![Stroll around the shops and streets of Dunedin]()
Explore Otago with Dunedin Airport car hire
A car hire from Dunedin Airport is the best way to acquaint yourself with this fantastic place in the lower east of the South Island. Surrounded by breathtaking hills at the foot of a beautiful harbour, Dunedin will delight and surprise every visitor. Its Scottish heritage infuses the city with a unique aesthetic not found anywhere else in New Zealand, whilst its stunning beaches, incredible wildlife, beautiful gardens, and lush forests represent the best of the national landscape. Pick up your rental car as soon as you land at Dunedin Airport and get ready for an epic South Island adventure.
What you need to know about Dunedin Airport car rentals
Dunedin International Airport is 30km (roughly 25 minutes in your car hire) from the city centre, and offers a range of car rental pick up options, including Hertz Dunedin Airport, and Budget Car and Truck Rental. Whilst the Dunedin CBD is quite accessible, many of the area’s top attractions are located outside of Dunedin CBD.
A Dunedin car hire will make it easy for you to hit the hotspots, and then park up for the night without having to worry about finding a parking space or contending with traffic as you might in some of larger cities in New Zealand. You’ll find easy access to all major services within the central city, including health and emergency services, post office facilities, grocery stores, banks, gyms, and churches.
Do take extra care when driving rental cars Dunedin Airport on country roads and remember to stick to the left side. Whilst the highway system is well planned, the occasional weather event can cause problems on secondary roads and bridges. We recommend checking out DriveSafe for the latest updates on Dunedin road conditions.
![Head your to the famous Tunnel Beach nearby during your car rental Dunedin Airport holiday.]()
What to explore in your Dunedin car hire
You’ll notice a youthful vibe in Dunedin, as it has a high population of students. Its quality selection of cafes and eateries punch well above their weight in the culinary scene. The historic charm combined with contemporary art and culture makes for a fabulously vibrant atmosphere, with street art, galleries, and museums, and heritage buildings all there vying for your attention. Outdoor lovers also have a vast selection of activities to choose from, including wildlife tours, hiking, biking, boating, and paddleboarding.
The list of must-see attractions to visit with a Dunedin airport car rental is long, with Larnach Castle, Tunnel Beach, and the Toitū Otago Settlers Museum on top. Signal Hill and Port Chalmers are also worth a short drive in your Dunedin car hire before you hit the road to wider Otago. The Catlins to the South makes for an incredible road trip, with Curio Bay, Slope Point, and Nugget Point just a few highlights.
Ready for your South Island adventure? A drive north from Dunedin will bring you up to the famous Moeraki Boulders along the coast, with gorgeous rural towns and amazing wildlife opportunities on offer all the way up to Christchurch. Queenstown car hire adventures and views of the Southern Alps are also within reach in your Dunedin Airport rental car.
![Experience an epic adventure at Boulder Beach with rental vehicles in Dunedin.]()
Tips for car rental Dunedin Airport
Dunedin is a fantastic place to visit any time of year, but each season has different car rental requirements. Summer is a popular time for tourism, so savvy travellers will want to book a Dunedin Airport car hire well in advance. This goes for long weekends and school holidays as well.
Winter will feature fewer crowds and maybe even better prices, but the elements could bring navigational challenges. It tends to be wet with the occasional snowfall, so an extra thought about the vehicle type can offer peace of mind. Smaller economy cars are easier to manoeuvre, but the larger vehicles will provide more stability and power. Consider the route you are taking and the terrain you’ll cover on your Dunedin adventure before starting your car hire search.
There can be large sections of road without service in this part of New Zealand, so always plan ahead with your fuel stops—especially if travelling outside of regular business hours. You’ll have plenty of options for Dunedin Airport car rental with over a dozen partnered brands to choose from, including Thrifty, Europcar, Avis, Budget, Keddy and Ace.
![Head your hire car to Larnach Castle, one of Dunedin's premier visitor attractions.]()
Looking for other New Zealand car hire locations? Why not get an airport rent from Wellington or Nelson? Alternatively, you could also hire a car from Auckland Airport. The choice is yours!
