Wellington New Year Road Trip: Two Weeks, One Rental Car, All the Coastline
Late December in Wellington means the wind drops just enough to feel forgiving, the harbour glitters until past 9pm, and the waterfront fills with festival crowds counting down to 2027. Travellers fly in for summer holidays, wine country escapes over the Remutaka Hill, and the long crawl north to Hawke's Bay beaches. If you're booking Wellington International Airport car rental for a two-week stay straddling New Year's Day, book it now, because this is the window when every family in the country has the same idea.
Alamo is the only supplier with inventory for these dates, holding all fourteen listings, and its cheapest option, the Mystery Car at $2,963 total, is a genuine bargain for fourteen days. The smart move is to compare classes rather than brands: the Intermediate Corolla at $3,112.58 actually undercuts the pricier Compact listing, and the $7,700 Tesla Model Y is for people who really want that badge on their summer photos. With a 2.6x spread between the cheapest and top-end quotes, choosing your car class matters far more than usual.
Every car on the lot is a five-seater, and nine of the fourteen run standard petrol, so if you want the hybrid or the lone EV, lock it in early. January roads around Wellington are dry and bright, but pack layers for the Remutaka Hill road and the Wairarapa coast, where the wind can still surprise you in summer. A small hatchback handles city parking and luggage for two just fine; grab the Pajero Sport only if you're hauling a family and camping gear.