shadowsocks protocols. Wireguard is receiving a lot of praises for its ability to improve security without affecting the speeds. On the other hand, Shadowsocks will help you overcome restrictions if you live in a country with high censorship.
The VPN also has an automatic kill switch feature that will protect your traffic if the VPN connection drops unexpectedly. Surfshark has made it easy to access the feature from the base connection screen. Fortunately, it is available on all compatible devices, including the Amazon Fire TV stick.
MultiHop mode (double VPN) is another notable Surfshark feature. It allows you to route your traffic through two servers instead of one to add an extra security layer. Although the feature may slow your speeds slightly, it is a great feature if you are concerned with your privacy.
Is a free VPN any good for an Australian IP address?
Yes. There are some free VPNs that will enable you to get an Australian IP address. However, I advise you not to use them, especially the ones that are entirely free.
This is because they can’t give consistent connections. In addition, they have insufficient encryption to secure your traffic and data. Furthermore, some of them contain malware that can compromise your security and privacy.
Instead, you should go for the free versions of premium VPNs like TunnelBear. Although you will only get 500Mbs per month, it will maintain your security and privacy. The good news is that it has a server in Australia.
How to get an Australian IP address without a VPN
Besides the premium VPNs, you can also use the Tor browser. It is free and open-source and aims to protect people from unwarranted network intrusion and surveillance.
The Tor browser integrates advanced encryption and high-level anonymity standards. It’s mainly used by human rights activists, journalists, and whistleblowers to hide their actions on the internet.
However, Tor is not a great option to stream high-quality videos like Grey’s Anatomy. This is because the speed is stunted as your traffic has to route through several nodes. Nonetheless, you can refer to this WikiHow guide if you still want to get an Australian IP address with Tor.
Alternatively, free proxy sites can also help you get an Australian IP address abroad. However, I advise you not to use them because of the many risks involved. For example, they have weak encryption and mostly run on P2P networks that will expose your connection to hacking and DDoS attacks.
Conclusion
Changing your IP address to an Australian one is not as tough as many think. And you’ve seen that today. With a reliable VPN, you’ll complete the process within a few minutes.
That will allow you to start streaming Australian content regardless of your location. A minute of your time and a quality Australia VPN are all you need to start watching live sports, getting to enjoy your favorite movie or TV shows, or streaming local channels.
FAQs
Most countries worldwide do not restrict VPN usage except for a handful like China, Russia, and North Korea. Therefore, you can choose a reliable VPN to get Australian IP outside Australia. However, remember that a VPN is not a ticket for you to commit illegality. For example, you can still get into trouble if you download copyrighted material or stalk someone online.
You can get an Australian IP anywhere within a few seconds after installing the VPN application on your device. The process may differ with the provider, but essentially it involves connecting to an Australian server. If your connection stops working for whatever reason, you simply switch to another server.
Most of the channels that broadcast the Australian Football League are geo-blocked. Getting an Australian IP address will enable you to bypass the restrictions and watch the matches you want. For example, Channel 7 shows five games per week.
Connecting to any Australian server will give you an Australian IP address regardless of where it is located. Some VPN services, such as NordVPN and Surfshark, have servers in Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, and Perth.
An IP address is just a numerical label that identifies a device that connects to the internet. It does not carry any personal data. However, anyone can use the browsing information associated with it to identify you. Fortunately, the VPNs I have featured in this article use AES 256-bit encryption to secure your traffic from any third-party interference.
