Car Rental in Wellington

Why rent a car in Wellington?

The capital city of New Zealand, Wellington is an increasingly popular tourist destination. The city is home to the country’s government and boasts interesting museums and galleries, historic landmarks, and some of the most scenic urban views in the country. Located at the southern edge of the North Island, Wellington offers ferry connections with the South Island on the other side of the Cook Strait.

Top ways to enter Wellington

• Wellington Airport: The main airport serving the capital city region, it handles about 6.4 million passengers every year. In addition to domestic flights, there are also connections with multiple cities in Australia, as well as Nadi in Fiji. Located in the southern suburb of Rongotai, the airport is 9 km (5.4 miles) from the city center and can be reached in about ten minutes.
• By ferry: Rental cars can also be picked up and dropped off at the Wellington Inter-Island Ferry Terminal. The terminal is just north of the Central Business District (CBD). 

Top sights and activities

• Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Known by both its English and Maori names, the museum has an impressive collection of New Zealand’s natural history and indigenous culture, along with many other interactive exhibitions both indoors and outdoors. The two main attractions of the museum are the Maori marae or communal sacred space and the world’s only publicly displayed colossal squid.
• Carter Observatory. Long before the Europeans arrived, the Maori and other Polynesian peoples explored and colonized the unimaginably vast South Pacific Ocean. Having done that without any modern technology, their supreme navigational skills have long fascinated and puzzled Western scientists. The Carter Observatory of Wellington is dedicated to this unique maritime heritage with many interesting exhibitions about the subject. Fitting to its name, it also has a high-quality planetarium which is also open to the public.
• Lookout Points. Although the peaks and hills that surround Wellington are not as high as those of the South Island, they nonetheless offer splendid views of the city and the harbor below. Popular spots include Mount Kaukau and Mount Victoria, as well as views from Massey Memorial and the Brooklyn Wind Turbine. Most of these spots can be accessed by car, offering some scenic drives along the way.
• Wellington Cable Car. From the heart of the city center, the cable car travels to the lookout point high above. The historical ride is one of the best ways to explore Wellington. Built in 1902, the Wellington Cable car recently celebrated its 120th birthday. 
• Zealandia Ecosanctuary. The Zealandia sanctuary is the first urban completely fenced ecosanctuary, with many endemic species of flora and fauna from New Zealand restored and thriving.

Toll roads

All of the toll roads in New Zealand are in the northern part of the North Island. 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). 

Ideas for day trips

• Belmont Regional Park. The largest nature preserve in the capital region, Belmont is known for its scenic hiking (and biking) trails that take you through its forests, waterways, and valleys. Although encompassing a large portion of farmland, the region is also a good place to spot some of New Zealand’s unique birds and reptiles. The drive from Wellington to Belmont only takes about 25 minutes.
• Wairarapa. If Pinot Noir or Sauvignon Blanc awakens excitement in you, then you should visit the Wairarapa wine region just 80 kilometers and an hour-and-a-half drive away from Wellington. The temperate climate of New Zealand is perfect for growing grapes, and the Wairarapa wine region belongs to one of the most popular wine regions in the country. 

Car rental prices in Wellington

• Large cars - from $17 per day
• Vans - from $21 per day
• Medium cars - from $17 per day
• SUVs - from $16 per day
• Small cars - from $17 per day
• Premium cars - from $54 per day
• Station wagons - from $17 per day