Car Rental in Dunedin
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Cheapest Car Rental Rates
Dunedin Airport
Economy
Toyota Yaris
or similar
$49.45
per day
Dunedin Airport
Intermediate SUV
Toyota RAV4 (2016-2018)
or similar
$60.65
per day
Downtown
Compact
Toyota Corolla
or similar
$65.45
per day
Dunedin Airport
Full-size SUV
Toyota RAV4
or similar
$83.61
per day
Most Popular Car Rental Deals
Dunedin Airport
Standard SUV
Ford Ranger
or similar
$114.46
per day
Dunedin Airport
Premium Extended Cab Pickup
Ford Ranger
or similar
$132.34
per day
Dunedin Airport
Standard Elite
Polestar 2
or similar
$113.88
per day
Dunedin Airport
Economy
Suzuki Swift
or similar
$50.49
per day
The above prices are only approximate and were last updated at 1:34 PM on 12/12/24. Prices may vary based on the booking dates, length of rental, and car class.
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Special offers
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Travel Information
Languages
English, Samoan
Currency
NZD
Drive on
Left-hand side
Country code
+64
Average car rental price
$84 per day
Average car rental length
6 days
Speed limit within town
30 - 50 km/h or 19 - 31 mph
Speed limit out of town
80 - 100 km/h or 50 - 62 mph
Acceptable limit of BAC
0.05%
Average gas price
$1.58 per liter or $6.00 per gallon
Lowest gas price
$1.43 per liter or $5.41 per gallon
Highest gas price
$1.62 per liter or $6.13 per gallon
Why rent a car in Dunedin?
Considered remote even by New Zealand’s standards, the capital of the Otago region is often called the southernmost city in the world. Located on the eastern coast of South Island, the city is quite small and accessible but offers a wealth of interesting things to see and do at the same time. Even better, New Zealand’s majestic nature is also only a short drive away with a rental car.
One-Way Car Rentals in Dunedin
The most popular one-way rental options for pick up in Dunedin and drop off in another city include:
- From Dunedin to Christchurch - 9 offers from $84.88 per day
- From Dunedin to Queenstown - 9 offers from $84.88 per day
- From Dunedin to Auckland - 9 offers from $180.80 per day
Top ways to enter Dunedin
- Dunedin Airport. With about one million travelers served every year, this relatively small airport offers connections with other large cities in New Zealand, as well as Brisbane in Australia. Located about 25 km (16 miles) west of the city center, the airport can be reached in 25 minutes by car.
- Queenstown Airport. Serving the adventure tourism capital of New Zealand, Queenstown Airport has flights to many domestic destinations, as well as Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney in Australia. Located 270 km (168 miles) northwest of Dunedin, the trip to or from Queenstown takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes.
- Christchurch Airport. By far the busiest airport on the South Island, it handles about seven million passengers every year. In addition to flights to domestic and Australian destinations, this airport also offers connections with Fiji, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, and the United Arab Emirates. Located some 360 km (224 miles) north of Dunedin, Christchurch Airport can be reached in about 4 hours and 30 minutes, with most of the road taking you right along the coast.
Top sights and activities
- Baldwin Street. Recognized as the steepest street in the world by the Guinness World Records, Baldwin Street is also one of Dunedin’s main attractions. Whether you choose to comfortably ascend this anomaly in a rental car or go for a seriously taxing climb, this is the quintessential travel experience of Dunedin. You’ll feel like you’ve joined a club once you’re up there.
- Dunedin Public Art Gallery: Boasting a truly impressive collection, Dunedin’s main art museum displays the works of many important New Zealandic artists and internationally renowned masters like Turner and Monet. Celebrating its 140th birthday in 2024, it is the oldest art gallery in all of the country.
- Otago Museum. Named after the wider region in which Dunedin is located, this museum is dedicated to the topics of biology, natural history, and ethnography. In addition to countless artifacts relating to the local nature and culture, there is also a wide and fascinating collection of butterfly species from around the world.
- Tunnel Beach. Tunnel Beach Walk provides spectacular coastal views, including a natural archway bridge. Check out the historic 1870s tunnel to a small but beautiful beach surrounded by towering cliffs. The walk takes about two hours, and the beach is located around a ten-minute drive away from the center of Dunedin.
Toll roads
All of the toll roads in New Zealand are in the northern part of the North Island, so there are none in or around Dunedin.
The toll roads on the North Island all serve as short bypasses of congested areas. The tolls are therefore quite low. The toll roads use a license plate capturing system with no physical booths. Payment can be made either by having a setup account, by paying online before or within five days of using a toll road, or with cash in some BP and Caltex petrol stations (though a small fee will be added).
Many rental companies offer some system, with a fee, to pass on toll payments to you without you having to do anything. Of course, it may be better just to pay the toll yourself and save on paying that fee. The toll roads can all be avoided quite easily by avoiding the bypass roads and transiting through the towns (in addition to being able to see more).
Ideas for day trips
- Orokonui Eco Sanctuary. Located just half an hour’s drive north of Dunedin center, Orokonui is one of the nicest nature areas in Otago. With a network of paths winding through the region’s famous cloud forest, the center is home to unique native species such as takahē or notornis birds, lizard-like tuataras, and the flightless-but-famous kiwis. You can learn about the Orokonui’s preservation and education projects at the visitor’s center or by joining a tour.
- The Catlins. Collectively known as the Catlins, this is the remote, scenic southern part of Otago. Made up of wild beaches and forested hills, it has a large number of walking trails and is also known as the location of a fossilized Jurassic-era forest that’s over 180 million years old. The drive from Dunedin takes slightly over two hours.
Car rental prices in Dunedin
- Large cars - from $57 per day
- Medium cars - from $52 per day
- Vans - from $142 per day
- Premium cars - from $103 per day
- Small cars - from $49 per day
- SUVs - from $52 per day
Fact checked by
Marta Kulesza
This article was reviewed and updated by Marta, who spent the last 17 years living as a digital nomad and traveling the World before settling in a small alpine village in Austria. When it comes down to designing road trips for hiking enthusiasts around the Southern Alps of New Zealand, the Canadian Rockies, the Italian Dolomites, or Norway, she considers herself an expert. When she's not sitting at her computer and editing photos from her last trip, you can find her skiing or hiking with her dog in the mountains.
Top 20 cities near Dunedin
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152.1 km / 94.5 miles away
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154.7 km / 96.1 miles away
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188.8 km / 117.3 miles away
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328 km / 203.8 miles away
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568.9 km / 353.5 miles away
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572.1 km / 355.5 miles away
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599.9 km / 372.8 miles away
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631.3 km / 392.3 miles away
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762.1 km / 473.5 miles away
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770.4 km / 478.7 miles away
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835.1 km / 518.9 miles away
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901.1 km / 559.9 miles away
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933.3 km / 579.9 miles away
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1,004.6 km / 624.2 miles away
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1,029.4 km / 639.6 miles away
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1,043.7 km / 648.5 miles away
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1,062.1 km / 660 miles away
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1,092.2 km / 678.7 miles away
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1,182.1 km / 734.5 miles away
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1,225.9 km / 761.7 miles away
Top 20 locations near Dunedin
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152.1 km / 94.5 miles away
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154.7 km / 96.1 miles away
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328 km / 203.8 miles away
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328.3 km / 204 miles away
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568.9 km / 353.5 miles away
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631.3 km / 392.3 miles away
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632.7 km / 393.1 miles away
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636.2 km / 395.3 miles away
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762.1 km / 473.5 miles away
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835.1 km / 518.9 miles away
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901.1 km / 559.9 miles away
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1,004.6 km / 624.2 miles away
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1,043.1 km / 648.2 miles away
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1,062.1 km / 660 miles away
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1,071.1 km / 665.6 miles away
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1,071.6 km / 665.9 miles away
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1,072.4 km / 666.4 miles away
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1,072.4 km / 666.4 miles away
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1,074.4 km / 667.6 miles away
Map of Car Rental Locations
What is the cheapest month to rent a car in Dunedin?
Car rental prices in Dunedin vary by time of year. This graph shows the average prices per month to help you find the best time of year to rent.
Average rental costs per day in Dunedin
The cheapest month to rent a car in Dunedin is October (when prices average $36.77 per day). This is 28% cheaper than the yearly average and 49% cheaper than renting in January (when prices average $72.59).
This information can help you identify the low season. But these are only average numbers. How much your car rental will cost will depend on the type of vehicle you rent, how long you’ll rent it for, and how far ahead you book. Simply enter your dates in the form at the top of the page to see the exact prices.
This information can help you identify the low season. But these are only average numbers. How much your car rental will cost will depend on the type of vehicle you rent, how long you’ll rent it for, and how far ahead you book. Simply enter your dates in the form at the top of the page to see the exact prices.
What’s the usual rental length in Dunedin?
How long travelers keep their rental cars for varies from month to month: in February, the average renter keeps their car for 8 days, and in May, they keep their car for 5 days.
Average number of rental days in Dunedin
What's the most popular month to rent a car in Dunedin?
Based on the number of searches by our customers, the most popular month for renting a car in Dunedin is December, and the least popular is April.
Monthly searches in Dunedin by pick-up date relative to the average
Car rental information
| Car rental locations | 2 |
| Airport locations | 1 |
| Popular suppliers | Ezi Car Rental, Go Rentals, Europcar, yesaway, Alamo |
| Popular car categories | SUVs, Small cars, Medium cars, Large cars |
| Lowest price | $49 per day |
| Cheapest supplier | Alamo |
Most popular car models of rental suppliers
| Rental Supplier | Model | Doors | Luggage | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ezi Car Rental | Ford Puma | 5 | 2 | Small cars |
| Go Rentals | Toyota Corolla | 5 | 1 | Medium cars |
| Go Rentals | Toyota Yaris | 5 | 2 | Small cars |
| Ezi Car Rental | Mitsubishi Eclipse | 5 | 2 | SUVs |
| Go Rentals | Toyota Corolla Cross | 4 | 2 | SUVs |
| Ezi Car Rental | Ford Focus | 5 | 2 | Medium cars |
| yesaway | Toyota Yaris | 4 | 2 | Medium cars |
| Europcar | Kia Stonic | 5 | 2 | SUVs |
| Go Rentals | Toyota RAV4 | 5 | 3 | SUVs |
| yesaway | Toyota Vitz | 5 | 2 | Small cars |
Our customers' reviews
Because we want to make sure each review listed here is left by a real customer, we don’t have the option to post a review here. Instead, we ask each and every customer to leave a review after they return their rental car. This way, you know that all reviews are authentic.
DM
New Zealand
Toyota Corolla
10/26/23
Used for local trips with family
BR
New Zealand
Toyota Corolla Sedan
7/9/23
Great beaches and lovely scenery. Lots of nice places to eat. Really need a car to explore all along the peninsula.
NF
New Zealand
Toyota Corolla
5/15/23
Work
DA
New Zealand
Toyota Corolla Sedan
3/2/23
Visited sons new flat on Castle street. Bloody awesome experience!
AT
Canada
Hyundai i30
12/4/22
The southeast corner of the South Island of NZ is truly amazing (scenery, birds, sea life, museums, history). We also had incredible weather.
JT
New Zealand
Mitsubishi ASX
1/16/22
Picked car up from Dunedin and drove to Oamaru for a night to visit family. Perfect for long drives and sight seeing.
MC
New Zealand
Suzuki S-Cross
6/24/21
The South Island of New Zealand is spectacular, with great scenery, walks and drives.
LG
New Zealand
Toyota RAV4
6/14/21
Excellent places, beautiful sceneries during daytime good weather. Many safe lookout places on the side of the road for stationary viewing and photo opportunities.
But be careful driving at night especially on the zigzag areas because you should be on the low beam most of the time as you don't want to irritate the eyes of the drivers passing through the opposite side and if much of your upper front window in your vehicle is tinted, the more you are restricted in your visibility.
RC
New Zealand
Holden Barina
4/28/19
We had two nights in Dunedin and four in Waikawa in the Catlins. We bloody loved it and having a car is really the only way to see what we did.
Car Rental Statistics
Highest-rated company
Ezi Car Rental
9.3 / 10
Lowest-rated company
yesaway
7.5 / 10
Total number of reviews
9
Total rental companies
11
Average daily price
$83.80
Lowest daily price
$49.45
Total cars available
100
Top 11 suppliers in Dunedin in 2024
Ezi Car Rental
1 location
$84 - $140
Thrifty
2 locations
$64 - $190
Hertz
2 locations
$89 - $223
Europcar
1 location
$103 - $154
Alamo
1 location
$49 - $57
Go Rentals
1 location
$68 - $70
Routes Car Rental
1 location
$103 - $153
Dollar
1 location
$98 - $224
Keddy
1 location
$114 - $127
Firefly
2 locations
$114 - $127
yesaway
1 location
$61 - $93
Awards
World Travel Tech Awards - World's Best Car Rental Booking Website 2023
World Travel Tech Awards - World's Best Car Rental Booking App 2023
Magellan Awards Gold Winner 2023
Travel & Hospitality Awards 2021
FT 1000: Europes Fastest Growing Companies - Top 300 Companies 2021
FT 1000: Europe's Fastest Growing Companies - Top 100 Companies 2020
Uzakrota Travel Awards - World’s Leading Car Rental Website 2022
Inc. 5000 Europe - Top 500 Companies 2019
Trustpilot - Top 10 Car Rental Agencies
SimilarWeb - Top 50 Car Rental Websites
Highly recommended by our customers
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