Need a real Australian IP address that works for streaming, banking, or just staying secure on public Wi‑Fi? I tested NordVPN 248 physical servers across five Australian cities – here’s exactly what works, what doesn’t, and which servers are worth favoriting.
No fluff, just real usage, tested from a clean desktop setup.
248 Physical Servers in 5 Australian Cities
Let’s start with the basics. As of early 2026, NordVPN offers 248 physical servers in Australia, and importantly, these are real, geo-located servers — not virtual reroutes.
You can pick specific cities:
- Sydney
- Melbourne
- Brisbane
- Perth
- Adelaide
That’s a solid spread for both east and west coasts. And yes — these are selectable directly in the NordVPN app (macOS and Windows), no need to dig into custom configs.
Performance Tests (Mac Desktop, iPhone Hotspot, LTE)
I ran NordVPN using the NordLynx protocol (their implementation of WireGuard), which usually gives the best speeds with the lowest latency.
Here are the results from different network setups:
| Connection | Server | Ping | Download | Upload |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiber (1 Gbps) | Sydney | 19 ms | 678 Mbps | 310 Mbps |
| 5G Hotspot (iPhone) | Melbourne | 25 ms | 104 Mbps | 35 Mbps |
| LTE (Telstra SIM) | Brisbane | 32 ms | 81 Mbps | 19 Mbps |
Not bad at all. Even on LTE, the Brisbane server handled Netflix AU and Stan streaming in HD without buffering.
🧠 Tip: Sydney and Melbourne servers tend to perform best. If one works well for you, mark it as a favorite and reuse it consistently.
Streaming: Works with All Major Australian Platforms
Most people use a VPN for streaming, and here’s the good news — NordVPN worked perfectly with all the major Australian platforms:
| Service | Result |
|---|---|
| Netflix Australia | No errors, full AU catalog |
| Stan | Worked without detection |
| 10Play / 9Now / 7plus | Fast loading, smooth playback |
| ABC iview | Live and on-demand |
| Kayo Sports | Streaming AFL and NRL with no lag |
| Foxtel Now | Verified on Sydney and Perth servers |
📌 No proxy errors, no buffering, and no constant reconnecting. This includes trickier services like Kayo and Foxtel, which are known to block weak VPNs.
Banking & Government Services? All Green
Some Aussie banks and public portals are extremely picky with IP detection. I tested the following while connected to NordVPN Australian servers (Sydney and Brisbane):
- Commonwealth Bank (commbank.com.au) – Logged in successfully
- National Australia Bank (nab.com.au) – Worked fine
- myGov & Centrelink – No warning messages
- ATO (Australian Taxation Office) – Loaded normally
- Amazon.com.au / Google.com.au – Fully localized results
🛡️ No security warnings, no forced 2FA resets, no errors. Your IP and DNS appear fully Australian.
Remote Work & Digital Tools
Need an Australian IP for SEO tools, PPC testing, or remote access software?
Tested OK with:
- Google Ads preview tools
- Facebook Business accounts
- Local SERP checkers
- Remote tools like AnyDesk / RDP
- Shopify and WooCommerce logins with localized IP
NordVPN’s Australian IPs were clean, residential, and didn’t trigger CAPTCHAs or rate limits.
NordVPN vs. Surfshark vs. ExpressVPN (Australia)
| Feature | NordVPN 🇦🇺 | Surfshark | ExpressVPN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real AU Servers | ✅ 5 cities | ✅ 5 cities | ✅ 6 cities |
| Best Streaming Compatibility | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Fastest Server Speeds | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Obfuscated Servers | ✅ Yes | ✅ Camouflage mode | ✅ Always-on |
| Best Price | 💲💲💲 | 💲💲 | 💲💲💲💲 |
NordVPN simply offers more locations, better speeds, and more reliable access to trickier platforms like Foxtel and Kayo. Surfshark is cheaper, but less consistent. ExpressVPN is stable, but expensive and doesn’t let you choose from as many cities.
Verdict: Is NordVPN Good for Australia in 2026?
If you’re looking for a real Australian IP that just works — for streaming, banking, or daily browsing NordVPN is absolutely worth it.
- 248 physical servers in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney
- Works perfectly with Netflix AU, Kayo, 9Now, Stan, ABC, Foxtel
- No issues with CommBank, NAB, ATO, myGov
- Speeds are excellent, even on 5G or mobile data
- Ideal for travelers, expats, remote workers, and privacy-conscious users
Whether you’re overseas missing Aussie content, or just want safer public Wi‑Fi in Melbourne — this is a rock-solid pick.
🔒 Try NordVPN risk-free with their 30-day money-back guarantee
FAQ
Does NordVPN give me a real Australian IP address?
Yes — NordVPN offers 248 real, physical servers across five Australian cities: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide. When you connect, you’re actually routed through servers located in Australia — not some virtual location that could be flagged or blocked.
Can I use NordVPN to watch Netflix AU, Stan, or Kayo Sports?
Absolutely. During testing, all major Australian streaming platforms worked flawlessly with NordVPN. That includes Netflix AU, Stan, ABC iview, Kayo Sports, 10Play, and Foxtel Now — no buffering, no proxy errors, no need to switch servers.
Will NordVPN work with my Australian bank or myGov account?
Yes — I tested services like Commonwealth Bank, NAB, myGov, and even the ATO portal while connected to NordVPN’s Australian servers. Login worked without any security alerts, forced logouts, or two-factor errors. IP and DNS showed up as fully local.
How do I choose the best Australian server in the app?
Easy — NordVPN’s desktop and mobile apps let you manually select the city you want (e.g. Sydney or Perth). For the best performance, I recommend starting with Sydney or Melbourne, especially if you’re streaming or working remotely. Once you find a stable one, mark it as a favorite.
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