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24/7 SupportCar Rental Christchurch to Queenstown
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Compare Car Rental Christchurch to Queenstown
Go Rentals, Avis, Budget, Hertz, Thrifty, Dollar and 2 smaller companies rent cars one way from Christchurch to Queenstown. To book, enter Christchurch as the pick-up and Queenstown as the drop-off. The results show only cars you can leave in Queenstown.
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$).
Christchurch to Queenstown One Way Car Hire Prices
A small car for 4 days costs about NZ$1,110 in total. An SUV costs about NZ$1,340 and a people mover about NZ$1,670.
A small car costs about NZ$740 for 2 days and NZ$1,280 for 7 days. A 1-day hire costs about NZ$600.
From December to February, most companies rent this route only for 7 days or more. Go Rentals and A Rentals also rent for shorter trips.
Prices change a lot by date. Early December costs about 30% less than other dates. The mid-January summer holidays cost about 20% less. Christmas week costs about 25% more.
| Hire length | Small car | SUV | People mover |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 days | NZ$620 to NZ$740 | NZ$670 to NZ$910 | NZ$920 to NZ$1,130 |
| 4 days | NZ$860 to NZ$1,110 | NZ$1,040 to NZ$1,340 | NZ$1,470 to NZ$1,670 |
| 7 days | NZ$970 to NZ$1,280 | NZ$1,200 to NZ$1,860 | NZ$2,150 to NZ$2,590 |
| Pick-up | Small car, 4 days | SUV, 4 days |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-November | NZ$1,200 | NZ$1,530 |
| Late November | NZ$1,170 | NZ$1,420 |
| Early December | NZ$760 | NZ$870 |
| Christmas week | NZ$1,430 | NZ$1,590 |
| Mid-January, summer holidays | NZ$870 | NZ$1,010 |
| Early February | NZ$1,220 | NZ$1,380 |
| Early March | NZ$1,080 | NZ$1,270 |
Car Hire Christchurch to Queenstown – Availability
Do I have to book my car early?
Book as early as you can. You can sometimes get a car a day before your trip. One-way cars run short in the summer holidays. From December to February, only Go Rentals and A Rentals rent this route for less than a week. If the booking has free cancellation, check the price again a few weeks before you go. Prices for dates months ahead usually come down as the date nears.
Distance from Christchurch to Queenstown
Inland via Lake Tekapo
Via Geraldine, Lake Tekapo, Twizel, the Lindis Pass, Cromwell
480 km · about 6 h · 1 day
Queenstown in a day, with a stop at Lake Tekapo.
With Aoraki/Mount Cook
The inland way plus SH80 along Lake Pukaki
about 590 km · about 7.5 h · 2 days
A night below the mountain and the Hooker Valley Track.
West Coast
Via Arthur's Pass, Greymouth, Franz Josef, the Haast Pass, Wānaka
about 770 km · about 11 h · 3–4 days
The glacier towns and the Haast Pass.
Christchurch to Queenstown Drive: Attractions on the Road
The inland way crosses the Canterbury Plains, then climbs over Burkes Pass into the Mackenzie Basin. Lakes Tekapo and Pukaki are both on the road. With 2 days you can add Aoraki/Mount Cook, New Zealand's highest mountain.
Day 1
330 km · about 4 hChristchurch to Aoraki/Mount Cook Village
South across the plains to Geraldine and Fairlie, then over Burkes Pass to Lake Tekapo and the Church of the Good Shepherd. Follow SH80 along Lake Pukaki to the village. The Mackenzie Basin is an international dark sky reserve.
Day 2
270 km · about 3.5 hAoraki/Mount Cook Village to Queenstown
Walk the Hooker Valley Track in the morning, about 3 hours return. Then Twizel, Omarama and the Lindis Pass to Cromwell's fruit stalls. The Kawarau Gorge and the Gibbston valley lead into Queenstown.
Around Christchurch
In Christchurch, visit the Willowbank Wildlife Reserve and the Botanic Gardens. The International Antarctic Centre is next to the airport, an easy visit before you pick up the car.
Around Queenstown
Plan at least a few days in the area. Arrowtown, an old gold-mining town, is about 20 minutes away. Take a walk around Moke Lake, or visit the Kiwi Birdlife Park in town. The road along Lake Wakatipu to Glenorchy is about 45 km each way.
Picking Up in Christchurch, Dropping Off in Queenstown
- Check the Queenstown drop-off address before you book. Go Rentals, A Rentals and Touchdown take cars back in Frankton, near Queenstown Airport. That is about 7 km from the town centre. Hertz, Thrifty, Dollar, Avis and Budget have depots in the town centre.
- Fuel up in Twizel or Cromwell. There are no towns on the Lindis Pass stretch between Omarama and Tarras.
- From June to September Burkes Pass and the Lindis Pass can have snow and ice. Look up the road conditions on the NZ Transport Agency's site on the morning you leave.
- There are no toll roads on this route.
Christchurch Airport
Can I pick up my car directly at Christchurch International Airport?
Yes. Avis, Budget, Hertz, Thrifty and Dollar have cars at the airport. Go Rentals, A Rentals and Touchdown have depots about 2 km from the terminal. Avis, Budget, Hertz, Thrifty and Dollar also rent from the city centre. Their city prices are sometimes higher and sometimes lower than at the airport.
Christchurch to Queenstown One Way Car Hire FAQ
Can I hire a car in Christchurch and drop it off in Queenstown?
Yes. 8 companies offer it: Go Rentals, A Rentals, Avis, Budget, Hertz, Thrifty, Dollar and Touchdown. Not all of them have cars on every date. From December to February, only Go Rentals and A Rentals rent for less than a week. Hertz has cars from January. Thrifty and Dollar have cars from March. Set Queenstown as the drop-off to see their cars.
How long does it take to drive from Christchurch to Queenstown?
About 6 hours of driving for 480 km on the inland way. The Aoraki/Mount Cook detour makes it about 7.5 hours. Split that drive over 2 days.
Is it cheaper to hire a car from Queenstown to Christchurch?
Yes. A typical car costs about 10 to 20% less from Queenstown. The cheapest cars cost 20 to 40% less. 12 companies rent one way from Queenstown, compared with 8 from Christchurch. See Queenstown to Christchurch car hire.
Can I drop the car at Queenstown Airport?
Yes. Queenstown Airport (ZQN) is at Frankton, on your way into town from Cromwell. Choose it as the drop-off in the search.
Popular One-Way Routes
The reverse route and other one-way trips that start in Christchurch or end in Queenstown:
Starting further north: compare Auckland to Christchurch or Picton to Christchurch.
Prices updated October 2026
Collecting in Christchurch? Our Christchurch car hire page lists the city depots, and Christchurch Airport (CHC) has its own comparison. Dropping off in Queenstown? Compare Queenstown car hire or the desks at Queenstown Airport (ZQN).
