Seven spring days of Wellington Airport wind, harbour light and open road
Late September into early October is spring in Wellington. A morning can open with hard southerly gusts rattling the terminal and close with low gold light over Lyall Bay. The runway sits so close to the water that you can watch planes shudder in on the wind before you've collected your bags. Travellers land here for Mid-Autumn Festival week to see family, walk the waterfront, or drive out to the Wairarapa or up the Kapiti Coast. A Wellington Airport car rental lets you do all of it on your own schedule, and this week we found 66 listings to choose from.
Sixt has the lowest average at $545.76 and Thrifty follows at $590.36, though Thrifty also holds the cheapest car of the week, a $299.42 Suzuki Swift. Hertz and Budget average $876.43 and $895.39, and the priciest quote hit $1577.35, about 5.3 times the cheapest. Shop by supplier and by car class, because the same week can cost wildly different amounts depending on the counter. Four listings showed a $0 price, so treat those as unavailable and move on.
Most of the fleet seats five (49 of 66 listings), which is plenty for two or three people and their bags on the run to Martinborough. If you're crossing the Remutaka Hill or heading up the coast road in spring, a compact SUV like the $480.15 Mazda CX-30 gives you a bit more weight against the crosswinds. Larger groups have 10 seven-seaters and 5 eight-seaters to pick from, but luggage fills them fast, so check the boot space before you book. Pick up early if you can, since the airport car park and the Cobham Drive roundabout get busy once a few flights land together.