Christchurch is located on the South Island of New Zealand on the East Coast and is a popular starting point for a rental car trip. Due to its architecture, the city is considered the "most English" of all cities on the island. The sheep and dairy industries still play an economic role here, but tourism also plays an increasingly important role, due to the international airport and the proximity to the ski resorts.
If you are travelling with your rental car, visit Christchurch Cathedral in the city centre or take a rental car to the old university district "Arts Centre" with its cultural offerings. You should also visit the beautiful botanical garden by rental car.
Guests from Europe travel via Christchurch International Airport, the airport has IATA code CHC and is located 12 km northwest of the city center. Almost 7 million passengers are handled at the international airport every year, putting Christchurch international Airport behind the Auckland Airport and ahead of Wellington Airport.
You can comfortably travel the 12 km to the city centre by rental car and go on a discovery tour. Ideally, you have used our independent comparison portal to rent a required rental car at a reasonable price and with individual accessories. Due to the completed booking the vehicle waits as ordered at the selected car rental at the airport. After a short transfer with briefing you drive by car towards a varied New Zealand holiday. Find out below which areas you could visit in and around Christchurch by rental car.
The city is still marked by the traces of the earthquake, but reconstruction work is underway everywhere. The former crowd-puller, the cathedral on the square of the same name, was replaced by a temporary solution. A shopping centre that was completely destroyed during the earthquake is temporarily housed in colourful containers.
The Canterbury Museum remained almost undamaged near the Botanical Gardens of Christchurch. Here you will learn about the life habits of the natives of New Zealand. Afterwards you could relax in the vast park or take a boat trip on the Avon River. For your rental car you will find a suitable parking space everywhere. Art Museum and the Gallery of Modern Art are in sight and invite you to visit them.
About 12 km outside the city you can take the cable car to the highest mountain in the region and enjoy a fantastic view while hiking. Alternatively, a rental car ride to Sumner 10 km away is also available. The beach is endless, clean and little frequented.
South of the metropolis Akaroa, 85 km away, invites you to a day trip by rental car. The city harbour offers daily boat trips with regular dolphin watching. The drive by car leads through varied landscapes to a bay with many natural sights.
Well-built roads and courteous local drivers make driving very pleasant. However, you should bear in mind when renting a car at the airport that you have to drive on the left side of the road. As soon as the new situation becomes a habit, the biggest challenge is mastered. Otherwise the rules are similar to the regulations in other parts of the world:
On our independent comparison portal you will find the offers of every established car rental company and see transparently which car rental models are available at Christchurch Airport. With the help of our search form you can not only rent a cheap car, but also a car made to measure with first-class performance and practical accessories. The car you prefer will be waiting for you at the pick up station of the selected car rental company and you will be at the wheel after a few formalities. so that your holiday will be remembered untroubled, here some tips for renting.
Your stay in Christchurch can be made inexpensive if you provide your rental car with a comprehensive insurance without excess. This protects you from unexpected additional costs in the event of an accident. A slightly cheaper insurance with a deductible can result in a noticeable increase in the cost of your holiday in the event of an accident.
You will receive your rental car only against deposit of a deposit. In the digital age, airport car rental is blocking the amount on your credit card for the entire rental period. As soon as the rental car is back intact on the landlord's parking lot, you can dispose of the sum.
If you also want to visit the North Island of New Zealand and take a rental car to Wellington by ferry, ideally choose one-way rental when booking. Pick up point is the car rental company at Christchurch Airport and Wellington Airport. Details on this economic alternative can be found on our portal.
