Christchurch City in summer light: a week on the road after Chinese New Year
Mid February in Christchurch City brings long golden evenings, a warm northwest breeze and the Port Hills glowing brown and green above town. Families fresh from Chinese New Year celebrations land at the airport, wheel their bags past the gate and head straight for the Canterbury Plains, Akaroa and the mountains beyond. A Christchurch City car rental turns that week from a bus timetable puzzle into a proper road trip. For 10 to 17 February 2027 we found five quotes, and each one gives you the freedom to stop wherever the view tells you to.
Ezi is the only supplier showing for these dates, so the sum is simple: choose the right car, not the right company. The cheapest quote is $1029 for a Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid, the median sits at $1624 and the top end reaches $1757. A smart booker locks in the cheaper Intermediate or Compact SUV early, then pays for a bigger SUV only if the luggage or the passenger count truly calls for it.
Nearly the whole fleet is hybrid, which suits the long, steady stretches between Christchurch City and the high country, since you can cover the distance without eyeing the fuel gauge. Four cars seat five, so check your luggage before settling on a Compact SUV, and keep in mind that only one listing seats seven. Summer roads out to Akaroa and Hanmer Springs are sealed and easy, but the winding sections take longer than the map suggests. Collect your car in the morning and leave yourself daylight to enjoy that first drive.