Queenstown Airport New Year road trip: a fortnight of long summer light
Land in Queenstown at the turn of the year and the Remarkables glow pink long after dinner, the lake is dotted with paddleboards, and the whole town smells of sunscreen and hot chips. Everyone has come for the same fortnight, 27 December to 10 January, so the airport gate is crowded with families, honeymooners and mountain bikers. A Queenstown Airport car rental lets you slip the crowd and reach Glenorchy, Arrowtown and the Crown Range at your own pace. We checked 78 listings for these 14 nights, and the median quote is $3,537.
The cheapest listing is $2,134, a GO Rentals mystery car, and the priciest is $6,647 from Budget, about 3.1 times as much. Ezi has the lowest supplier average at $3,522, while GO Rentals offers the most cheap choices, with 17 listings starting at $2,134. Compare the cheapest car in the class you actually want, because a supplier average hides plenty of bargains and a few very pricey outliers. Budget's $5,243 average is the one to watch.
Most of the fleet seats five (59 of 78), which suits two adults and their luggage, while seven seaters are scarce at just 7 listings. January roads are dry, but the climb to Glenorchy and the gravel around Arrowtown feel easier with extra grip, and Ezi's Outlander 4WD at $2,964 is a sensible pick. Hybrids are well represented with 20 listings, and the Yaris Hybrid at $2,652 sips fuel. Book early, because the summer holiday rush empties the rack fast, and give yourself extra time at pickup on 27 December when planes land back to back.