Seven winter nights, one Wellington road trip from the airport gate
Late June in Wellington means short grey-gold days, a low sun skimming Cook Strait and the odd southerly rattling the terminal windows as you walk out. It's Dragon Boat Festival week, so the arrivals hall fills with families and friends heading off to see the capital and the wild coast beyond it. If you want your own wheels, Wellington International Airport car rental is the easiest way to reach Makara, the Kapiti Coast or the Wairarapa over the hill, all on your own schedule. We looked at 11 listings for 21 to 28 June, seven nights, and the median sits at $424.41.
Alamo is the only supplier in this snapshot, so the savings come down to which car you choose. The cheapest total is $361.39 for a Special and the top end is $495 for an Intermediate, about 1.37 times as much. For cheap rental cars at Wellington International Airport this week, book early and aim for the Economy or Compact end, where the Toyota Yaris at $365.11 and the Corolla at $372.56 are the bargains.
Every car here seats five, and three of the 11 are hybrids, which suit Wellington's steep, stop-start streets and trim fuel costs on longer trips. Winter roads can be wet and windy, and the Remutaka Hill road is often cold and exposed, so allow extra time and check conditions before you set off. Pack soft bags rather than hard cases, since a Yaris boot fills fast. Pick up in daylight if you can: it gets dark early, and the airport roundabouts are easier to read with some light.