Car Rental in Nelson
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The above prices are only approximate and were last updated at 00:05 on 2021-10-16. Prices may vary based on the booking dates, length of rental, and car class.
Travel Information
Language
English
Currency
NZD
Country code
64
Traffic direction
Left-hand
Speed limit out of town
80 - 100 km/h
50 - 62 mi/h
Speed limit within town
30 - 60 km/h
19 - 37 mi/h
Acceptable limit of BAC
0.05%
Why rent a car in Nelson?
A city of just 51,000 inhabitants, Nelson punches way above its weight when it comes to being a hub for tourism. The oldest settlement on the South Island is home to a lot of historic attractions but also has interesting museums, a special atmosphere, beautiful beaches, and access to some of New Zealand’s most iconic natural wonders.
One-Way Car Rentals in Nelson
The most popular one-way rental options for pick up in Nelson and drop off in another city include:
- From Nelson to Christchurch - 7 offers from US$ 93.96 per day
- From Nelson to Picton - 7 offers from US$ 93.96 per day
- From Nelson to Auckland - 7 offers from US$ 199.91 per day
- From Nelson to Blenheim - 7 offers from US$ 93.96 per day
Top ways to enter Nelson
- Nelson Airport: Located just a short ride southeast of the city center, Nelson Airport provides connections with the largest cities on both islands of New Zealand, as well as some smaller regional destinations.
- Christchurch Airport: By far the busiest on the South Island, Christchurch Airport has flights to many destinations in New Zealand and Australia, as well as all across South and East Asia. For many foreign visitors who travel straight to the South Island, it serves as the first point of entry. Located about 410 km (255 miles) south of Nelson, the trip between them takes about five hours.
- Wellington Airport: Located right across the Cook Strait, Wellington Airport serves the capital of New Zealand. In addition to domestic flights, there are also a number of connections with Australia and Fiji. It is possible to pick up a car in Wellington and then take a ferry to the South Island, but you should make sure you pick a ship that permits taking a vehicle onboard; also, you should check with your rental car company. The trip between Nelson and Wellington, including the ferry ride, takes about six hours.
Top destinations and activities
- Architecture. Established 180 years ago, Nelson is one of the most interesting destinations for heritage tourism in New Zealand. The city is home to a variety of different architectural styles and notable buildings and areas. These include the Founders Heritage Park dedicated to the first European settlers and their homes; other notable Victorian and colonial buildings like Cabragh, Fairfield, and Amber Houses; and Christ Church Nelson Cathedral. Another fun place to learn about the history of the city and the region is the Nelson Provincial Museum.
- World of Wearable Art. Also known as the WOW, the World of Wearable Art was a design competition that used to take place in Nelson. Although the competition has now relocated to Wellington, it has left behind a very fun museum where visitors can appreciate the boundless creativity of artists and designers put into things that can be worn. The museum shares its space with the Classic Cars Museum and its 140 classy exhibits.
- Abel Tasman National Park. Although the smallest in New Zealand, Abel Tasman National Park is a great place to enjoy the natural beauty of this part of the country. Situated along the Golden and Tasman Bays, the park is made up of long beaches, scenic coves, wooded hills, and plenty of hiking trails. There are multiple accommodation options in the area, but you can also stay in one of the eight conservation huts inside the park. Located about 60 km (37 miles) northwest of Nelson, the nearest corner of the national park can be reached in about one hour by car.
Toll roads
All of the toll roads in New Zealand are in the northern part of the North Island, meaning there are none in or around Nelson.
The toll roads of New Zealand 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).
Car Rental Prices in Nelson
- Large cars - from $45 per day
- Medium cars - from $26 per day
- SUVs - from $39 per day
Top 14 Cities near Nelson
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508.0 km / 315.6 miles away
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Christchurch Car Rentals from $16.49 per day253.0 km / 157.2 miles away
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Queenstown Car Rentals from $14.72 per day550.8 km / 342.2 miles away
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Wellington Car Rentals from $34.58 per day130.6 km / 81.1 miles away
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Dunedin Car Rentals from $31.76 per day568.9 km / 353.5 miles away
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Rotorua Car Rentals from $49.44 per day442.5 km / 274.9 miles away
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Tauranga Car Rentals from $49.44 per day477.3 km / 296.6 miles away
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Blenheim Car Rentals from $35.54 per day58.6 km / 36.4 miles away
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Palmerston North Car Rentals from $45.84 per day228.8 km / 142.2 miles away
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Invercargill Car Rentals from $37.64 per day691.2 km / 429.5 miles away
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Napier Car Rentals from $47.78 per day370.1 km / 230.0 miles away
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Whangarei Car Rentals from $39.07 per day623.1 km / 387.2 miles away
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New Plymouth Car Rentals from $45.84 per day267.2 km / 166.1 miles away
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374.5 km / 232.7 miles away
Top 16 Locations near Nelson
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Nelson Airport Car Rentals from $21.48 per day
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Blenheim Airport Car Rentals from $35.54 per day58.6 km / 36.4 miles away
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Wellington Inter Island Ferry Terminal Car Rentals from $34.58 per day130.6 km / 81.1 miles away
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Wellington Airport Car Rentals from $10.95 per day132.2 km / 82.2 miles away
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Palmerston North Airport Car Rentals from $45.84 per day228.8 km / 142.2 miles away
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Christchurch Airport Car Rentals from $10.71 per day249.6 km / 155.1 miles away
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New Plymouth Airport Car Rentals from $45.84 per day267.2 km / 166.1 miles away
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Napier Airport Car Rentals from $47.78 per day370.1 km / 230.0 miles away
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Rotorua Airport Car Rentals from $49.44 per day442.5 km / 274.9 miles away
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Tauranga Airport Car Rentals from $49.44 per day477.3 km / 296.6 miles away
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Auckland Airport Car Rentals from $10.80 per day495.8 km / 308.1 miles away
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Auckland Ponsonby Car Rentals from $14.73 per day511.7 km / 317.9 miles away
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Queenstown Airport Car Rentals from $14.72 per day550.8 km / 342.2 miles away
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Dunedin Airport Car Rentals from $31.76 per day568.9 km / 353.5 miles away
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Whangarei Airport Car Rentals from $39.07 per day623.1 km / 387.2 miles away
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Invercargill Airport Car Rentals from $37.64 per day691.2 km / 429.5 miles away
Map of Car Rental Locations
Which is the cheapest month to rent a car in Nelson?
Car rental prices in Nelson vary a lot according to the time of year. This graph compares month-to-month price changes to help you find the best offer.
Average Rental Price in Nelson
The best month to rent a car in Nelson is April (when prices for an Economy class start from $9.28). This is 81% cheaper than the yearly average and 85% cheaper than renting in November (when rental prices start at $63.40 for a Compact class). Knowing this can help you find the best price.
What’s the usual rental length in Nelson?
Travel lengths vary from month to month: in November, travelers rent a car for an average of 10 days in June, the average rental period is 4 days.
Average Rental Length in Nelson
What's the most popular month to rent a car in Nelson?
While travelers visit Nelson year-round, the most popular month for renting a car is February, and the least popular is April.
Popularity of Car Rental in Nelson by Monthly Searches
Most Popular Car Models of Rental Suppliers
| Rental Agency | Model | Doors | Luggage | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RightCars | Nissan Tiida | 4 | 2 | Medium cars |
| RightCars | Mazda Demio | 4 | 1 | Small cars |
| RightCars | Toyota Passo | 4 | 2 | Small cars |
| RightCars | Nissan Wingroad | 4 | 2 | Station wagons |
| RightCars | Nissan Tiida | 4 | 3 | Medium cars |
| RightCars | Toyota Hiace | 4 | 3 | People Carriers/Vans |
| RightCars | Honda Stepwgn | 4 | 1 | People Carriers/Vans |
| RightCars | Nissan Pulsar | 4 | 2 | Station wagons |
| Keddy | Kia Stonic | 4 | 2 | SUVs |
| Keddy | MG HS | 4 | 4 | SUVs |
Our Customers Reviews
Because we want to make sure each review listed here is left by a real customer, we don’t have an option to post a review here. Instead, we ask each and every customer to leave a review after they return their rental. This way, you know that all reviews are authentic, verified, and trustworthy.
TS
New Zealand
Toyota Corolla
April 16, 2021
Abel Tasman is awesom. Cable Bay 1.6km zipline was a highlight. Visiting Pics peanut butter was great.
CN
New Zealand
Toyota Corolla
October 13, 2020
Great place for nature walks, sightseeing, beaches, Able Tasman, Marlborough Sounds and Marlborough vineyards.
Top 5 Suppliers in Nelson in 2021
Europcar
+64032655201
Nelson Airport, Nelson 7011, New Zealand
Working hours
Mon:08:00-16:30
Tue:08:00-16:30
Wed:08:00-16:30
Thu:08:00-16:30
Fri:08:00-16:30
Sat:08:00-16:30
Sun:08:00-16:30
Keddy
+64032655201
TERMINAL BUILDING
Working hours
Mon:08:00-16:30
Tue:08:00-16:30
Wed:08:00-16:30
Thu:08:00-16:30
Fri:08:00-16:30
Sat:08:00-16:30
Sun:08:00-16:30
Avis
035472727
Terminal Building
Working hours
Mon:08:00-20:00
Tue:08:00-20:00
Wed:08:00-20:00
Thu:08:00-20:00
Fri:08:00-20:00
Sat:08:30-18:30
Sun:08:30-19:30
Budget
035479586
Domestic Terminal Nelson Airport
Working hours
Mon:07:30-20:00
Tue:07:30-20:00
Wed:07:30-20:00
Thu:07:30-20:00
Fri:07:30-20:00
Sat:07:30-18:00
Sun:09:00-20:00
RightCars
+6432880097
32 Quarantine Road, Stoke, Nelson 7011