Located on the southern edge of Lake Rotorua, this town is largely known for its geothermal activity and its incredible local history and culture. You won’t want to waste any time organising your car rental once you arrive, which is where Airport Rentals comes in. We bring together all available rental cars at Rotorua Airport from trusted brands, so you can compare prices and decide which make and model will be best suited for your time in Rotorua.
Car rental companies at Rotorua Airport
You can compare and book with these companies at the airport:
- Avis
- Budget
- Europcar
- Ezi Car Rentals
- Ezu
- Hertz
- Keddy
- Rad Car Hire
- Thrifty
All of these companies are located at the airport, apart from Ezu, which is a short shuttle ride away. When you make a search, you can filter by these brands to see their prices and availability.
Convenient pick-up and drop-off process at Rotorua Airport
When you arrive at the airport you will find a single arrivals terminal with car rental kiosks inside opposite the baggage claim area. If you have a rental vehicle from anyone except Ezu (which has an off airport location), then you can check in at the kiosk to receive the keys to your car hire and be directed to the rental car park. To make the process as seamless as possible, make sure you have your driver's license and rental details ready before you get to the counter.
Ezu customers are required to call a phone number when they're ready to be picked up. A shuttle will be sent to airport to take customers to their city depot. The ride is about 15 minutes. You can then check in and pick up your hire as normal.
When you are ready to return your vehicle, you can drive back to the airport (or Ezu depot), check the car for your personal belongings and then drop the keys off to staff inside the terminal. Specific return details will be available in your rental agreement if you are unsure of the process.
Rotorua Airport car rental locations
Types of rental cars available at the airport
There are plenty of car makes and models to choose from at Rotorua Airport. These are some of the vehicles that are available:
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Suzuki Swift or similar (Economy)
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Mitsubishi ASX or similar (Intermediate)
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Nissan X Trail or similar (SUV)
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Kia Carnival or Similar (Van/People Carrier)
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Tesla Model 3 or similar (Electric)
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Mitsubishi Outlander 4WD (Premium)
Once you have made a search, you can filter by car type to narrow down your results.
Need help? Our customer service team is available 24/7
Have a question, or need help with your booking? You can contact us anytime and one of our expert customer service team will be here to get you on the road.
Rental car requirements and policies
What are the age and license requirements for hiring a rental car in Rotorua?
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Most car hire companies require you to be at least 21, however some companies, such as Thrifty and Hertz, allow drivers aged 18 and over.
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International licenses are accepted, providing they are translated into English or accompanied by an International Drivers Permit.
What is Airport Rentals cancellation policy?
Free cancellation is available on most rental vehicles up to 72 hours before pick-up. You will see a green tick next to 'Free cancellation' in the search results when this option is available.
Planning Your Trip to Rotorua
If you're in Rotorua on holiday, there are a few must see experiences that we recommend.
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First off, mud pools. We understand that this doesn't necessarily sound appealing, however relaxing in the warm hot springs whilst cleansing your skin with mud is an incredibly relaxing experience. Mud pools are available at Hell's Gate and the Polynesian Spa.
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Skyline Rotorua is a fun experience for the whole family. One of the most popular attractions in New Zealand's North Island, Skyline can get your heart pumping with ziplines, mountain biking or downhill luging. If none of that appeals to you, simply watch the fun from the onsite cafe.
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Take a trip in the history of Rotorua with a visit to Whakarewarewa, the Living Māori Village. Amazing geothermal activity is abundant here, with geysers and sulphureous, bubbling mud pools aplenty. You can also the rich Māori culture embedded deep in this part of New Zealand.
There's plenty more to see and do in Rotorua. You can find everything you need to know on the Welcome to Rotorua website.
Discover Rotorua and beyond with a hire car
Being able to just drive around Rotorua and the nearby Lake Rotoiti are treats in and of themselves, but being able to set your own pace in a hire car means you can do so much more. Having your own transportation gives you the option to head east to Tauranga to enjoy the beach at Mt Maunganui, or go north to Auckland, New Zealand's biggest city that comes with all of the hustle and bustle that implies. If those don't appeal, head west to New Plymouth via the famous Waitomo Caves. Here you can experience black sand and one of the countries most up and coming places. Wherever you travel, the convenience of a hire car will be unbeatable.
