Seven Canterbury nights, Spring Festival week, and a set of keys at Christchurch
Mid February at Christchurch International Airport smells of warm tarmac and cut grass, with long golden evenings and the Southern Alps low on the western horizon. It's high summer in Canterbury, and the 2027 Spring Festival week sends travellers off the arrivals concourse itching to get moving. The plains are dry and open, Akaroa and Lake Tekapo are within easy reach, and the road south is calling. A Christchurch International Airport car rental is the simplest way to turn that first look at the mountains into a proper road trip.
Alamo is the only supplier in this week's data, so the real choice is which car, not which brand. Prices run from $1,224.40 to $2,062.84 across 12 listings, with a median of $1,385.93. Book early and aim for Economy or Compact, where the cheapest quotes sit between $1,237.04 and $1,262.27.
Every listing seats five, so check your luggage against the boot before you lock anything in, especially if you're travelling with big suitcases over the festival. The roads out of the city are sealed and easy in summer, though the Lewis Pass and Arthur's Pass can still crawl behind campervans. A hybrid suits the long Canterbury straights, and a diesel makes sense if you plan to cover plenty of kilometres. Pick up in the morning if you can, because the airport gets busy once the afternoon flights land.