Two weeks of Canterbury summer from the Christchurch airport gate
Late December at Christchurch International Airport has its own feel: long gold evenings, a nor'wester that can arrive warm and gusty, and arrivals halls packed with families bound for beaches, lakes and the Alps. This 27 December to 10 January window wraps around New Year's Day, so the whole country is on the move. If you're lining up Christchurch International Airport car rental for these two weeks, get it sorted well before you land. Cars leave the lot early, and the road south toward Tekapo and Queenstown fills up fast.
The data tells a simple story. Alamo holds all thirteen listings, so there's no brand shopping to do, and the savings come from picking the right class. The Mystery Car at $2,746.52 is the cheapest ticket, the Yaris at $2,774.84 is the cheapest car you can actually name, and the Compact Corolla at $2,831.44 is a sensible step up. A smart booker locks in one of those and keeps the spare hundreds for fuel and a good dinner in Akaroa.
Every car here seats five, so pack with luggage in mind. A Corolla or Yaris swallows two big suitcases and a couple of daypacks, but a family of five with bags will be happier in the Pajero Sport at $4,475.38. Hybrids suit a long loop through Arthur's Pass and the Mackenzie Country, and diesels are made for big distances. Summer roads are dry but holiday traffic is heavy, so collect your keys early in the day and leave the city before the afternoon crawl begins.