Chinese New Year in Wellington: Your 10-Night Summer Road Trip Starts at the Airport
February in Wellington means late golden light on the harbour, a northerly that pushes sailboats across Evans Bay, and lanterns going up around Courtenay Place for Chinese New Year. Travellers land at Wellington International Airport with the wind ruffling their jackets, ready for ten days of Wairarapa wine country, Kapiti sunsets, and maybe the ferry to Picton. If you are sorting your Wellington International Airport car rental early, this period rewards the organised.
Alamo is the only name in the yard for these dates, holding all 14 listings, and the pricing tells an honest story. The median sits at $1,712.85, but the cheapest wheels on the lot, a Toyota RAV4, come in at $1,032.10, well under the median, while a Tesla Model Y Long Range asks $5,499.99. Smart bookers skip the prestige end and grab an Intermediate, where the average of $1,290.75 actually beats the Economy and Compact categories.
Every car here seats five, and the fleet runs 9 standard petrol against 3 hybrids, 1 diesel, and a lone electric, so if you want a hybrid for those Rimutaka Hill runs, book it the day your flights land in your inbox. February roads are dry and bright, but Wellington wind is a real passenger, so a midsize like the RAV4 feels planted on the coastal stretch to Titahi Bay. Allow extra minutes at pickup during the holiday rush, and if you are packing for ten nights, remember the boot space of an Economy Yaris fills fast.