Chinese New Year in Wellington: 14 Days, One Lucky Rental Car Deal
February in Wellington is the city at its golden best: late-summer light bouncing off the harbour, the frangipani-scented breeze down Cuba Street, and Lantern Festival glow warming the nights. Travellers fly in for the Chinese New Year festivities and stay for the road trips, winding up the Kapiti Coast or across to the Wairarapa wine country. Before any of that happens, though, there is the small matter of securing a Wellington International Airport car rental, and February 2027 has a surprise in store.
Every single quote in our data comes from Alamo, which means your comparison shopping happens inside one supplier's lineup, and the spread is huge: $1,382 at the bottom, $7,700 at the top. The smart booker heads straight for the Intermediate aisle, where a Toyota RAV4 sits at $1,382 for the full 14 days, cheaper than cars two sizes smaller. Skip the prestige options unless the budget genuinely stretches.
The fleet is classic New Zealand: every car seats 5, and 9 of 14 run standard petrol, so a hybrid or the lone electric Tesla means planning your charging stops around the North Island's network. February weather is settled but Wellington wind is forever, so pack light enough to lift bags into a RAV4 boot without a wrestling match. Book an early-morning pickup at the airport gate; the shuttle queue after the midday arrivals rush can add half an hour you would rather spend on the Remutaka Hill road.