Chinese New Year in Christchurch: Two Weeks of Summer Road Tripping
Early February in Christchurch is pure gold: long light until nearly 9pm, the Port Hills baked dry, and the smell of sausages on barbecues drifting through Hagley Park as Chinese New Year celebrations kick off. Families from Singapore, Malaysia, mainland China and Australia land at CHC with the same plan, two full weeks to loop the South Island while the weather is at its kindest. If you are landing between 6 and 20 February 2027, book your Christchurch Airport car rental early, because a 14-day stint over this holiday is when the yard empties fast.
The data tells a clear story. Ezi and Europcar are your budget friends, averaging $2,740 and $2,757 across their fleets, while Hertz and GO Rentals average well over $3,500. Nine of the 90 listings are already sold out at $0, and the cheapest wheels on the board, a Budget Mystery Car at $1,960, will be gone first. A smart booker locks in an Ezi or Europcar compact early, then watches the intermediate tier, where a Corolla Cross Hybrid sits at $2,068, barely $90 above the cheapest hatch.
The fleet is overwhelmingly five-seat petrol and standard petrol cars, 61 of 90 listings seat five, so four adults with big suitcases should consider an intermediate SUV or a Kia Carnival at $3,176 if you are seven. February roads are dry and sealed on every main route, so a 2WD compact SUV handles Arthur's Pass, Tekapo and the West Coast fine; save the $3,594 Prado for genuine off-road plans. Book an afternoon pickup if you can, the morning international arrivals rush at the terminal shuttle bay is the slowest part of your first Kiwi day.