Dunedin Airport road trip: summer on the Otago coast
Late December at Dunedin Airport has its own feel: long evening light, a cool southerly that can show up even in midsummer, and families spilling out of arrivals with bags of Christmas presents. The Otago Peninsula is green and busy, the albatross are nesting at Taiaroa Head, and the road south to the Catlins is calling. If you're planning Dunedin Airport car rental for 28 December to 4 January, this is one of the busiest stretches of the year, so look early. We found 27 listings across four suppliers, with no zero-price gaps in the data.
GO Rentals is cheapest on average at $1483, and its Mystery Car at $1127 is the lowest price of the week. Ezi isn't far behind, and its $1151 RAV4 Hybrid suits anyone who wants an SUV without the usual premium. Hertz averages $1738 and reaches $2252 at the top end, so compare all four before locking anything in.
Most of the fleet seats five and runs on petrol, though 7 hybrids will stretch your fuel dollar on the drive out to the peninsula or down to the Catlins. Only two seven-seaters turned up, so large groups should book early. Roads are mostly sealed, but the Catlins and the Otago hills can turn gravelly, wet and windy, so an SUV is worth the extra comfort if you're leaving the main highway. Allow a bit of extra time at pickup too, since counter queues build fast once the Christmas flights land.