Autumn Dunedin Airport road trip, 26 April to 3 May
Late April in Otago is a gentle season. The light slants low and golden over the Taieri Plain, the hill paddocks turn tawny, and the first frosty mornings make a hot drink in the terminal taste even better. Most people landing at Dunedin Airport are bound for the albatross and penguins of the Otago Peninsula, the Catlins, or the long road to Queenstown through Central Otago's autumn colour. A Dunedin Airport car rental makes any of it easy, because the bus network won't carry you to a quiet beach at sunset.
Across 33 listings the median sits at $1,312.52, but the gap between cheapest and dearest is a factor of 2.45, so shopping around pays. Ezi has the lowest average at $1,214 from four listings, and Europcar is close behind at $1,291 across seven. Hertz has the most cars (12) and the biggest swing, from $1,117 to $2,545, so a smart booker compares individual cars and ignores the brand name.
Most of the fleet seats five, which is plenty for two suitcases and a pair of hiking boots. Eight hybrids are on offer, and they stretch a tank a long way on the winding Peninsula roads and the highway south. Early autumn mornings can bring frost and black ice on the hill roads, so allow extra time before an early pickup and check the tyres are decent. A two-wheel-drive car is fine for state highways at this time of year. Choose a four-wheel-drive only if you plan to tackle gravel roads in the Catlins or higher country.