Spring road trips start with Dunedin Airport car hire
Late September in Dunedin means the morning frost is just starting to thaw and the rhododendrons in the Botanic Garden are beginning to pop with color. The sun sits a little lower over the Harbour Cone, casting long golden shadows across the Taieri Plains as you drive in. Locking in your Dunedin Airport car rental early for the 2026 National Day week is a smart move, because 29 available listings will vanish fast once the holiday crowds touch down.
Ezi offers the most consistent pricing overall, with an average of $495.55 across its fleet, while Europcar holds the absolute cheapest ride at $316.47 for its Mystery Car. Hertz sits at the top with an average of $1,317.38, so sticking to the lower tiers of the Ezi and GO Rentals fleets will keep your holiday budget firmly intact.
Five-seat petrol and hybrid models dominate the pickup lot, which is exactly what you want for the winding stretches of the Otago Peninsula or a cruise up the Southern Scenic Route. A compact SUV or intermediate saloon handles the sealed roads and occasional gravel sideroads beautifully, while saving you enough money to buy a few fresh Bluff oysters when you reach the coast. Try to schedule your pickup for mid-morning to skip the worst of the arrival rush at the airport gates.