Christchurch City over New Year: 14 summer nights on the open road
Late December in Christchurch City smells of cut grass and sunscreen, and the light lingers past nine at night. Locals head for the Port Hills and the sand at Sumner, while visitors aim the bonnet at Akaroa or Hanmer Springs. Fourteen nights from 27 December to 10 January make a proper summer loop, and a Christchurch City car rental is what turns the plan into a road trip. This fortnight takes in New Year's Day, so book early rather than leaving the car until you land.
Only Ezi priced these dates, with three of the five listings showing a fare and two coming back without one. The Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid is cheapest at $1848, and the Ford Puma is just $42 higher at $1890, so choosing between them comes down to boot space and ride height. The Mitsubishi Outlander costs $3444, which is $1596 more than the cheapest, so take it only if you truly need the seven seats.
Four of the five cars are hybrids, which helps on those long Canterbury straights where the kilometres pile up fast. Five seats and soft bags will suit most couples and small families. Summer traffic out of town can crawl, so try to collect your car in the morning before the airport queues build. The quotes show no location or regional fees, so the total you see is the total you take on the trip.