Ten Lunar New Year nights on Canterbury's roads from Christchurch City
Mid February in Christchurch City is late summer: long golden evenings, the occasional warm nor'wester, and the Port Hills glowing brown above the Avon. Lunar New Year brings families and friends together, and plenty of them use the break to see Canterbury, Akaroa and the Southern Alps. The airport gate gets busy when flights land, so line up your Christchurch City car rental before you arrive. Ten nights from 12 to 22 February leaves time to see well beyond the city.
Ezi is the only supplier with listings for these dates, and its five quotes run from $1470 to $2510, with a median of $2320. Start with the Corolla Cross Hybrid at $1470 or the Puma at $1650, since every SUV costs $2320 or more. If you need the space, the RAV4 Hybrid at $2320 is the best value of the SUVs.
Four of the five cars are hybrids, so expect fewer fuel stops on the long run to Akaroa, Hanmer Springs or Lake Tekapo. Most seat five, so check your luggage before choosing a Compact SUV, and grab the one seven-seater early if you are a bigger group. Every car here is 2WD, which is fine for sealed roads in summer, but take it slowly on gravel and on the winding Banks Peninsula hills. Pick a pickup time that misses the arrival rush at the airport and you will be on the road sooner.