Car Rental at Nelson Airport
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Cheapest car rental rates
Compact
Suzuki Swift or similar
$24.36 per day
Economy
Toyota Yaris or similar
$25.03 per day
Intermediate
Toyota Camry or similar
$30.94 per day
Standard Elite
Polestar 2 or similar
$43.44 per day
Most popular car rental deals
Full-size SUV
Toyota RAV4 or similar
$50.26 per day
Standard SUV
Ford Ranger or similar
$82.40 per day
Premium Extended Cab Pickup
Ford Ranger or similar
$191.33 per day
Compact
Toyota Corolla or similar
$26.64 per day
The above prices are only approximate and were last updated at 10:34 AM on 7/7/25. Prices may vary based on the booking dates, length of rental, and car class.
Why book with us?
Special offers
As a market leader, we get special offers like contactless pick-ups, great prices, and free upgrades.
Award-winning
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Highly-rated
A combined rating of 4.5 with 200k+ total reviews on platforms like Trustpilot, Google, and Review Center.
4M users
Have already booked on one of the fastest-growing car rental booking websites.
Travel information
Languages
English, Samoan
Currency
NZD
Drive on
Left-hand side
Country code
+64
Average car rental price
$59 per day
Average car rental length
7 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
$1.68 per liter or $6.36 per gallon
Lowest gas price
$1.68 per liter or $6.34 per gallon
Highest gas price
$1.80 per liter or $6.82 per gallon
Airport travel guide
Small and cozy, the city of Nelson punches way above its weight when it comes to things to see and do. The smallest city in the world to have a symphonic orchestra, it is also home to well-preserved architecture, interesting museums, and high-quality museums and galleries. Better yet, the city is also surrounded by three majestic national parks.
Top international routes
- Wellington
- Auckland
- Christchurch
- Paraparaumu
Main airlines
Air New Zealand, Originair, Golden Bay Air, Sounds Air
Terminals
The airport has a single terminal with 16 gates, seven of which are outside the terminal but connected to it. The airport was significantly modernized and made safer in a restoration that was completed in 2017.
Location
Located just 1.2 km (0.75 miles) west of the city, the airport takes no more than five minutes to reach by car.
Most popular types of rental car
- Station wagons - from $28 per day
- Large cars - from $27 per day
- Medium cars - from $24 per day
- Premium cars - from $180 per day
- Small cars - from $25 per day
- SUVs - from $30 per day
Services and facilities
Although the airport is very small, there are two cafeterias, several stores, ATMs, an outdoor children’s play area, an observation deck, and even a 6 km (3.7 mile) walking track around the airport complex.
Nearest gas station
Z gas station, called Aviation Nelson Airport, is part of the airport complex. This gas station is open 24/7. With the city being right next door, there are numerous other gas stations nearby.
Popular one-way rentals
- Christchurch (410 km / 254 miles)
- Blenheim (124 km / 77 miles)
- Queenstown (805 km / 500 miles)
Fact checked by
Yulia Saf
This article was reviewed and updated by Yulia, the spirited explorer behind Misstourist who has spent eight years traveling to over 70 countries, inspiring others with her passion and experiences. She founded Misstourist to empower fellow adventurers with invaluable resources and authentic storytelling. From bustling markets to breathtaking fjords, Yulia's adventures have created a thriving community of travel enthusiasts, making Misstourist an essential resource for uncovering the world's hidden gems.
Airport info
Nelson Airport (NSN)
- IATA: NSN
- ICAO: NZNS
- Name: Nelson Airport (NSN)
- Distance from city: 2.5 miles / 4 km
Top 20 locations near Nelson Airport
-
130 km / 80.8 miles away
-
130.6 km / 81.2 miles away
-
132.2 km / 82.1 miles away
-
228.8 km / 142.2 miles away
-
249.6 km / 155.1 miles away
-
253 km / 157.2 miles away
-
267.2 km / 166 miles away
-
370.1 km / 230 miles away
-
442.5 km / 275 miles away
-
477.3 km / 296.6 miles away
-
495.8 km / 308.1 miles away
-
505 km / 313.8 miles away
-
505.6 km / 314.2 miles away
-
506.1 km / 314.5 miles away
-
506.8 km / 314.9 miles away
-
508 km / 315.7 miles away
-
512.7 km / 318.6 miles away
-
518.8 km / 322.4 miles away
-
525.2 km / 326.3 miles away
-
550.8 km / 342.3 miles away
Map of car rental locations
When are car rental prices the lowest at Nelson Airport?
The cost of renting a car at Nelson Airport varies by season. The table and graph below can help you find the best time of year to save on a rental car.
Average rental costs per day at Nelson Airport
The cheapest month of the year to rent a car at Nelson Airport is June — when rental costs average $31.44 per day. This is 37% cheaper than the yearly average and 61% cheaper than renting a car in December (when prices average $80.18 per day).
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.
For how long do renters keep their vehicles at Nelson Airport?
How long travelers keep their rental cars varies by the time of year: in February the average rental period is 11 days, while in July, the average rental period is only 4 days.
Average number of rental days at Nelson Airport
What is the most popular time of year to rent a car at Nelson Airport?
Based on how many users search for a car in at Nelson Airport, travelers are most likely to rent a car in February, while they are least likely to rent in in June.
Monthly searches at Nelson Airport by pick-up date relative to the average
Car rental information
| Popular suppliers | Go Rentals, Snap, Ezi Car Rental, Europcar, Thrifty |
| Popular car categories | SUVs, Medium cars, Small cars, Large cars |
| Lowest price | $24 per day |
| Cheapest supplier | Snap |
Most popular car models of rental suppliers
| Rental Supplier | Model | Doors | Luggage | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Go Rentals | Toyota Corolla | 5 | 1 | Medium cars |
| Go Rentals | Mitsubishi ASX | 5 | 2 | SUVs |
| Ezi Car Rental | Ford Puma | 5 | 2 | Small cars |
| Snap | Toyota Vitz | 5 | 1 | Medium cars |
| Go Rentals | Toyota Yaris | 5 | 2 | Small cars |
| Snap | Toyota Corolla | 5 | 1 | Large cars |
| Ezi Car Rental | Mitsubishi Eclipse | 5 | 2 | SUVs |
| Snap | Toyota Highlander | 5 | 3 | SUVs |
| Snap | Toyota Corolla | 5 | 2 | Large cars |
| Ezi Car Rental | Mitsubishi ASX | 4 | 2 | SUVs |
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.
GD
United States of America (USA)
Toyota Corolla Cross
2/4/24
Wonderful time with family in Nelson, great Airbnb for a few days in Marlborough Sounds was a highlight.
PS
New Zealand
Toyota Corolla
11/9/23
easy getting around . lovely beaches .
JS
United States of America (USA)
Toyota Corolla Sedan
4/7/23
We were extremely lucky with the weather on the South Island. The car was very useful
MK
New Zealand
Hyundai i30
2/1/23
Explored Nelson and surrounding area.
We also decided to drive to Havelock to taste mussels on top of enjoying Abel Tasman National Park.
GJ
Australia
Haval H6
1/9/23
Family
PC
France
Mitsubishi ASX
11/25/22
Abel Tasman national park is beautiful.
JR
New Zealand
Mazda Demio
5/31/22
Great pick up service and drop off.
DL
New Zealand
Mazda Demio
5/24/22
spent 3 nights in Picton and would recommend it for a visit
PS
New Zealand
Kia Sorento
2/28/22
Abel Tasman is stunning
TR
New Zealand
Mazda Premacy
1/5/22
Charleston underworld caving
DJ
New Zealand
Toyota Corolla
5/12/21
Ships Cove north of Haast not to be missed!
IH
New Zealand
Mitsubishi Eclipse
5/12/21
We enjoyed the ride in our Mitsibishi Eclispe. Value for money.
YP
New Zealand
Toyota Passo
3/28/21
Friendly and efficient service with pick up and drop of at the airport, all we needed for our trip
HS
New Zealand
Nissan Tiida
7/30/20
I love Takaka!
DZ
Australia
Mazda Demio
11/9/19
You'll probably need a car to get around the top of the South Island.
Car rental statistics
Highest-rated company
Ezi Car Rental
9.2 / 10
Lowest-rated company
Keddy
8 / 10
Total number of reviews
17
Total rental companies
11
Average daily price
$59.30
Lowest daily price
$24.36
Total cars available
75
Top 11 suppliers at Nelson Airport in 2025
Ezi Car Rental
+640800545000 / +6433592721
Nelson Airport Terminal, Nelson Airport, Nelson
$36 - $60
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:
08:00 - 16:00
Sun:
08:00 - 16:00
Hertz
+64035472299
Trent Drive, Nelson
$36 - $60
Working hours
Mon:
07:30 - 20:30
Tue:
07:30 - 20:30
Wed:
07:30 - 20:30
Thu:
07:30 - 20:30
Fri:
07:30 - 20:30
Sat:
08:30 - 15:00
Sun:
09:30 - 20:30
+64032655201
Nelson Airport, Nelson 7011, New Zealand
$31 - $34
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
Thrifty
+64800737070
Trent Drive, Nelson Airport, Nelson 7011, New Zealand
$37 - $193
Working hours
Mon:
07:30 - 20:30
Tue:
07:30 - 20:30
Wed:
07:30 - 20:30
Thu:
07:30 - 20:30
Fri:
07:30 - 20:30
Sat:
08:30 - 15:00
Sun:
09:30 - 20:30
Snap
+6492752438 / 0800288699
Trent Drive, Nelson Airport, Nelson 7011, New Zealand
$24 - $45
Working hours
Mon:
08:00 - 17:30
Tue:
08:00 - 17:30
Wed:
08:00 - 17:30
Thu:
08:00 - 17:30
Fri:
08:00 - 17:30
Sat:
08:00 - 17:30
Sun:
08:00 - 17:30
Go Rentals
+6439743700 / +6499741598
Nelson Airport, Terminal Building, Trent Drive, Nelson Airport, Nelson 7011
$25 - $63
Working hours
Mon:
08:00 - 17:00
Tue:
08:00 - 17:00
Wed:
08:00 - 17:00
Thu:
08:00 - 17:00
Fri:
08:00 - 17:00
Sat:
08:00 - 17:00
Sun:
08:00 - 17:00
Dollar
+640800243789
Trent Drive, Nelson Airport
$40 - $205
Working hours
Mon:
07:30 - 20:30
Tue:
07:30 - 20:30
Wed:
07:30 - 20:30
Thu:
07:30 - 20:30
Fri:
07:30 - 20:30
Sat:
08:30 - 15:00
Sun:
09:30 - 20:30
Alamo
+6498703330
Nelson Airport, Nelson 7011
$31 - $40
Working hours
Mon:
08:00 - 17:00
Tue:
08:00 - 17:00
Wed:
08:00 - 17:00
Thu:
08:00 - 17:00
Fri:
08:00 - 17:00
Sat:
08:00 - 17:00
Sun:
08:00 - 17:00
Routes Car Rental
+64032655201
Terminal Building, 7011 Nelson
$33
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
Firefly
035472299
Trent Drive
$33
Working hours
Mon:
07:30 - 20:30
Tue:
07:30 - 20:30
Wed:
07:30 - 20:30
Thu:
07:30 - 20:30
Fri:
07:30 - 20:30
Sat:
08:30 - 15:00
Sun:
09:30 - 20:30
Keddy
+64032655201
Nelson Airport (South Island)
$82
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
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: Europe's 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
Trustpilot - Top 10 Car Rental Agencies
SimilarWeb - Top 50 Car Rental Websites
Highly recommended by our customers
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