One spring week of Wellington Airport car hire, from harbour gusts to Wairarapa vineyards
Touch down at Wellington Airport on 30 September and the spring wind greets you straight away, pushing across Evans Bay under clear light on the hills, while the queue at the rental desks moves faster than you'd expect. One morning sparkles over Cook Strait, the next brings a southerly and sideways rain. That unpredictability is exactly why people want their own wheels, whether for the Kapiti Coast, the Wairarapa, or the ferry north. Wellington Airport car rental is easy to arrange, but this week prices swing far more than you'd think, with 67 listings running from $272 to $1,577.
Sixt has the lowest average at $525 and the cheapest fare of the week, with Thrifty ($298 for a Suzuki Swift) close behind on the small end. Ezi keeps a tight range, $514 to $836, so there are few nasty surprises there. Budget averages $895 and Hertz $824, so the smart booker checks every supplier and books the cheapest small car on offer, because the same week can cost three times as much on a different shelf.
Most listings seat five, which is plenty for two or three people and their luggage, but families heading to the Wairarapa should look at the 7 or 8 seaters before they sell out. Hybrids are well represented (13 listings), and a Corolla Hybrid suits the Remutaka Hill, the Kapiti run and the drive home along the coast. Watch for gusts on exposed roads like the Hutt Valley motorway, and give yourself extra time on the first morning, since pickup lines build when the early flights land.