Springtime Wellington Airport car hire for a sunny Labour Day escape
Late October in the capital brings blustery spring winds, bright sunlight over the Lyall Bay waves, and the first real rush of the Labour Day holiday exodus. The queue at the airport rental counters snakes past the sliding doors, packed with locals heading down to the Wairarapa wine region and international visitors keen to drive up the Kapiti Coast. If you want a smooth start to your trip, getting your Wellington Airport car rental sorted well before the Monday rush is the smartest move you can make.
Travellers looking for cheap rental cars Wellington Airport will find Ezi leading the pack with a very agreeable average of $524 for the week, while Hertz parks itself firmly at the luxury end with an average of $2046. The biggest trick to scoring that $359 absolute cheapest rate is avoiding the last-minute scramble. The smart bookers compare those suppliers early, snatching up the compact hatchbacks before the long weekend traffic clears the forecourt.
The rental fleet is overwhelmingly made up of five-seat standard petrol vehicles, which are perfectly fine for cruising around the harbour or tackling the Remutaka Hill in clear conditions. If you have a pile of luggage or want better visibility on those winding coastal roads, upgrading to a compact SUV like the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid will cost you just over $440 total. Try to schedule your pickup for mid-morning when the airport entrance is quiet, giving you plenty of daylight to get comfortable on the left side of the road before hitting State Highway 1.