Lunar New Year in Auckland Downtown: a summer week on the road
Mid-February in Auckland brings long golden evenings, warm harbour air and lanterns glowing across the city as Lunar New Year kicks off. Families fly in to reunite, and the Viaduct and the night markets fill up fast. To escape to the beaches of the Hibiscus Coast or the vineyards on Waiheke's ferry side, a car from Auckland Downtown is the easiest way to go. Pick up your keys and the whole top of the North Island opens up.
Thrifty is the story this week, with 15 listings from $1,207 to $1,905 and an average of $1,517. Budget has four listings, all SUV or hatch style, running from $1,629 up to $3,115. Smart bookers lock in a Thrifty Economy, Compact or Intermediate early, since the spread from cheapest to priciest is about 2.6 times and holiday weeks never get cheaper as they approach.
Most of the fleet is petrol or diesel with five seats, so pack soft bags and a full family's luggage will still fit. Summer roads north and south of the city are dry, but Friday and Sunday traffic on the motorway crawls, so collect early in the morning and miss the airport rush. If you are planning gravel roads or a bigger group, the seven and eight seaters are scarce, so book them first.