Ten nights of Chinese New Year road tripping from Christchurch in summer
Mid February at Christchurch International Airport brings long evening light, dry Canterbury plains and a terminal buzzing with families arriving for Chinese New Year. Step outside and the air is warm, with the Southern Alps standing crisp on the western horizon, which is exactly why people make the trip. From here you can drive south to Tekapo's turquoise water, cross Arthur's Pass to the West Coast, or head north to Kaikoura for the seals. Book your Christchurch International Airport car rental early, because holiday weeks empty the lots fast.
Alamo supplies all 12 listings in this search, and the median quote is $1,789. The cheapest is $1,524 for a Toyota Yaris, while the priciest is $2,702, about 1.77 times higher. Compact and Intermediate cars sit between $1,572 and $1,942, so most travellers can land on a sensible middle ground without paying for a ute.
All 12 cars seat five, so check your luggage before you check the price, especially if the whole family is bringing suitcases. Apart from the Pajero Sport and Ranger, everything here is a two-wheel-drive or similar everyday car, and those two are the ones for gravel roads and mountain passes. Summer roads are clear, but give yourself extra time on State Highway 73 over Arthur's Pass and along the Mackenzie Country, where the views will keep making you pull over. Pick up in the morning so you have daylight for the first leg, and consider a hybrid if you plan to cover a lot of kilometres.