Chinese New Year in Christchurch City: 14 Days of Summer Road-Tripping
By early February 2027, Christchurch is deep in its golden summer: long evenings that refuse to darken before 9pm, the Avon glittering through the Botanic Gardens, and the smell of sausages at every beachside barbecue from Sumner to New Brighton. Chinese New Year lands on February 6, and the city's lantern displays and food festivals give you a reason to linger before heading south or west. If you're booking a Christchurch City car rental for the full fortnight, February 6 to 20 is a big ask of any rental budget, so let's see where the numbers sit.
Every quote in this window comes from one supplier, Ezi, but that doesn't mean prices are flat: the spread runs from $1,848 up to $3,444, an 86% gap between the bargain Intermediate and the biggest SUV. The median sits at $2,968, which tells you most of the available stock is in the pricier SUV tier. A smart booker grabs the Corolla Cross Hybrid early, because cheap rental cars in Christchurch City during Chinese New Year tend to vanish first when families arrive.
Four of the five cars on offer are hybrids, which I'd choose without hesitation for a February itinerary: fuel in the South Island isn't cheap, and a Corolla Cross or RAV4 Hybrid sips gently whether you're cruising to Akaroa's harbour or climbing toward Arthur's Pass. Four cars seat five and one seats seven, so pack light if you draw the smaller options. Pick up early in the day if you can, because the airport forecourt crawls with holiday traffic once the midday arrivals land.