Are you looking for a reliable and affordable car rental at Wellington Airport? VroomVroomVroom can help you compare deals from leading car hire providers such as Europcar, Thrifty, Budget, Hertz, and Avis. Book early to secure a great deal and find rental cars in various locations across New Zealand.
Wellington Airport welcomes both international and domestic flights. As the gateway to Middle Earth, the terminal is adorned with some spectacular installations from the Hobbit films. Book a car rental with VroomVroomVroom for a hassle-free Wellington holiday.
Whether you are starting your journey or getting ready to hop from the North to South Island, hiring a car at Wellington Airport is the easiest way to get going. Located in the suburb of Rongotai, it is 5.5km from the CBD or a leisurely 17-minute drive into town.
The New Zealand capital city’s airport sees around 250 flights depart and arrive each day with almost six million passengers passing through the airport each year. Wellington Airport is open from 3:30am to 1:30am, 7 days a week. A selection of cafes and shops are open 22 hours a day while the majority are open during regular business hours. After collecting your bags, you’ll find hire car counters on the Ground Level of the terminal next to domestic baggage claim.
To help passengers and their families say hello and goodbye, there are several parking options at Wellington Airport. The airport offers free parking for the first 10-minutes to make for easy picking up and dropping off in designated zones outside the terminal on Level 1. For longer stays, there is a covered multi-level parking building on levels 1 to 7 with rates starting from $36 per day.
Wellington Airport address: Stuart Duff Drive, Rongotai, Wellington
Number of on-site suppliers: 5. Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz
Car rental opening hours: Car rental is available at Wellington Airport between 6:00am to 1:30am, 7 days a week
Need to pick up/drop off a hire car early morning or late evening? These depots have extended hours.
 | Avis Wellington Airport: Monday to Friday from 6 am to 1:30 am. Saturday from 6:30 am to 1:30 am. Sunday from 7 am to 1:30 am. |
 | Budget Wellington Airport: Monday to Friday from 6 am to 1:30 am. Saturday from 6:30 am to 1:30 am. Sunday from 7 am to 1:30 am. |
 | Enterprise Wellington Airport: Monday to Sunday from 6 am to 1 am. |
 | Europcar Wellington Airport: Monday to Sunday Open 24-hours. |
 | Hertz Wellington Airport: Monday to Sunday from 6 am to 1 am. |
The best way to get an idea of renting a car is to read about fellow traveller’s real recent experiences. Our team have reached out to some of our customers who recently rented from Wellington Airport and their experiences are shared below.
Angela (October 2019): Angela collected a hire car from Thrifty at Wellington Airport. She hired an Intermediate car and rated the condition of the car 9/10.
It should take you about 15 minutes to drive from Wellington Airport to the centre of the city via State Highway 1. Wellington hosts many events throughout the year, including major sporting matches. At these times be aware of increased traffic in the city. You can check the Wellington events page for more information.
If you are planning to explore more of New Zealand's North Island, plan your journey in advance and take note of travel times. It is an eight-hour drive from Wellington to Auckland. If it is your first time to drive in Wellington, check out our driving tips.
Car rental counters are on the Ground Level next to the domestic baggage claim.
Follow the signs from your hire car company to their designated car park area. Lock the car, taking any belongings with you to return the keys to the rental counter on the ground floor of the terminal building (near baggage claim).
The nearest petrol is the Z - Broadway on the corner of Calabar Road and Broadway. This petrol station is open 24 hours.
There are a variety of parking solutions available and they start at $36NZD for one day’s parking.
Wellington is an exciting airport to fly into, known for its extreme winds and often white-knuckle descents. Once your heart rate returns to normal, grab your rental car and get on the road. If you are looking for great ideas on things to do, places to stay and eat, we have collected some of the best ideas for you.
Things to Do | Places to Stay | Places to Eat
Address: 53 Waiapu Rd, Karori
Visit the suburb of Karori for the Zealandia Sanctuary conservation experience. Using a unique predator-proof fence, this 225 hectare sanctuary is turning back the clock by 80 million years, to reproduce the bush, and wildlife species of New Zealand before human occupation. Join their night tour for a truly unique experience. (Photo by Jo Moore)
Address: Shed One, Queens Wharf, Wellington Waterfront
Switched on Bikes in Wellington have electric bikes for hire so you can see the sights and enjoy the wind in your hair. You can cruise the bays and peninsula then head up to the city's best lookouts, all without breaking a sweat!
Switched on Bikes can sort you out with eBike hire for just an hour, half or a full day. Their Electric Bays guided tour runs daily, if you'd like a local's insight to the capital. They are open 7 days and centrally located on the Wellington waterfront.
Martinborough TOP 10 Holiday Park
Address: 10 Dublin St. West, Martinborough
Martinborough is an attractive village in the Wairarapa region, just under two hours driving time from Wellington airport. It's well known for world class winemaking, in particular, Pinot Noir. The Martinborough TOP 10 Holiday Park is a great choice for your accommodation, offering a range of powered campervan sites, with cabins and ensuite studios if you are visiting in a rental car. There are over 20 vineyards nearby, and you can rent a bike directly from the holiday park to visit them. Finish your day relaxing on the barbecue deck with some of that local Pinot!
Brentwood Hotel Wellington
Address: 16 Kemp St, Kilbirnie, Wellington
Conveniently located just 2.6 kilometres from Wellington Airport, and six kilometres from downtown Wellington. Facilities include a restaurant and bar, with an outdoor pool. The Brentwood Hotel is also well known as a great conference venue. Great news for drivers: there is also free car parking!
Address: 30 Cochrane St, Rongotai, Wellington
This unique venue is situated in Lyall Bay, in the former NAC domestic terminal, at the gateway to Wellington Airport. It is paradise for plane-spotters, and has stunning water views. It has a cafe menu through the day, and serves hearty mains at night, as well as being a venue for functions.
