Pohutukawa Season: Your Christmas–New Year Escape Starts at Christchurch Airport
Touch down at Christchurch International Airport in late December and the light hits different: long golden evenings, the smell of sunscreen and hot tarmac, rental shuttles idling in a queue that stretches past the terminal. This is the week the whole country goes on holiday, and everyone from Auckland to Invercargill wants a set of wheels. If you're sorting Christchurch International Airport car rental for the 2026 Christmas–New Year week, book early, because the forecourt is busy from the first flight of the morning.
Alamo is the only supplier with inventory for these dates, holding all 15 listings, so your shopping strategy shifts from comparing brands to comparing categories. The deals live at the bottom: a Mystery Car at $1,505 and an Economy Toyota Yaris at $1,521 are the cheapest ways out the gate. A smart booker grabs one of those fast and skips the $2,323 Fullsize and the $3,850 Tesla unless space or style really matters.
The entire fleet is five-seaters, and petrol dominates with 8 standard cars on the list, so don't hold out for an EV expecting choice, there's exactly one. Late December in Canterbury means long dry days, busy roads to Akaroa and Hanmer Springs, and plenty of gravel detours if you're heading inland, so a compact SUV like the C-HR handles luggage for two comfortably. Aim to collect your keys mid-morning, before the afternoon rush of holiday flights lands.