Ring in the New Year with Queenstown Airport summer mountain views
Late December at Queenstown Airport brings long golden evenings, the Remarkables glowing pink at dusk, and a terminal full of people in sunhats dragging ski-season-sized luggage along on a summer trip. The lake is warm enough for a paddle, the Gibbston vineyards are buzzing, and fireworks are planned for the waterfront on New Year's Eve. Collecting a rental car right at the airport means no shuttle queue, and you can head straight for Glenorchy or Arrowtown. For Queenstown Airport car rental over 31 December to 7 January, the 84 listings we found give you plenty to compare.
Thrifty ($1854 average) and Alamo ($1863) lead the supplier ranking, and GO Rentals has the single lowest price at $1112 for a Mystery Car, plus a Toyota Yaris Hybrid at $1434. Budget's $2390 average is the highest, so weigh it against the others before you click book. The median across all listings is $1973, and 11 listings came back at zero, so skip those and compare the real prices side by side.
Most of the fleet is five-seaters, which suits couples and small families with a boot full of bags. If you're planning a drive to Milford Sound or up the Crown Range, a compact or SUV like Ezi's Mitsubishi Outlander 4WD at $1675.75 will make gravel and long days a lot more comfortable. Flights fill up fast over New Year, so book your pickup slot early and leave extra time at the counter.