Sunlit Christchurch road trips for the Chinese New Year rush
Late summer sun hits the tarmac at Christchurch International Airport just as the Chinese New Year rush brings a fresh wave of excited road trippers to the South Island. The February weather is absolutely golden, with long, dry evenings that are perfect for pulling over at a roadside lookout near Castle Hill or cracking a tent at Lake Tekapo. Getting your Christchurch International Airport car rental sorted before you land is the best way to hit the ground running and beat the holiday queue.
With only twelve vehicles left across the entire airport for these dates, finding cheap rental cars Christchurch International Airport is going to take some quick fingers. Alamo holds the entire yard right now, with the median price sitting at $2505 and the cheapest set of keys going for $2134. Smart bookers lock in an Economy or Compact car immediately, because the price jumps aggressively if you start looking at larger SUVs.
Every vehicle available right now seats exactly five people, and the entire fleet runs on standard petrol engines, with a handful of hybrid and diesel options scattered in between. Since the base rates make up the lion's share of the cost and there are no hidden location fees, you can budget confidently for petrol and your campsites instead. Aim to swing by the airport desk in the morning to grab a standard fuel car for your Arthur's Pass drive, as the afternoon traffic building up around the airport gates can eat into your first day of daylight.