Christchurch Airport · 2027 Chinese New Year (10d)

Late summer sun hits the Canterbury Plains beautifully in February, drying out the roads and lighting up the Southern Alps in the distance. The airport feels busy but happy, with families arriving for the 2027 Chinese New Year break ready to hit the open road. Getting your car hire in Christchurch Airport sorted early is a smart move, because ten days of holiday freedom makes these cars vanish fast.

With 93 listings tracked for this period, the median price sits at $2385, though you can absolutely pay less. Ezi offers the cheapest overall ticket at $1191.75 for a compact SUV, while Europcar follows closely with solid daily rates. The smart booker looks past the big brands and grabs those lower tiers before the holiday rush pushes prices up.

The fleet skews heavily toward standard five-seat petrol cars, which are perfect for cruising down to Queenstown or up the coast. If you are packing heavy camping gear, consider one of the intermediate hybrid SUVs to save on steep mountain fuel costs. Aim to pick your vehicle up outside the morning rush between 10 AM and 2 PM to skip the longest queues at the depot.