Dunedin Airport · 2027 New Year's Day (10d)

The long twilight over the Otago Harbour refuses to fade as 2026 comes to a close, leaving plenty of daylight to watch the albatross glide over Taiaroa Head. Travellers fly in for the spicy stew of Scottish heritage, yellow-eyed penguin colonies, and the raw, breezy coastline that defines this southern city. Booking your Dunedin Airport car rental early for this ten-day New Year window is a smart move, as the short-term lots fill up quickly with holiday traffic heading into the central city and down the coast.

Ezi offers the most consistent budget prices here, starting at $1,421.75 for a ten-day stint, while GO Rentals provides solid competition in the mid-tier range. A smart booker looks past the headline rates to compare specific categories, as the GO Rentals Mystery Car comes in at $1,595, undercutting their own standard Compact vehicles. Hertz and Europcar cover the higher end of the market, so anyone needing a Premium Ford Wildtrak or a Standard Elite Polestar will be paying a premium for the privilege.

The fleet mix leans heavily toward five-seat hybrids and petrol hatchbacks, which handle the tight, winding roads out to Sandymount or the steep ascents to Baldwin Street with ease. Consider packing light to fit your luggage into a Compact or Economy car, as boot space is at a premium in these fuel-savers. With nine petrol options and seven hybrids available, picking up the keys on the afternoon of December 29 means you will beat the morning rush at the terminal gates and get straight onto the highway toward the Catlins.