10 days of summer: your Christchurch Airport road trip for Chinese New Year 2027
The February sun hangs bright and warm over the Canterbury Plains in mid-February, casting a golden afternoon light over the tarmac. Families pile out of the international arrivals hall, ready to kick off the 2027 Chinese New Year holidays with ten full days of South Island exploration. Locking in your Christchurch Airport car rental right now is the smartest move you can make, because the February rush brings high heat, crowded scenic highways, and heavy competition for the best vehicles.
Sorting through 94 available listings shows a wide spread between the cheapest and top-end options. If you are hunting for cheap rental cars Christchurch Airport, Ezi currently leads the pack with a $1,990 average across their fleet, while Budget holds the absolute lowest price of the trip at $1,192 for a compact SUV. A smart booker will book early to secure these sub-$1,600 bargains before the holiday traffic eats them up.
The fleet leans heavily into practical five-seaters, with standard petrol engines leading the pack and standard hybrid drivetrains coming in a strong second. A compact hatchback handles the smooth sealed roads around Akaroa and Hanmer Springs easily, but if you are loading up mountain bikes or extra luggage, a larger intermediate wagon gives you that extra breathing room. Try to schedule your pickup for mid-morning to skip the worst of the afternoon airport gate traffic.