Winter Escapes: Auckland International Airport Car Hire for Matariki Magic
Short winter days and clear skies make June a spectacular time to touch down in Tamaki Makaurau. The winter sun hangs low over the Manukau Harbour, casting a golden light over the motorway as you drive out of the arrivals hall. With the Matariki holiday just around the corner, families and travellers are gathering for dawn ceremonies and mid-winter swims. Securing your Auckland International Airport car rental right at the terminal is the easiest way to load up the boot and chase those dark, starry skies down state highway one.
If you want to stretch your holiday dollars, Sixt is sitting at the front of the pack with an average daily rate of $472 across their available vehicles. GO Rentals and Avis hover right at the top with averages well above $1300, meaning a smart booker will snap up the cheap rental cars Auckland International Airport currently has on offer. The trick is to book a smaller runabout early, as the lowest priced compacts and intermediates will vanish before the school holidays hit full swing.
Most of the available fleet consists of five-seat petrol vehicles, which are perfectly fine for cruising around the city. If you are planning to drive down to the snowy Central Plateau or explore the rugged Coromandel back roads, spending a bit more on an all-wheel drive like a Toyota RAV4 Hybrid will give you extra grip on frosty morning roads. Make sure to pack your warmest merino layers into whatever boot space you get, because a Kiwi winter road trip is always better when you can step outside the car and feel completely warm.