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24/7 SupportCar Hire: Auckland to Christchurch
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Compare Car Rental Auckland to Christchurch
Yes Rentals, A Rentals, Bargain Rental Cars, Ezi, Go Rentals, Avis and Budget rent cars one way from Auckland to Christchurch. Each handles the Cook Strait crossing in its own way, as the Picton Ferry section below explains. To book, enter Auckland as the pick-up and Christchurch as the drop-off. The results show only cars you can leave in Christchurch.
There are no booking fees. Most cars come with free cancellation. All come with unlimited kilometres. Prices on this page are in New Zealand dollars (NZ$).
Auckland to Christchurch One Way Car Hire Prices
A small car for 4 days costs about NZ$1,760 in total. A people mover costs about NZ$2,200. Prices do not include the ferry fare.
Longer hires cost only a little more. A small car costs about NZ$1,720 for 2 days and NZ$1,990 for 7 days. An SUV for 7 days costs about NZ$2,420. For 4 days or less, only Yes Rentals, A Rentals and Ezi have cars. For 7 days, Bargain Rental Cars and Go Rentals have cars too.
Christmas week costs about 30% more than November and early February about 45% more. The mid-January summer holidays add only 3 to 5%.
| Hire length | Small car | People mover |
|---|---|---|
| 2 days | NZ$1,660 to NZ$1,720 | NZ$1,830 to NZ$1,940 |
| 4 days | NZ$1,570 to NZ$1,760 | NZ$1,980 to NZ$2,200 |
| 7 days | NZ$1,600 to NZ$1,990 | NZ$2,160 to NZ$2,570 |
| Pick-up | Small car, 4 days |
|---|---|
| Mid-November | NZ$1,760 |
| Late November | NZ$1,740 |
| Early December | NZ$1,720 |
| Christmas week | NZ$2,310 |
| Mid-January, summer holidays | NZ$1,790 |
| Early February | NZ$2,540 |
| Early March | NZ$1,830 |
Distance from Auckland to Christchurch
How far is it to drive from Auckland to Christchurch?
About 990 km of road on the shortest route, via Taupō, Wellington and the East Coast of the South Island. The ferry adds about 90 km across Cook Strait. The driving takes about 12.5 hours, more in poor road conditions, plus about 3.5 hours on the ferry. Split the trip over at least 2 days.
State Highway 1 and the Kaikōura coast
Via Taupō, Wellington, the ferry, Blenheim, Kaikōura
about 990 km + ferry · about 12.5 h + 3.5 h ferry · 3 days
The direct way, with nights in Taupō and Wellington.
Via Rotorua
Via Rotorua, Taupō, Wellington, the ferry, Kaikōura
about 1,020 km + ferry · about 13 h + 3.5 h ferry · 3–4 days
Rotorua's geothermal parks on the first day.
Auckland to Christchurch Drive: Attractions on the Road
Plan 3 days for a comfortable pace. Stop the first night in Taupō and the second in Wellington.
Day 1
280 km · about 3.5 hAuckland to Taupō
The Waikato Expressway past Hamilton, then SH1 to Lake Taupō. Rotorua's geothermal parks add about 30 km. Huka Falls is a few minutes north of Taupō.
Day 2
370 km · about 5 hTaupō to Wellington
The Desert Road past the volcanoes of Tongariro National Park, then Taihape and the Kāpiti Coast. Spend the evening on the Wellington waterfront or at Te Papa.
Day 3
ferry about 3.5 h, then 340 km · about 4.5 hWellington to Christchurch
The ferry crosses Cook Strait and the Marlborough Sounds to Picton. South through Blenheim's vineyards to the Kaikōura coast, where fur seals rest on the rocks at Ōhau Point. A night in Kaikōura splits this day.
Picking Up in Auckland, Dropping Off in Christchurch
- Nearly all cars for this trip start at or near Auckland Airport, about 17 km south of the city centre. Only Ezi also rents from the city, at 167 Beach Road.
- In Christchurch, return the car at the airport or a city depot.
- There are no toll roads on this route.
- In winter, snow and ice can close the Desert Road south of Taupō.
- State Highway 1 on the Kaikōura coast closes now and then for slips. The inland detour runs over the Lewis Pass. Check the NZ Transport Agency's road conditions before you leave Picton.
Picton Ferry
Do I take the car onto the ferry from the North to South Island?
It depends on the company. Many have you leave the car in Wellington, take the ferry and pick up another car in Picton (the other way round if you're heading north). Some let you take the car on the ferry. Either way you book the ferry yourself.
Interislander and Bluebridge both sail between Wellington and Picton, a crossing of about 3.5 hours. Book well ahead for summer. If the car goes across, you pay its fare as well as your own.
Before you book, check the company's terms to see whether you swap cars at the terminals or take the car across. Another option is two one-way hires, Auckland to Wellington and Picton to Christchurch. Compare their total with a single Auckland to Christchurch hire.
Auckland to Christchurch One Way Car Hire FAQ
Can I hire a car in Auckland and drop it off in Christchurch?
Yes. 7 companies offer it: Yes Rentals, A Rentals, Bargain Rental Cars, Ezi, Go Rentals, Avis and Budget. For 4 days or less, only Yes Rentals, A Rentals and Ezi have cars. Avis and Budget have SUVs only. Go Rentals does not have cars on every date. Read each one's terms for the ferry before you book.
How long does it take to drive from Auckland to Christchurch?
About 12.5 hours of driving, plus about 3.5 hours on the ferry. Plan for 3 days: Auckland to Taupō, Taupō to Wellington, then the ferry and the drive to Christchurch.
Is it cheaper to hire a car from Christchurch to Auckland?
Yes, much cheaper. A typical car costs about half as much from Christchurch for 4 or 7 days. For 2 days it costs about a quarter as much. The cheapest cars cost 55 to 90% less. 15 companies rent one way from Christchurch, compared with 7 from Auckland.
Popular One-Way Routes
Other one-way trips that start in Auckland or end in Christchurch:
- Auckland to Wellington
- Auckland to Rotorua
- Picton to Christchurch
- Greymouth to Christchurch
- Queenstown to Christchurch
Going on from Christchurch: compare Christchurch to Queenstown or Christchurch to Dunedin.
Prices updated October 2026
Collecting in Auckland? Our Auckland car hire page lists the city depots, and Auckland Airport (AKL) has its own comparison. Ending in Christchurch? See car hire in Christchurch, or return the car at Christchurch Airport (CHC).
