Two weeks of Wellington Airport spring road trip freedom, from $508
Late September into October at Wellington Airport brings sharp light, a brisk southerly rattling the windows, and the first real hint of spring over the Cook Strait. The terminal hums with Golden Week visitors, school holiday families and locals escaping for a long break. It's the time to sort your Wellington Airport car rental, before the queue at the counter does it for you. Over 14 nights from 27 September to 11 October, we found 67 listings, with a median of $1,137.
Europcar owns the bottom of the market, with 16 listings starting at $508 and a Mg Zs Excite at $560. Thrifty follows with a $588 Suzuki Swift, while Hertz and GO Rentals sit mid-pack at averages of $1,374 and $1,492. Budget averages $1,945, and the gap from cheapest to top end is 6.28 times, so compare before you click. Eight listings showed $0, which usually means no stock, so skip those and keep looking.
Most of the fleet seats five, and there are 10 seven-seaters if you are bringing the whole crew and the luggage. Wellington's wind and the winding coastal roads towards the Wairarapa or up the Kapiti Coast are easy going in a Compact or Intermediate, but if you plan to push north to the Central Plateau, a Compact SUV from Ezi at $962 gives you a bit more grip. Book your pickup for mid morning if you can, because the airport gets busy as the early flights land.