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Renting a car in Queenstown

To most people, Queenstown is synonymous with adventure. But there's so much more to discover than jet boats, mountains and bungee jumping in this bustling South Island town. Take in award winning wineries, experience world-class cuisine, and explore the rich history of gold mining in Central Otago.

Airport Rentals makes it easy to book a hire car in Queenstown. Simply make a search with your chosen travel dates and compare prices and deals on a range of vehicles from leading brands. You'll be booked and ready to go in no time.

A winding road on the remarkables in Summer with Queenstown in the distance.

Compare car rental companies in Queenstown

We partner with a range of car rental suppliers in Queenstown, including:

When you make a search, you can compare their range of vehicles, their prices and any car rental deals available for your chosen dates.

What is the most popular rental car in Queenstown?

Popular compact rental cars

The Toyota Corolla Hatch is a popular compact vehicle for hire in Queenstown, and is available from Thrifty, Dollar and Avis.

Popular SUVs

Popular SUVs in Queenstown include the Mitsubishi ASX, Toyota RAV4 and Mitsubishi Outlander. You can find these vehicles through Thrifty, Budget and Go Rentals.

Hiring a car from Queenstown Airport?

Search and compare car rental options on our Queenstown Airport car rental page.

Picking up your rental car in Queenstown

Once you've booked your hire car, you'll need to know how and where to pick up your vehicle. You can rest assured this is a straightforward process and all of the details will be provided to you when you book.

Generally, you will need to make your own way to the rental car depot. You can find the addresses for the downtown Queenstown rental car companies on the below map. Everyone who plans to drive the vehicle will need to be present, with their drivers license. You will also need your debit or credit card when you collect your car.

Map of Queenstown car rental locations

How much does it cost to hire a car in Queenstown?

Queenstown is one of the most popular tourist locations in New Zealand. Therefore, rental prices can be higher than other parts of the country. Depending on the time of year, you can expect to pay anywhere from $70NZD for an Economy car to $250NZD a day for a late model SUV.

As prices fluctuate throughout the year, we recommend you make a search using different travel dates to see up-to-date pricing and vehicle availability. We work hard to bring you the best car rental deals, so you can also take a look at our hire car deals page to see if there are any promotions currently available.

Need help?

Have a question, or need help with your booking? You can contact us and one of our expert customer service team will be here to get you on the road.

Things to do in Queenstown

Skiing

You can't mention Queenstown without talking about Treble Cone Ski Area or Cardrona Alpine Resort. Extremely popular with skiers and snowboarders alike, you'll find people from all around the country and the world enjoying these remarkable mountains. If you're planning on driving your rental car to the ski field, make sure to check if you need snow chains, ski racks and that your chosen hire car company allows this.

Adventure

Aside from snow, you also can't escape the word 'adventure' when talking about Queenstown. The choices for getting your heart racing a numerous, including jet boating, bungee jumping, white rafting and mountain biking. There are also family friendly activities, like the Skyline Gondola and Luge.

Wine and food

There are numerous cellar doors around Queenstown, where you can sample local wines and learn about the process of creating wine. Heading along Gibbston Back Road is a good place to start, with Brennan Wines, Mt Rosa Wines and Coxs' Vineyard and Art Gallery all located there. Places like Amisfield Restaurant & Cellar Door and Gibbston Valley Winery Restaurant are great choices to sample local cuisine along with world-class wines.

Food and wine on a table with lake in background.

Car hire Queenstown: Frequently asked questions

How much do long-term car rentals cost in Queenstown?

Long-term car rental are available from Queenstown. Car hire costs will generally be lower per day when you rent a car for longer than two weeks. We recommend making a search with your chosen travel dates to see what options are available and the associated costs.

Is one way car hire available from Queenstown?

Yes, you can hire a car in Queenstown and return it to another location. For example, you could start your journey in Queenstown and then head to Christchurch or Dunedin to drop off your vehicle. Companies like Avis, Thrifty, Dollar and Go Rentals have this option. Just make sure to until the 'Return to same location' box when making a search.

What type of car is recommended for driving in Queenstown?

SUVs, like Mitsubishi ASX, Toyota RAV4 and Mitsubishi Outlander are popular choices when hiring a car in Queenstown, because of the extra space and comfort they provide, especially when driving in winter. If you are travelling in winter, make sure you check the requirements for snow chains with your chosen supplier.

What's the speed limit in Queenstown?

Most roads in downtown Queenstown have a speed limit of 40kph. However, there are some areas where this drops to 20kph, such as around Pukeko Street and Cellar Drive, and some areas where it is 50kph, such as along Shotover Street and Stanley Street.

Where are the best places to park in Queenstown?

Parking in Queenstown can be difficult because of how busy it gets, especially at peak time. Parking fees range from $2/hr in the Boundary Street Carpark to $6/hr in Stanley Street, Earl Street, Church Street and Athol Street. If you can get a free car park in the city centre, it will likely have a strict time limit. We recommend planning ahead and getting into town early if you will need to find a car park.