Ten winter nights of Wellington harbour light, wind and open road
Late June in Wellington brings low, golden sun skimming the harbour, a bite in the southerly and a city that retreats to its cafés and cinemas. The Dragon Boat Festival stretch (19 to 29 June) sends travellers out of the terminal hunting for the quickest route to the Remutaka Hill Road, the Kapiti Coast or the ferry. Step out of arrivals into that cold, bright air and you will be very glad of a warm car waiting. Wellington International Airport car rental is easy to sort ahead of time, and this ten night window is the one to book early.
Alamo is the only supplier in this window, with 11 listings and an average of $461.82. The cheapest sits at $393.78, which works out to roughly $39 a day, while the dearest reaches $605.33. A savvy booker skips the Intermediate class unless they need it, because the Corolla in Compact costs $405.97 against $427.83 in Intermediate, and it wears the same badge.
All 11 cars seat five, and eight run on standard petrol while three are hybrids. Hybrids suit the stop and start of Wellington's hills, and on the long drives north they stretch a tank further. Winter gales can shove a small hatchback around on the Remutaka Hill and the coast road at Paekākāriki, so keep both hands on the wheel and pack soft bags rather than hard ones. Pick up in daylight if you can, since that first run out of the airport is easier when you can see the Cook Strait whitecaps.