Summer Sun and Christchurch City car rental Prices
Late December in Christchurch brings long, bright evenings and the smell of smoked meats drifting over the Botanic Gardens. Locals set up for the 2026 Christmas and New Year Week festivities, filling the pavements outside the central library and the bars on New Regent Street. Before you slip south to the lakes or up the coast to Kaikoura, sorting out a Christchurch City car rental is your first real order of business. The lots at the airport gates get incredibly tight this week, so locking in a vehicle early saves you a lot of holiday stress.
Finding cheap rental cars Christchurch City offers during this festive rush is entirely possible if you know where to look. Our data points straight to Ezi, who currently holds all five listings on the board. The cheapest deal sits at $1029, which is a massive saving compared to their top-end options at $1757, giving smart bookers a clear target for the bargain shelf.
The available fleet leans heavily toward hybrid engines and five-seat configurations, which is exactly what you want for fuel costs on a South Island road trip. A compact SUV like the Ford Puma or a roomy seven-seat option gives you plenty of luggage room for camping gear and inflatable paddleboards. Try to schedule your pickup for the early morning when the airport traffic is still quiet, giving you a clear run out of town and straight toward the mountains.