Car hire from New Zealand Airports: Auckland, Christchurch & Queenstown from NZ$35/day. Compare prices from 500+ suppliers instantly — no booking fees, free cancellation options available. Search now →

Terminal and pickup information

Auckland Airport (AKL) has car hire desks in the international arrivals hall and a separate domestic terminal. Christchurch Airport (CHC) has a compact car hire area just outside the terminal building. Queenstown Airport (ZQN) is small — car hire desks are in the main terminal building, a short walk from arrivals. All three airports are served by major NZ suppliers: Hertz, Avis, Budget, Europcar, Thrifty and several NZ-specific companies.

Tips for hiring at New Zealand Airports: Auckland, Christchurch & Queenstown

One-way hire between islands: Many visitors fly into Auckland and out of Queenstown (or vice versa). One-way hire is widely available but inter-island one-way fees can be significant — compare carefully. The Interislander ferry between Picton and Wellington is an alternative.
Queenstown in summer: December–February is peak season in Queenstown — car hire prices are at their highest. Book months in advance.
Christchurch as a base: Christchurch is the best starting point for the South Island's greatest drives — the West Coast glaciers, Aoraki/Mt Cook and the Mackenzie Basin are all within reach.
NZ road conditions: Many South Island roads are unsealed gravel — check whether your hire car's insurance covers off-road driving. The rental agreement will specify.

Best drives from New Zealand

  • Auckland to Northland (2–3 hrs) — Bay of Islands, Cape Reinga and the Hokianga Harbour — New Zealand's subtropical north.
  • Christchurch to Queenstown (5–7 days) — The South Island's greatest road trip — via Mt Cook, Lake Tekapo, Fiordland and Milford Sound.
  • Queenstown to Milford Sound (3 hrs) — One of the world's most dramatic drives through Fiordland National Park to New Zealand's most famous fjord.
  • Queenstown to Wanaka (1 hr) — The Crown Range road — New Zealand's highest sealed road — with spectacular views over the Cardrona Valley.

Tourist traps to avoid

  • Inter-island one-way fees — always check the drop-off fee before booking a one-way Auckland to Queenstown hire
  • Queenstown summer pricing — rates can be 50–80% higher December–February
  • Gravel road cover — many standard policies exclude damage on unsealed roads; check before you drive on them
  • Booking too late in peak season — Queenstown car hire sells out in January; book months ahead
Compare prices now: Search live car hire prices from New Zealand Airports: Auckland, Christchurch & Queenstown on Best Car Hire. Compare 500+ suppliers in seconds — no booking fees.