Ring in 2027 on the road: Christchurch Airport summer car hire
Late December at Christchurch Airport has a feel all its own. The sun hangs around until almost 9.30pm, the Canterbury plains shimmer on the drive in, and the arrivals hall fills with families hauling chilly-bins and surfboards toward the start of a summer holiday. Plenty of them are bound for the lakes, the Alps or the West Coast, and nearly everyone wants wheels the moment their bags hit the carousel. If you are weighing up Christchurch Airport car rental for 31 December to 7 January, this seven day window across New Year's Day is one of the busiest of the year.
We found 70 listings, with a median of $1,943 and a spread from $1,092 to $2,709. GO Rentals is the cheapest supplier on average at $1,791, and Ezi ($1,886) and Thrifty ($1,910) both undercut Europcar ($2,003), Budget ($2,093) and Hertz ($2,292). Smart bookers compare the cheapest car in the category they actually need, because the gap between suppliers for a similar vehicle can run to several hundred dollars.
Most of the fleet seats five, and hybrids make up a good chunk, which suits the long, steady runs toward Lake Tekapo or Arthur's Pass. Summer roads are dry, but holiday traffic builds on State Highway 1 and the Southern Alps passes, so leave early and allow extra time. If you are carrying skis, bikes or more than two big suitcases, pick an SUV or a wagon over a hatch, and lock in your pickup slot before the New Year's rush fills the airport counters.