Wellington Airport in Chinese New Year summer light, with the south coast road waiting
Early February at Wellington Airport brings long golden evenings, a stiff harbour breeze tugging at your jacket on the walk to the carpark, and a terminal buzzing with families reunited for Chinese New Year. The runway sits right beside the water, so after you collect your keys you will likely see whitecaps and a sky that cannot pick between sun and cloud. If you are sorting Wellington Airport car rental for the 8th to the 18th, there are 77 listings and a median quote of $2,179.94 for the ten nights. Holiday demand is real, but the gap between the cheapest and priciest option is huge, and that gap is where you can win.
Sixt is the clear value story, with three listings averaging $903 and a cheapest of $811.56, while Hertz ($3,058.52 average) and Budget ($3,070.61) sit at the top of the range. Ezi, Europcar, Thrifty and GO Rentals cluster between roughly $1,430 and $2,080 on average, so there is a sensible middle if Sixt is sold out. Compare all seven suppliers, grab a Sixt or Ezi rate early, and watch for a drop before pickup.
Most of the fleet seats five (55 of 77), and hybrids and petrol cars dominate, which suits the stop-start run between the airport, the city and out to the Wairarapa or the Kapiti Coast. Pack soft bags rather than hard cases if you are eyeing a compact, and book a People Mover or seven-seater early if you have a crowd, since those are limited. Pick up before the late afternoon rush. Expect wind on the Remutaka Hill and around the harbour, where an AWD or SUV adds a bit of calm.