Wellington summer road trip starts at the airport gate
Early January in Wellington is bright, breezy and a little unpredictable. The harbour can be glassy one hour, then the southerly is shoving flax around the runway the next, and everyone is in holiday mode regardless. The airport fills with people heading for the Wairarapa vineyards, the Cook Strait ferry or the Kapiti Coast. Wellington International Airport car rental is easiest if you book before the New Year long weekend crowd lands.
Alamo is the only supplier in this week's data, with 14 listings averaging $1274.02 and a median of $1144.84. The cheapest is a Mystery Car at $906.95, with Economy and Compact cars close behind at $916.30 and $934.99. Those two classes are where the savings are, so lock one in early and steer clear of the climb up to $1998.65.
Every car on the list seats five, which suits a couple with bags or a small family. Nine are standard petrol, three are hybrids, and one is a diesel and one is electric. Wellington's hills and coastal roads reward a small, nimble car, but if you're tackling the Remutaka Hill Road or a longer run north, a hybrid saves you a few fuel stops. Give yourself extra time at pickup on arrival day, because the airport queue builds fast on a long weekend.