Ten Lunar New Year nights of Queenstown summer light and open road
Mid February in Queenstown is late summer at its best. Evenings stay light past nine, the Remarkables glow gold at dusk, and Lake Wakatipu looks painted on. Lunar New Year brings families and groups for ten nights of gondola rides, Glenorchy drives and long dinners by the water, and the airport gets busy fast. A Queenstown Airport car rental keeps your plans loose, because the best views here are at the end of roads no bus covers.
We found 94 listings, with a median of $2254.6 and a spread of about 4 times between the cheapest and dearest. Sixt posts the lowest total at $986.53 for a Toyota Corolla Hybrid, Ezi averages $1780.64 across nine cars, and Hertz tops out at $3988.34. If you're hunting cheap rental cars Queenstown Airport style, compare suppliers first and car classes second, because the supplier moves the price more than the badge on the boot.
Most cars on offer seat five, plenty for two or three people with suitcases and a boot full of snacks for the Crown Range. With six or more, book one of the few seven or eight seaters early, as they go first in holiday weeks. February roads are dry, so a front wheel drive hybrid will do for Arrowtown, Glenorchy and the run to Wanaka. Pick up straight after landing to beat the desk queue, and give Queenstown Airport car hire some buffer if you're heading to Milford, since that road is long and slow.