Compare Car Hire Prices in Wellington

You can easily walk around Wellington's small city centre and the public transport is good. If your visit is centred on the city, you might only want to rent a car for certain day trips instead of your whole stay. This is a good idea because parking at central hotels can cost a lot.

You'll find some steep roads and tight corners in Wellington's hilly suburbs. If you don't feel sure about doing hill starts or making tight turns, you should stick to the main roads. You could also park at the bottom of very steep streets in the housing areas.

Most rental companies ask you to do a "car swap". This means you drop off your car in Wellington and pick up a new one in Picton. If you want to take the same car across, some local companies (like Apex) will let you for an extra fee. You should book a long time before you travel because the ferries don't have many spots for cars.

You should keep both hands firmly on the wheel, especially on open roads like the harbour bridges or on top of hills. Slow down when the wind is very strong. Be extra careful when you open the car doors. Hold them tightly so the wind doesn't damage them.

You can park on the street for free from 8pm until 8am the next morning. You have to pay for parking on most city centre streets 7 days a week, so always check the signs. You can also find free parking for a set time (usually 2 hours) in some housing areas just outside the city centre, like in parts of Mt Victoria and Thorndon.

For a quick and scenic drive, you can take the South Coast road from Oriental Bay around to Owhiro Bay to see lovely views. If you want a longer drive, go to Martinborough through the Remutaka Range. On this drive you'll see mountain scenery and vineyard landscapes.