Ring in 2027 on Canterbury's long summer roads
Late December in Christchurch brings daylight well past 9pm, warm air drifting in off the plains, and a city that empties out as locals head for the beach. Visitors come to watch the Port Hills turn gold in the evening and to aim the car at Akaroa or Hanmer Springs. Ten nights from 29 December to 8 January is enough time to see in 2027 and still have a few quiet days of road to spare. A Christchurch City car rental is the easiest way to stitch those places together, because the bus timetables thin out just when you want to wander.
Only Ezi came back with prices for these dates: four priced listings averaging about $1,988, plus one showing $0, which looks like a car that isn't available. A smart booker grabs the $1,470 Corolla Cross Hybrid early, since the next rung up is already $1,650 and the SUVs start at $2,320. If you're hunting for cheap rental cars in Christchurch City over New Year, that intermediate is the one to lock in.
Four of the five cars are hybrids, and the cheapest picks are all two-wheel drive, which is plenty for the sealed summer roads to Akaroa, Hanmer Springs and Lake Tekapo. Pack soft bags rather than hard cases, and expect a gusty nor'wester out on the open plains. Collect your car on the morning of the 29th if you can, and plan the drive back from the coast for early on New Year's Day, before the beach traffic builds.