Mon 28 Dec 2026 → Mon 4 Jan 2027 · 7 nights · NZD · pay on arrival
87Listings
$1,678Median total
$832Cheapest
Snapshot · Mon 11 May 2026
Listings
87
9 suppliers · 8 categories
Median total
$1,678.00
≈ $240 / day
Cheapest
$831.60
Apex Toyota Corolla Hatch or similar · $118.80/day
Top end
$2,530.86
Sixt Ford Transit or similar
Spread
3.0×
High ÷ low
§ 01The period7 nights · Christmas to New Year
Queenstown Peak Rates Hit Hard for Holiday Week
The Christmas to New Year week is traditionally the most demanding time for New Zealand tourism, and Queenstown sits right at the epicentre of this summer influx. As both domestic holidaymakers and international tourists flock to the lakes district, demand for rental vehicles vastly outpaces the limited airport supply. Securing wheels for this specific seven-day window requires early planning and a healthy budget.
Our analysis of 87 available listings shows a broad pricing spectrum across nine major suppliers, with a median weekly cost of $1678. Apex consistently offers the most aggressive rates across multiple vehicle categories, whereas Avis and Budget sit firmly at the premium end of the scale. This creates a spread of over $900 between the cheapest and most expensive options available on the tarmac.
The overwhelming majority of the available fleet consists of standard petrol or diesel five-seaters, with electric and hybrid vehicles making up a surprisingly small fraction of the total inventory. Because large vehicles and premium drivetrains sell out quickly and carry a hefty premium, families and groups should lock in their bookings as early as possible. Renters willing to drive a compact hatchback will easily find the best value and availability.
§01Ranked by avg. pricerange bar · avg tick
$0$300$600$900$1.2k
Apex significantly undercuts the Queenstown Airport market with an average weekly price of $1120, sitting well below premium-tier brands like Avis at $2030.
§02Anatomy of a quoteavg / hire
The base vehicle rate makes up roughly 73 percent of the final rental cost, with GST and location fees pushing the average weekly total to $639.
§03Price band by category$200–$1,100 axis
Holidaymakers face a steep price curve depending on vehicle size, as Premium SUVs and people movers average $2220 compared to just $1446 for Compact cars.
§04Fleet mix87 listings
Drivetrain
Seats
The Queenstown fleet is overwhelmingly dominated by traditional petrol engines and standard five-seat layouts, leaving electric and hybrid options exceptionally scarce during the peak season.
§05Cheapest in each categorytotal / 7 nights · per-day below
Budget-conscious travellers can secure a Compact Toyota Corolla Hatch through Apex for just $832, making it the absolute cheapest getaway car available.