Ten spring nights out of Christchurch Airport, from blossom to Alps
Late September into October at Christchurch Airport brings cold, bright mornings, a nor'wester that can show up without warning, and fresh snow still clinging to the Southern Alps in the west. The Golden Week crowd arrives with big plans, and the arrivals hall fills with families bound for Tekapo, Akaroa and Arthur's Pass. If you want a Christchurch Airport car rental, this is the time to lock one in before the good cars drive off. Our check of 29 September to 9 October turned up 43 listings, though 13 of them showed $0 and can't be booked.
GO Rentals owns the bargain end, with a $860 Yaris Hybrid and a $890 Corolla Hatch Hybrid, while Europcar's cheapest quote is $1202.21 and its priciest is $3808.23. Budget's single $1455.92 listing lands right by the $1457.96 median, and Thrifty, Hertz and Ezi all ask $2720.69 or more. With the cheapest quote at $860 and the top at $3808.23 (a 4.43 times spread), a smart booker scrolls the whole list instead of grabbing the first name that loads.
Most of the fleet seats five (32 of 43 listings), and hybrids and petrol cars make up the bulk, so a Compact hybrid will take two big suitcases and the drive to Akaroa without fuss. If Arthur's Pass or Lake Tekapo are on your list, go for a Fullsize like the Pajero Sport at $1460, since spring mornings can bring frost and the odd icy corner on the alpine roads. The airport pickup queue tends to peak right after the morning flights from Auckland and Sydney, so book an afternoon slot if you can, and keep a jacket handy for the car park.