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As a gateway to the Tasman area, Nelson offers a host of unforgettable outdoor adventures, a generous serve of culture and the kind of scenery you usually only see on postcards. Nelson is one of New Zealand's little beachside delights. Still something of an undiscovered gem, this town of just 14,000 residents is known for its population of local artists, be it glass blowers, sculptors, painters, writers, or almost anything else! It’s an outdoor adventure playground, with golden beaches, lush green forests and rugged mountains all within a proverbial stone’s throw of the town centre. For a slice of it all, you’ll need an affordable car hire from Nelson Airport.
Finding a car rental for your Nelson road trip is the least that you should worry about. Airport Rentals make this part of the holiday in Nelson easy. Simply enter your pick-up and drop-off dates to see the available rental cars in Nelson from leading local suppliers, and scroll through to compare prices for each make and vehicle model. You will be given options from the likes of Auto Europe, Avis, Budget and Thrifty, so you’ll have plenty to choose from!
Each hire car comes with a lowest-price guarantee, so no matter which option you go for, you know you’re getting the best deal. We also offer customer service around the clock and a free cancellation or amendment service on most rental cars.
Located 8 km from the city centre, Nelson Airport (NSN) is one of the busiest regional airports in New Zealand. The airport is highly connected with New Zealand and the rest of the world, hosting over a million passengers each year. WIth the increasing number of visitors travelling to Nelson every year, the airport has undergone redevelopment of its facilities to better serve the public.
Nelson airport is only a 10 minute drive from the city, so you can pick up your Nelson car hire and get exploring the region straight after you land!
Prepare to run out of days and wonder where your holiday went, because Nelson has so much to do and see that you’ll probably have to return for a second trip to see it all. Situated at the top of the South Island, Nelson is known as ‘the sunshine capital of NZ’, and receives, on average, almost 2500 sunshine hours a year - an ideal destination for a car rental holiday.
Take your rental vehicle from Nelson Airport to the coastline to a beach such as Tahunanui, where you will find glittering gold sands and ripe blue waters at every turn. Hire a kayak as a tour or by yourself to really explore the coastline and find out why this is the number one place in New Zealand for water fun. Nelson also claims the title of one of the best kitesurfing spots in the country, and keen mountain bikers and hikers will love the abundant bush tracks through richly coloured forests and challenging slopes. Make the most of your time and see the best of what this region has to offer in a Nelson car hire. Pick up your rental vehicle directly from the airport and explore the city at your own pace.
Nelson has long been known for its exquisite wines, but is quickly growing in reputation for its craft beer and culinary scene to match. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the leading produce in the region, and you’ll see them for sale on shelves all over the world. The beer and craft breweries are already nationally renowned too, and you can get your taste buds on some of them with the Nelson Craft Beer Trail. Plus, with the sun-ripened orchards dotting the landscape and an ocean out the window, the fresh fruit and produce in the region are unbeatable.
Whether it’s the sunshine, laid-back atmosphere or sensational food, Nelson has also become something of a haven for creative types. The famous World of Wearable Arts event originated here, and the Hoglund Art Glass studio is a must-visit. Rent a car in Nelson and stop at any one of the countless artist workshops and galleries in Nelson and surrounds, or simply visit the weekly Saturday markets in Montgomery Square to see a collection of their wares (as well as more fresh produce and tasty morsels).
Book one of the available Nelson rental cars with Airport Rentals and take advantage of this beautiful destination. Drive your car hire to Blenheim and Picton, both within a few hours drive from Nelson. Other popular locations to pick up New Zealand car rental include a car hire from Christchurch Airport, a New Plymouth airport car rental, or an Auckland Airport car hire. Visiting Queenstown with your rental car is also a not to miss itinerary and it can be reached in a few days from Nelson. Alternatively, you can choose to take the ferry to Wellington or maybe travel to Gisborne in your car rental to visit these awesome cities. You can also grab a car hire from Timaru Airport, or from Hokitika or Greymouth, and start your South Island tour from there.
If you plan to start an adventure in the North Island, consider picking up a car hire in Hamilton to see its famous themed gardens or grab a rental car from Auckland or Napier. Other popular locations to pick up New Zealand car rental include a car hire from Christchurch Airport, a New Plymouth airport car rental or a car rental at Whakatāne airport.
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Nelson has plenty of accommodation options, regardless of whether you’re after something relaxing and luxurious or cheap and cheerful. If you’re arriving by plane, the airport is a short 15-minute drive from town, so you need not worry about a long vehicle drive upon arrival.
● Paradiso
● Palazzo Motor Lodge
● Delorenzo Studio Apartments
● Baywick Inn Bed & Breakfast
● Trailways Hotel Nelson
Thanks to Nelson’s year-round enviable climate, the events calendar barely slows down for the winter season. You can take part in celebrations of food and drink, music, culture and more, and your Nelson car rental will be the key to making sure you don’t miss a minute of it!
● Nelson Jazz Festival (January)
● Nelson Kite Festival (January)
● Marchfest (March)
● Winter Music Festival (July)
● New Zealand Cider Festival (November)
With endless sunshine and rich soil, the Nelson region is ripe for growing fresh produce. You’ll find plenty of it at the iconic Nelson Market (open every Saturday), and you’ll find even more of it in bottles! The Nelson region has more craft breweries per person than anywhere else in the country, and there are 28 boutique wineries scattered around the area.
For a taste of regional produce, drive away in your Nelson airport car hire and try the Monaco Kitchen. Or take a bite out of Hooked on the waterfront for a tasty bistro-style meal and locally made beer and wine.
Nelson is renowned for its creative culture. With so many artists in residence, the town has a positively crafty feel with a laid-back, hippie-like vibe. Part of this is due to the fact that Nelson is the birthplace of the World of Wearable Art festival (now held in Wellington), and is where the famous Hoglund Art Glass studio has been making stunning works of art for more than 30 years.
The beachside location and wild scenery also play a role in this town’s atmosphere. It’s a place where the locals truly respect the nature around them, and spend as much time outdoors as possible.
And - speaking of geography - the ‘centre of New Zealand’ lies in Nelson. It’s an attraction you can visit on a hilltop not far from town! Head off in your Nelson airport rental car to this iconic walk and hike up the hill to enjoy a stunning view of the Nelson-Tasman region.
Nelson will blow you away with its attractions, whether you’re a history buff, an outdoor lover, a foodie, or a fan of the creative arts. While some of these attractions can be found within the main town, you’ll need your Nelson car rental to see the rest as they are dotted around the region - and you’ll even enjoy a beautiful, scenic drive along the way!
● Abel Tasman National Park
● World of Wearable Art & Classic Car Museum
● Nelson Farmers’ Market
● Hoglund Art Glass
● Founders Heritage Park
Nelson is a small town, so you can easily park your rental car and walk through the centre. If you’re looking to go a little further, you can take a taxi or a bus.
The local bus service is called the NBus, and it operates a route between Nelson and Richmond, and four routes within Nelson itself. You can purchase a ticket on board using cash, or buy a 10-pack pass in advance.
Nicknamed ‘Sunny Nelson’ and averaging more than 2,400 sunshine hours per year, it’s no secret that this dot on the map at the top of the South Island is a glorious destination for holidays - and for life.
Summer days tend to average in the 20s (degrees Celsius), and even winter days don’t tend to drop too far below 10 degrees Celsius on average. While you can expect a few good storms through winter (June through August), most of the year is low on rainfall and high on warm sunshine!
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As low as $65 - this is the lowest monthly average rent a car Nelson price, for economy rentals. Depending on vehicle availability and other factors expect differences in price range, like comparing intermediate car rental cost to vehicles with lesser passenger capacity. Looking for great car hire rates and a trusted rental car company in Nelson Airport? At Airport Rentals, you can find all the great unbeatable rates and special deals on every NSN car rental available, compared real-time.
Not just in Nelson and even outside the city centre of popular NZ locations, Airport Rentals through our long-time partners offer numerous car rental locations country-wide. Use our search widget to check available Nelson rental car deals, check specific needs like pick up service, and include in your plan the possible car park areas. Start your booking process today.
Compare and choose the car rental Nelson Airport deals suited for your travel needs from all the top trusted hire car brands, like Apex, Big Value, Dollar, Europcar, Omega, Thrifty, and Yes Away.
Big Value and Yes Away are popular brands providing Nelson car rentals with on-airport depots. Omega, Apex, and Dollar usually compete as providers of the most hired Nelson rental cars.
Nelson Airport business hours:
● Monday to Friday - 5 am to 10.30 pm
● Saturday - 5 am to 8 pm
● Sunday - 6 am to 10 pm
Note that car rentals Nelson suppliers may have different business hours from that of the airport.
Not just for driving a rental car Nelson Airport offers, the absolute minimum age to hire car is 21 years old, in all of NZ. The renter is always the primary driver. Please be advised that majority of rental companies will not hire to drivers under 25, or may have a surcharge plus additional requirements for drivers below 25 years old.
To book and drive rental cars Nelson Airport, you will need an up-to-date valid driver's license in English, or an International Driving Permit, or an equivalent document translated in English.
Airportrentals.com offers great deals all over the world. Compare and save!