Car Rental in Palmerston North
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The above prices are only approximate and were last updated at 09:49 on 2021-03-01. 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 Palmerston North?
Located in the Manawatu Region of New Zealand’s North Island, Palmerston North has its fair share of attractions for curious visitors. These include heritage buildings, interesting museums, modern cultural spaces, and the region’s famous wineries. With a rental car, you can also easily visit a number of spectacular nature areas that are a relatively short drive from the city.
One-Way Car Rentals in Palmerston North
The most popular one-way rental options for pick up in Palmerston North and drop off in another city include:
- From Palmerston North to Wellington - 8 offers from US$ 101.53 per day
Top ways to enter Palmerston North
- Palmerston North Airport: Serving about 650,000 travelers each year, Palmerston North Airport offers flights to and from Auckland, Christchurch, and other domestic destinations on both the North and South islands. Located about 6 km (3.7 miles) north of the city center, the airport takes ten minutes to reach.
- Wellington Airport: Serving the national capital, Wellington Airport handles 6.5 million travelers every year. A hub for the national carrier, Air New Zealand, and served by about ten other airlines, the airport provides many domestic links, as well as flights to and from select international destinations. Located 150 km (93 miles) southwest of Palmerston North, Wellington can be reached in about 2 hours and 30 minutes.
- Auckland Airport: By far the busiest in New Zealand, Auckland Airport handles more than 20 million travelers every year. In addition to domestic routes, the airport also provides flights to such varied destinations as Australia, Japan, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, and Chile. Located 500 km (300 miles) north of Palmerston North, Auckland can be reached in about six hours.
Top destinations and activities
- New Zealand Rugby Museum. New Zealand may be home to just five million people, but the country is a global rugby union powerhouse. Their national team, All Blacks, are famous not only for the fearsome haka or tribal dance, but also the numerous world cups they’ve won, and this museum is dedicated to those fabled achievements. The rugby museum is part of Te Manawa, a large museum, gallery, and space center that’s one of the most interesting places in Palmerston North.
- Manawatu Gorge. Also known as Te Apiti or the narrow passage in Maori, Manawatu Gorge is one of the most impressive natural attractions in this part of the country. Connecting Manawatu with the neighboring Hawke’s Bay region, the gorge offers truly stunning views that are best enjoyed from the hiking trail that runs along the south side of it. The entrance of the gorge is about 16 km (10 miles) northeast of Palmerton North and can be reached in about 20 minutes by car.
- Pūkaha National Wildlife Center. Dedicated to the protection of the unique local fauna species, Pūkaha is a conservation center and a nature preserve about an hour’s drive south of Palmerston North. If lucky, visitors can see unique animals like the kākā bush parrot, barking gecko, and the legendary kiwi bird, as well as learn about conservation and forest restoration efforts. Pūkaha Wildlife Center borders Tararua mountains and forest park, a beautiful and wild nature area.
Toll roads
All of the toll roads in New Zealand are in the northern part of the North Island (so there are none that are particularly close to Palmerston North). They 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 Palmerston North
- Large cars - from $71 per day
- Medium cars - from $56 per day
- SUVs - from $71 per day
Top 13 Cities near Palmerston North
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Auckland Car Rentals from $11.21 per day375.4 km / 233.3 miles away
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Christchurch Car Rentals from $11.11 per day434.4 km / 270.0 miles away
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Queenstown Car Rentals from $15.28 per day767.0 km / 476.6 miles away
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Wellington Car Rentals from $11.36 per day130.9 km / 81.4 miles away
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Dunedin Car Rentals from $32.96 per day762.1 km / 473.6 miles away
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Nelson Car Rentals from $22.30 per day228.8 km / 142.2 miles away
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Napier Car Rentals from $49.59 per day143.3 km / 89.1 miles away
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Blenheim Car Rentals from $36.89 per day197.9 km / 123.0 miles away
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Invercargill Car Rentals from $39.07 per day897.4 km / 557.6 miles away
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Tauranga Car Rentals from $51.31 per day299.0 km / 185.8 miles away
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Rotorua Car Rentals from $51.31 per day253.3 km / 157.4 miles away
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Whangarei Car Rentals from $40.55 per day518.1 km / 322.0 miles away
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New Plymouth Car Rentals from $47.58 per day190.8 km / 118.6 miles away
Top 16 Locations near Palmerston North
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Palmerston North Airport Car Rentals from $47.58 per day3.4 km / 2.1 miles away
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Wellington Inter Island Ferry Terminal Car Rentals from $35.89 per day123.5 km / 76.7 miles away
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Wellington Airport Car Rentals from $11.36 per day128.4 km / 79.8 miles away
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Napier Airport Car Rentals from $49.59 per day145.2 km / 90.2 miles away
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New Plymouth Airport Car Rentals from $47.58 per day193.7 km / 120.4 miles away
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Blenheim Airport Car Rentals from $36.89 per day196.0 km / 121.8 miles away
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Nelson Airport Car Rentals from $22.30 per day227.6 km / 141.4 miles away
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Rotorua Airport Car Rentals from $51.31 per day256.4 km / 159.3 miles away
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Tauranga Airport Car Rentals from $51.31 per day302.2 km / 187.8 miles away
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Auckland Airport Car Rentals from $11.21 per day378.8 km / 235.4 miles away
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Auckland Ponsonby Car Rentals from $15.29 per day396.5 km / 246.4 miles away
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Christchurch Airport Car Rentals from $11.11 per day432.0 km / 268.4 miles away
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Whangarei Airport Car Rentals from $40.55 per day521.5 km / 324.0 miles away
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Dunedin Airport Car Rentals from $32.96 per day759.6 km / 472.0 miles away
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Queenstown Airport Car Rentals from $15.28 per day765.0 km / 475.4 miles away
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Invercargill Airport Car Rentals from $39.07 per day895.2 km / 556.2 miles away
Map of Car Rental Locations
Which is the cheapest month to rent a car in Palmerston North?
Car rental prices in Palmerston North 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 Palmerston North
The best month to rent a car in Palmerston North is May (when prices for an Economy class start from $34.91). This is 44% cheaper than the yearly average and 58% cheaper than renting in November (when rental prices start at $83.91 for a Compact class). Knowing this can help you find the best price.
What’s the usual rental length in Palmerston North?
Travel lengths vary from month to month: in March, travelers rent a car for an average of 8 days in September, the average rental period is 3 days.
Average Rental Length in Palmerston North
What's the most popular month to rent a car in Palmerston North?
While travelers visit Palmerston North year-round, the most popular month for renting a car is March, and the least popular is January.
Popularity of Car Rental in Palmerston North by Monthly Searches
Most Popular Car Models of Rental Suppliers
| Rental Agency | Model | Doors | Luggage | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Europcar | Suzuki Swift | 5 | 1 | Medium cars |
| Hitch Car Rentals | Mazda Demio | 4 | 1 | Small cars |
| Europcar | Suzuki S-Cross | 5 | 2 | Large cars |
| Europcar | Toyota Corolla | 5 | 2 | Large cars |
| Europcar | Holden Commodore | 4 | 2 | Large cars |
| Europcar | Nissan Qashqai | 5 | 3 | SUVs |
| Hitch Car Rentals | Mazda 3 | 4 | 2 | Medium cars |
| Thrifty | Toyota Yaris | 4 | 2 | Small cars |
| Europcar | Ford Ranger | 4 | 4 | SUVs |
| Europcar | Suzuki Vitara | 5 | 2 | SUVs |
Top 4 Suppliers in Palmerston North in 2021
Europcar
+64062602320
TERMINAL BUILDING
Working hours
Mon:08:00-18:00
Tue:08:00-18:00
Wed:08:00-18:00
Thu:08:00-18:00
Fri:08:00-18:00
Sat:08:00-18:00
Sun:08:00-18:00
Keddy
+64062602320
TERMINAL BUILDING
Working hours
Mon:08:00-18:00
Tue:08:00-18:00
Wed:08:00-18:00
Thu:08:00-18:00
Fri:08:00-18:00
Sat:08:00-18:00
Sun:08:00-18:00
Avis
6463570168
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:08:00-16:30
Sun:09:00-17:30
Budget
6463568565
Terminal Building Palmerston North Airport
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:08:00-16:30
Sun:09:00-17:30