Autumn in Wellington: 7 Nights, One Rental Car, and a Coast Worth Chasing
Late April in Wellington means the last of the golden light on the harbour, rust-red hills above the eastern bays, and that famous wind arriving with a bit more attitude. Locals are swapping t-shirts for merino, cafes are pouring darker roasts, and the city sits quiet and moody in the best way before winter settles in. It's a lovely week to sort your Wellington International Airport car rental early, because the airport approach along Evans Bay is pure drama at 4pm when the sun drops behind the hills.
Alamo is the only show in town for this week, with thirteen listings ranging from $2,695 to $3,619, and the cheap rental cars Wellington International Airport travellers want are clustered at the bottom of that spread. The Suzuki Swift and the Mystery Car sit at $2,695, and honestly the Mystery Car at that price is a bit of fun if you're flexible. A smart booker locks the small car early and spends the difference on coffee in Grey Lynn, or a detour to Martinborough wine country.
The whole fleet seats five, mostly standard petrol with a few hybrids, so a hybrid is worth requesting if you're doing the longer hauls to Castlepoint or up the Kapiti Coast. Roads are dry-ish but April showers roll in fast around here, so give yourself extra braking distance on the Rimutaka Hill road. Pack light if you're in an economy car, and aim to collect keys mid-morning once the commuter rush through the airport gates has cleared.