Two weeks of Dunedin Airport summer roads over Chinese New Year
Early February in Otago brings long gold evenings, a cool sea breeze off the harbour and sheep paddocks gone the colour of toast across the Taieri Plain. Chinese New Year lands in the middle of these 14 nights, and families fly in to watch the albatross at Taiaroa Head, drive the Catlins or loop out to Queenstown and Central Otago. Rental desks at the airport fill up fast, so sort your Dunedin Airport car rental well before you touch down. We looked at 30 listings for 6 to 20 February 2027, and prices run from $2,061.79 to $4,829.13.
GO Rentals is the cheapest supplier on average at $2,380, and it holds the lowest price in several categories, including Economy at $2,135 and Fullsize at $2,667. Hertz sits at the other end, averaging $3,716 across ten listings, so the same two weeks can cost well over $1,000 more depending on who you choose. Compare all four suppliers, then pick the category first and the brand second.
Most of the fleet is petrol with five seats, and hybrids make up seven listings, which suit the long runs down to the Catlins and across to Central Otago where fuel stops thin out. Roads around Dunedin are narrow and winding, with steep hills on the Otago Peninsula, so a compact or hybrid is easier to park and handle. Carrying big suitcases for a family? Go for an SUV such as the RAV4 Hybrid AWD at $2,179.75, and book early because seven-seaters are scarce.