Search for Car Rental Palmerston North Airport

Palmerston North - affectionately known as ‘Palmy’ to the locals - is an inland city in New Zealand's North Island, home to more than 80,000 people. It’s an eclectic mix of outdoor adventure, heritage, arts and culture, and urban city living, as well as being a central point between other major cities such as Wellington and Wanganui. Discover the best of Palmerston North and its neighbouring cities in the comfort and style of a car hire. Choose from a wide range of suppliers of rental cars in Palmerston North Airport and make your way around the stunning views of the North Island.

Book a car rental in Palmerston North with Airport Rentals

With so much to see, do and experience, a car hire in Palmerston North is the easiest way to get around. For a bargain on rental cars in Palmerston North you don’t have to look any further than the airport itself. Here you’ll find the leading local rental companies all in the same place: Auto Europe, Avis, Budget, Europcar and Thrifty. Instead of approaching each car rental desk on arrival to find out what’s available and how much it all costs, you can save yourself time, hassle and money by sorting it all with a few clicks at Airport Rentals.

By automatically pulling together all of this information, you can quickly and easily compare each rental vehicle and price ahead of time. This is a great way to ensure you get the Palmerston North airport car hire you’re after, whether that’s a zippy coupe for getting about town or a big station wagon to fit all the kids and luggage.

Each rental car also comes with a lowest-price guarantee, and you won’t pay anything extra for hire such as booking or credit card fees. Plus, once you’re on the road, the service continues with round-the-clock support from the Airport Rentals customer service team.

Palmerston North Airport: What you need to know

The Palmerston North Airport is only 8.6 kilometres from the city, so just a quick 10-15 minute drive into town once you’ve picked up your hire car. The airport serves regular flights to and from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Nelson and Hamilton.

Your car rental company is easily located within the airport terminal, and remember that we don’t charge for most changes or cancellations, should your plans change once you arrive.

What to do in Palmerston North

Palmerston North - or just ‘Palmy’ to its friends - is an underrated hive of culture and activity. Checking out all the museums and galleries about the town could fill several days, so you’ll have to pick just a few if you’re limited on time. Most notably, the city is home to the New Zealand Rugby Museum, which boasts the country’s biggest collection of memorabilia and records. Even if you don’t back the All Blacks, it’s a fascinating tour through time looking at the most memorable moments and characters of New Zealand’s national sport. Pick up your hire car at Palmerston North Airport and explore the places at your own time.

From walks to white-water rafting, there’s no shortage of outdoor adventures either. Take a day trip out to New Zealand’s highest bridge bungy at Gravity Canyon about 90 minute-drive in your vehicle rental from Palmerston North’s CBD. You can get your fix of adrenaline on the 1.1km Flying Fox, the 50m freefall over Mokai Canyon on the giant swing, or simply jump the 80 metres over the Rangitikei River. For more sedate outdoor excursions, there are countless walks, kayaking tours, horseback rides and biking tracks, allowing you to enjoy some of the country’s world-famous scenery.

For those that want to venture from further afield and end up in Palmy, consider picking up a Christchurch car rental or car hire from Auckland Airport. Alternatively, Wellington is just a few hours drive to the South, or from Westport is also a great choice. Head further down and explore Nelson with your rental car. In case you decide to head North, you will have the choice between the beautiful Hawke's Bay, also renowned for its wine, and the stunning Mt Taranaki. If you have more time, drive further up north to secure a Whatakane car rental or take your rental vehicle to Hamilton.

Palmerston North accommodation

Holiday in style or stay somewhere that will leave plenty left in the budget for activities - Palmerston North has it all. The airport is only 10 minute-drive in your car hire from the centre of town, so you won’t be restricted by location if you’re due to arrive late at night or leave early in the morning.

• Pepper Tree Hostel

• Broadway Motor Inn

• Kiwi Studios Motel

• Hotel Coachman

• Fitzherbert Castle Motel

Events in Palmerston North

Palmerston North loves to celebrate, and the busy social calendar in town is packed with theatre performances, musical concerts, cultural celebrations and more. Take a look at what’s on in town during your car rental Palmerston holiday and add an event or two to your itinerary!

• Esplanade Day (February)

• Festival of Cultures (March)

• International Spring Festival (September)

Foodie scene in Palmerston North

Palmerston North is a relatively small city but it can certainly put on a good spread when it wants to. If there is one thing it’s known for in terms of food, it’s the diverse range of international fare. Take a break from your car hire road trip and stop at any of Palmerston North’s food scenes. The ‘Arranged Marriage Restaurant’ is a tongue-in-cheek nod to Asian and Indian foods, and Aqaba is a quirky Egyptian restaurant that offers something quite unique.

For a solid Kiwi-style meal, you can’t go wrong with the iconic Speight’s Ale House, or tackle one of the juicy steaks at Aberdeen, one of the most popular spots in the city.

Palmerston North’s geography, culture and people

Palmerston North is a warm and friendly town that perfectly embodies the Kiwi spirit of being welcoming and open to visitors. In fact, one of the biggest events of the year is the annual Festival of Cultures, which celebrates the diversity of the region and brings together people from all walks of life.

The town has a fairly young population on average thanks to Massey University, as well as the Institute of the Pacific United and the Universal College of Learning.

Geographically, the placement of Palmerston North makes it a true central location for New Zealand, with roughly 1 million people living within a three hour radius.

Things to see in Palmerston North

From a scenic garden and native bird sanctuary to a museum dedicated to New Zealand’s favourite sport and the headquarters of one of its favourite beverages, Palmy puts on a good show with its attractions. Jump behind the wheel of your Palmerston North car rental and make your way around these unforgettable destinations.

• New Zealand Rugby Museum

• Owlcatraz

• Te Manawa

• Victoria Esplanade Gardens

• Tui HQ

Transport options in Palmerston North

A rental car is your best bet, but should you need it, the main public transport options in town consist of taxis and the bus system.

You’ll find the central bus exchange on Main Street East, where you can take one of seven bus routes throughout the city. Download the GoHorizons app onto your phone for trip planning and timetables.

Additionally, there are a number of bus services that run between Palmerston North and other nearby centres, as well as a selection of routes across the North Island.

Palmerston North climate: Best time to visit Palmerston

Palmerston North’s climate is an agreeable middle ground - it never gets too cold or too hot. It doesn’t rain terribly often, and daily averages in winter usually remain about 10 degrees Celsius.

In New Zealand, summer officially begins at the start of December and ends when February does, but you can expect mild temperatures from October through to May. The winter months of June, July and August are cooler, but it’s very rare to see snow or freezing temperatures at all, making Palmerston North a great destination for a car rental holiday no matter the time of year.