Wellington Lunar New Year road trip: 14 nights from the airport
Mid February in Wellington brings long, bright evenings, a fresh southerly rolling in off Cook Strait, and a runway that seems to sit right on the water. It's also Lunar New Year, so families are flying in to reunite, and the arrivals hall at the gate is crowded with suitcases and red envelopes. If you're after Wellington International Airport car rental for 10 to 24 February 2027, 14 listings came back with a median of $2,398 for the fortnight. That's plenty of time to plan a loop up the Kapiti Coast, over the Remutaka Hill to the Wairarapa, or across to the South Island ferry.
Alamo is the only supplier in this window, so there's no shopping around between brands. The real hunt happens inside its own range, where the cheapest quote is $1,381.96 and the dearest is $7,700. A smart booker grabs the Toyota RAV4 or similar early, since it undercuts even the Yaris at $2,156 and the Corolla at $2,200.
All 14 cars seat 5, so pack soft bags rather than hard cases if you're hauling relatives and luggage together. Most are standard petrol, with 3 hybrids for long days on State Highway 1, and one electric if charging stops suit your route. Expect gusty wind on the Remutaka and Hutt roads, and aim to collect your car mid morning, once the Lunar New Year arrivals rush has cleared the terminal.