Two spring weeks of Auckland road trip freedom, from the domestic terminal
Late September in Auckland means long soft light, showers that blow through in twenty minutes, and the first warm afternoons on the harbour. Then Golden Week lands, and the domestic terminal fills with visiting families, rolling suitcases and plenty of people who want to be on the road by lunchtime. Auckland Domestic Airport car rental gets tight when that happens, and two weeks from 27 September to 11 October is a proper slab of North Island driving. Picture Coromandel beaches, Rotorua steam and a slow loop home through the Waikato.
On the dates I priced, Ezi was the only supplier showing a live rate, and 12 of the 16 listings came back at zero, so those cars simply weren't available. Prices ran from $1,213.75 for the Ford Puma up to $2,795.75 for the Prado, with a median of $2,081.75. If a car suits your group, grab the cheaper end now, because there isn't much waiting behind it.
Most of the fleet is hybrid, which suits spring driving nicely, with plenty of range for the Bombay Hills and the winding Coromandel roads. Twelve of the 16 cars seat five, so check your luggage before you commit to the Puma, and book a seven or eight seater early if your group is bigger. The Hilux and Prado cost more, but they earn it if you plan to turn down gravel roads after rain. Try to pick up the car mid-morning, once the airport rush has eased and before the afternoon showers roll in.