Dunedin Airport in New Year sunshine: your 7-night road trip starts here
Early January at Dunedin Airport feels lazy and salt-tinged, with summer light lingering past nine at night and a cool breeze off the harbour. Families are drifting home from the holidays while others are just arriving to chase albatross on the Otago Peninsula, penguins at dusk and the Catlins waterfalls. Cars go fast over the 2027 New Year Long Weekend, so book your Dunedin Airport car rental well before you land. We checked 30 listings for 4 to 11 January 2027, and the median week costs $1370.34.
GO Rentals is the supplier to watch, averaging $1277.50 across eight listings, while Europcar averages $1469.71 over six. Hertz has the widest range, from $1035.99 up to $2411.72, so the car you pick matters more than the brand. Compare the same class across suppliers, because the cheapest price is $1035.99 and the top is $2411.72, a spread of about 2.3 times.
Most of the fleet seats five (25 of 30) and runs on petrol, with seven hybrids if you want to stretch each tank along the Southern Scenic Route. Summer roads are dry, but the Peninsula is narrow and winding and the Catlins have gravel stretches, so an SUV like the RAV4 Hybrid AWD at $1150.75 gives you extra comfort. Pack soft bags rather than hard cases for the boot, and collect your car before the evening rush of arrivals so the desk queue stays short.