europcar car rental in wellington

Car rental in Wellington

 

Discover locations in Wellington

Rent a car in Wellington with Europcar

A multilayered city filled with hipster cafés, theatres and museums, surrounded by lush vegetation and an expansive harbour front - the capital city of New Zealand will charm you. 

Wellington is some 650 kilometres from the second largest town Auckland but there is plenty to see and do in this end of the North Island. Choose car hire in Wellington to discover the capital and the natural beauty that surrounds it with ease.

The Europcar car rental experience in Wellington

There are two Europcar stations to pick up car hire in Wellington: one at Wellington Airport and another at the Wellington Ferry Terminal

Popular economy car hire include Holden Spark or Holden Barina - great choices for a party of one or two. If you are travelling in a larger group there is the Holden Trax or Toyota RAV4. Planning a road trip or driving to areas with rocky terrain? The Ford Ranger will have you covered.

Hire a van in Wellington if you are moving around more people or heavier loads. Our fleet includes 12-seater vans and truck hire to make the job that much easier.

Europcar offer flexibility for car hire. If you need to pick up and drop off your car hire at different stations around Wellington - you can. Likewise, long term and short term car hire are available when you rent with us.

Driving in Wellington

When you rent a car in New Zealand, you will need a valid driver’s licence from your country of residence or an international driving permit (IDP). You will need a translation of your licence if it is not in English.

In New Zealand, cars on motorways are limited to 100 km/h. This lowers to 70/80 km/h on n rural roads and 60 km/h in urban area. Near schools and in city centres, expect to drive a maximum of 30-40 km/h.

There are 3 toll points across New Zealand: the Northern Gateway Toll Road north of Auckland, and the Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road and the Takitimu Drive Toll Road. These tolls cost between $1.80-2.30 for cars. To pay you will need to set up an online account in advance of your trip. You can pay via the Pay&Go system where you can buy up to 10 tolls in advance or top-up your online account.

Outside of Wellington and other cities in New Zealand, there are few motorways. Roads are often hilly, narrow and winding meaning journey lengths can be longer than they seem on the map.

On-street parking in the Wellington CBD applies from 8am to 6pm, daily. Weekend parking is free but time restrictions still apply. You can pay for parking with cash, credit/debit cards, and PayMyPark or phone2park smartphone apps, amongst others. There are several free car parks scattered across the city.

Discover Wellington and surroundings by car

For inimitable views in the heart of the city, drive up to Mount Victoria Lookout point. From 196 metres in the air, this gives fantastic view of Wellington. Film fans must make the 10 kilometre drive from the city centre to Weta Cave, a special effects museum dedicated to blockbusters like The Lord of the Rings, King Kong, and The Hobbit. Book for a guided tour explaining how these beloved films were made.

Wellington has a lot to offer but the regions that surround it deserve a visit too. An hour by car is Martinborough - an area famous of its vineyards (Pinot Noir is a specialty) and olive groves; and the Kapiti Coast, an hour north of Wellington with 25 kilometres of unspoilt beaches.

Onwards from Wellington by car there is Rimutaka Forest Park (106 kilometres) with 22,000 hectares of forested plains, Cape Palliser (138 kilometres) with great views of the Wairarapa coastline and the largest fur seal colony in the North Island.

We are proud to be European leaders in car rental. To find out more about the Europcar car hire experience, be sure to visit our car rental page!

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Top 2 stations in Wellington

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Good to know

Visit the Dowse Art Museum for free

With over 2000 pieces, Dowse is one of the largest collections of public art in New Zealand. The museum is free to enter and a great insight into the artistic heritage, including craft and design. Around a 20 minute drive along the coast, Dowse is well worth a trip with the family to learn a bit more about New Zealand culture.

Things to see in Wellington

The capital does not disappoint if you are looking for a good time. Trendy cocktail bars, impeccably designed restaurants and independent art galleries form the base of the Wellington vibe. Te Papa, the New Zealand Māori museum; Zealandia bird eco-sanctuary, and the red Cable Car with great views of the city, and the 25 hectare Botanic Gardens are all must-visit attractions. There is also Wellington Zoo with over 100 species of animals to see.