Two Canterbury summer weeks from Christchurch Airport, Chinese New Year style
Mid February at Christchurch Airport brings long gold evenings, a warm nor'wester rattling the flagpoles, and trolley queues of families arriving for Chinese New Year reunions and road trips. The Canterbury Plains are dry and straw coloured, and the Southern Alps stand sharp on the western horizon as if daring you to drive straight at them. If you're lining up Christchurch Airport car rental for 6 to 20 February 2027, book early, because this fortnight is one of the busiest of the year. We checked 82 listings, and the median quote for the 14 nights is $3,415.
Ezi is the cheapest brand on average at $2,913, and its Ford Puma at $2,095.75 is the lowest price in the whole set. GO Rentals and Europcar follow at roughly $3,170 to $3,190, while Hertz and Budget average $4,082 and $4,513. The most expensive quote is $5,701.93, about 2.7 times the cheapest, so look at a few brands before you click.
Most of the fleet seats five, which suits a couple or a small family with suitcases, but seven and eight seaters are out there for bigger Lunar New Year gatherings, so grab those first. Hybrids are easy to find, and a Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid at $2,109.75 will stretch a tank a long way between Hanmer Springs, Lake Tekapo and the West Coast. If Arthur's Pass or a gravel side road is on the list, the Pajero Sport at $2,716 or a Prado at $3,509.75 gives you more grip and clearance. Get to the desk early in the day, because the afternoon queue can run long in this peak fortnight.