Last Updated on November 10, 2026
You have to admit, there is something particularly frustrating about having to miss a familiar TV channel while you are away from home. You find the programme you want, press play, and instead of a stream you get a message saying it is unavailable in your region. It’s not unusual and happens to all of us, whichever country or place we’re staying in.
So for Aussies travelling then it often happens with 7plus, the free streaming service from Australia’s Seven Network. You may be able to browse its listings but not play live channels or catch-up programmes. It really looks like it’s working until you try and watch something online, The good news is that there is a fairly straightforward way to try accessing it: just connect through an Australian VPN server before opening the site at all.
Why Does a Free TV Service Block Overseas Viewers?
It is not a question of payment. 7plus is free to use, but free does not mean worldwide. Broadcasters license programmes and sports for particular countries, and overseas rights may belong to another company – most programmes are licensed to specific countries – 7PLus has australian rights but they don’t work if you’re in another country. To enforce those agreements, streaming sites check the public IP address of your connection. If your address points overseas, 7plus usually have to refuse playback though it may work for their own shows.
A VPN changes the address visible to the streaming service. Connect to a server in Sydney, for example, and 7plus sees the Australian server’s IP address rather than the one issued by your usual internet provider.
Getting Connected
- Start by choosing a VPN with Australian servers and reasonable streaming speeds.
- I use NordVPN myself, but the procedure is similar with other providers. None can promise uninterrupted access.
- Install the VPN application on your computer or phone, open it and select Australia. Sydney is a sensible place to start.
- Wait until the VPN confirms that it is connected, then visit 7plus.com.au in your browser.
- If you have already tried playing something before connecting, refresh the page. Open a live channel or an on-demand programme and see whether the player starts.
We’ve done a little demo in this video – which shows you the basic steps too if you prefer – How to Watch 7Plus Abroad for Aussies.
You are still using the ordinary 7plus website, nothing has changed it’s just that the site now thinks you’re physcially in Australia because it sees the Australian IP address.
Do You Need an Account?
For much of its live and catch-up content, 7plus asks viewers to sign in. Registration is completely free and normally involves an email address, password, basic personal details and an Australian postcode. 
Sydney’s central postcode is 2000 and central Melbourne’s is 3000 if you need some suggestions but any ‘real’ Australian Postal code will do.
If you already have an account, it’s much easier to use that one rather than creating another. You may also need to confirm your email address before the player works properly. There is no paid streaming subscription to set up – unless you want a premium version without the ads.
What If 7plus Still Refuses to Play?
A VPN connection does not always guarantee success. Streaming providers can identify and block some VPN addresses, and also your browser may retain information from an earlier session. Try a different Australian server first. Switching from Sydney to Melbourne sometimes gives you a fresh IP address that is not being blocked. Then reload the page. Another option is to use Incognito mode to rule out cookies entirely.
Just try it open a private browsing window, sign in again and test the player. Alternatively, delete the site’s cookies. Occasionally an ad-blocker or strict tracking-protection setting interferes with the video player, so it is worth testing with the site temporarily exempted. If you’re using a phone or streaming device, connect the VPN before starting the 7plus app. If the app was already open, fully close and reopen it.
One Last Thing to Consider
A VPN also encrypts traffic between your device and its server, which is useful for travellers when using places like hotel and café Wi-Fi. It does not make you anonymous, however, and you are placing some significant trust in the VPN company (so don’t use free ones who you have no direct contract with!)
VPN use is legal in the UK, but accessing Australian-only streams from overseas may potentially conflict with 7plus’s terms. For viewers who miss familiar Australian programmes, the process is definitely worth it – Australian VPN server, ordinary 7plus website, free account, then a quick playback test.
If one server fails, do not assume they all will as the sites often block individual IP address – a company like NordVPN will have loads of different servers for you to try.
