Two weeks of Wellington summer, from Boxing Day eve to the second week of January
Late December at Wellington International Airport smells of salt and jet fuel, and the wind off Cook Strait can still flatten your hair on the walk to the car park. Families roll in with surfboards and Christmas leftovers, locals head north to the beaches, and the Remutaka Hill road fills up fast. This fortnight from 27 December to 10 January covers New Year's Day, so Wellington International Airport car rental is worth booking well before the fireworks over the harbour. Summer evenings stay light until nearly ten, which is perfect for a slow drive along Oriental Bay or out to the south coast at Owhiro Bay.
The data shows 14 quotes, all from Alamo, with a median of $3,177.85 and a cheapest price of $2,962.64. The highest quote is 2.6 times the lowest, so which car you pick matters far more than which day you collect it. A smart booker takes the Yaris at $2,993.18 or a Corolla from $3,054.26, and skips the $7,700 Tesla unless the badge matters.
Most of the fleet is petrol, with three hybrids that stretch a tank nicely if you plan a loop through the Wairarapa or up to Kapiti. Every car seats five, but a Corolla boot won't swallow five big suitcases, so the $4,154.56 Pajero Sport earns its place for a family with kit. Book your pickup for mid morning, once the early flight rush has cleared the rental desks, and check your fuel level before you head back out on State Highway 1 in peak holiday traffic.