Seven autumn nights out of Wellington, windy city, open road
Late March at Wellington International Airport has a crisp southerly edge, with low golden light across Lyall Bay and the wind sock standing straight out. It's Easter weekend, so the arrivals hall fills with families bound for the Wairarapa vineyards, the Kapiti coast and the ferry north to Picton. For freedom beyond the Cobham Drive crawl, a Wellington International Airport car rental is the simplest place to start. These seven nights, 26 March to 2 April, give you enough time to loop the lower North Island without watching the clock.
Alamo is the only supplier with listings for these dates, so there's no shopping around between brands. The price comes down to the class you pick: the Mystery Car at $585 and the Yaris at $591 are cheapest, while the median sits at $722. Skip the Fullsize cars, which start at $1,307 for a Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, unless a big group really needs the space.
Every car on offer seats five, and nine of the 13 run on standard petrol, with three hybrids and one diesel. A hybrid suits the long Remutaka Hill climb and the stop-start traffic on the Hutt Road. Wellington's gusts can shove a small hatchback around on the Centennial Highway, so keep both hands on the wheel there. Pack soft bags, since a Yaris boot swallows duffels far better than hard suitcases. Easter pickups can queue, so book ahead and grab your keys before the afternoon rush.