Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Jucy
(
0800 399 736, 09-374 4360;
www.jucy.co.nz
)
Mighty Cars & Campers
(
0800 422 267;
www.mightycampers.co.nz
)
Spaceships
(
0800 772 237, 09-526 2130;
www.spaceshipsrentals.co.nz
)
Wicked Campers
(
0800 246 870, 09-634 2994;
www.wickedcampers.co.nz
)
CAR
Competition between car-rental companies in NZ is torrid, particularly in the big cities and
Picton. Remember that if you want to travel far, you need unlimited kilometres. Some (but
not all) companies require drivers to be at least 21 years old − ask around.
Most car-hire firms suggest (or insist) that you don't take their vehicles between islands
on the Cook Strait ferries. Instead, you leave your car at either Wellington or Picton ter-
minal and pick up another car once you've crossed the strait. This saves you paying to
transport a vehicle on the ferries, and is a pain-free exercise.
INTERNATIONAL RENTAL COMPANIES
The big multinational companies have offices in most major cities, towns and airports.
Firms sometimes offer one-way rentals (eg collect a car in Auckland, leave it in Welling-
ton), but there are often restrictions and fees. On the other hand, an operator in Christch-
urch may need to get a vehicle back to Auckland and will offer an amazing one-way car
relocation deal (sometimes free!).
The major companies offer a choice of either unlimited kilometres, or 100km (or so) per
day free, plus so many cents per subsequent kilometre. Daily rates in main cities typically
start at around $40 per day for a compact, late-model, Japanese car, and around $75 for
medium-sized cars (including GST, unlimited kilometres and insurance).
Avis
(
0800 655 111, 09-526 2847;
www.avis.co.nz
)
Budget
(
0800 283 438, 09-529 7784;
www.budget.co.nz
)
Europcar
(
0800 800 115;
www.europcar.co.nz
)
Hertz
(
0800 654 321, 03-358 6789;
www.hertz.co.nz
)
Thrifty
(
0800 737 070, 03-359 2721;
www.thrifty.co.nz
)
LOCAL RENTAL COMPANIES
Local rental firms dapple the
Yellow Pages
. These are almost always cheaper than the
big boys − sometimes half the price − but the cheap rates may come with serious restric-
tions: vehicles are often older, and with less formality sometimes comes a less protective
legal structure for renters.
