FAQ Nelson Airport

Nelson Airport is located around 8km from downtown Nelson City. This will take you around 15 minutes depending on traffic.

Central Nelson has never been easier to get to! Checking in via the GO Rentals app can help to speed up your pick-up time.

If you are planning on heading further afield and exploring the South Island, we can provide you with handy maps or you can always speak to one of our friendly team who will be happy to point you in the right direction.

Our top recommendation? Make sure to visit the spectacular national parks in the area!

Our Nelson Airport branch is conveniently located in the rental car kiosk building right outside the main terminal. You'll find us by exiting the terminal Arrival. Once outside, turn right and follow the footpath across the road to the rental car building. We are the first kiosk inside the building. All in all, the walk should take you less than one minute. Your rental car will be conveniently located in the airport's car park. Our helpful team will get you on your way in no time at all!

Our Nelson Airport branch opening hours are:
8am - 5pm Monday to Sunday

If you need to pick up or drop off your rental car outside of these hours, there is an after-hours service that will enable you to do so. Once you’ve confirmed your booking, we’ll email you instructions on how to pick up and drop off your car outside of our branch hours.

If you are running late for a pick up or drop off, please contact our Nelson branch on +64 3 974 3700. Our friendly staff will advise you on our after-hours process and get you on your way.

When you come to collect your hire car at our Nelson Airport branch, you’ll need a valid driver’s licence and a credit or debit card for security. A credit card is mandatory if you have selected our Basic or Assured insurance option that requires a bond deposit. It must have your name printed on it for verification and the card must be valid until the drop-off date.

Looking for rental car deals at Nelson Airport? Make sure you have a look at our deals page. It’s home to our latest discounts and offers and can help you save on your next hire.

Downloading our app is another great way of having everything you need at your fingertips.

For the latest car rental deals straight to your inbox, make sure you sign up for our newsletter and never miss a deal! It’s the perfect way to secure affordable rental cars in Nelson.

You sure can! We can arrange one-way car hires to and from all our locations including Nelson Airport.

There are a couple of things you’ll have to consider - we do have minimum hire periods in place, and one-way hires are dependent on the time of year and your direction of travel.

On occasion, we will make allowances if we need vehicles in other branches. Make sure you keep an eye on our rental car relocation deals for all the latest rental car relocation deals.

The cost of hiring a car in Nelson varies greatly on a number of factors. This includes the chosen vehicle, availability and rental period, as lower rates are available for longer hire periods.

Input your travel dates and other booking information on our Nelson Airport branch page to get an accurate daily figure.

If you let us know that you need to cancel your booking with more than 24 hours notice from the scheduled pick-up time, you will be charged a 10% cancellation fee. All cancellations within 24 hours of the scheduled pick-up time will incur 100% cancellation fee.

If you have already made any payment towards the booking there will be a refund administration fee of 10% or $20; whichever is higher.

No. You can use a debit card to book your GO Rentals vehicle. There are 2 things to note when you use a debit card rather than a credit card to book with GO Rentals:

• If you pay for your hire online, your debit card will be subject to a non-refundable payment processing fee.
• You will need to reduce your insurance liability to an Assured or Peace of Mind insurance option that does not require a bond deposit. Your card must have the cardholder's name embossed on the front for verification and the cardholder must be the main hirer.

At GO Rentals, we require a bond to be paid on rentals of particular vehicles. The bond is dependent on the vehicle you wish to hire and the insurance option you choose.

At pick-up, we test that pre-authorise the bond amount is in from your credit card. We cannot accept debit cards or cash for this purpose.

After the vehicle is returned, or 45 days from the bond’s authorisation on your card (whichever comes first), the bond amount is released. It generally takes between 5 - 10 business days for the amount to appear in your card again.

If there’s any damage to the vehicle during your rental period, or if we find damage during the check-in process, we will deduct the necessary excess payment from the pre-authorised bond amount.

Yes, there are a number of service stations very nearby our Nelson Airport branch, including:

• NPD Parkers Road - 142 Muritai Street (2.7km away)
• Mobil - 28 Tahunanui Drive (4.1km away)
• Mobil - 565 Main Road Stoke (4.3km away)

You can have multiple drivers on your GO Rentals booking. All drivers must be added to the Rental Agreement upon collection.

All drivers must also have their licences physically sighted in our branch. A charge also applies for additional drivers

Unfortunately, we do not offer drop-offs or pick-ups from hotels in and around Nelson. If you are unable to organise transport to or from our branch, or need special assistance, you can call us at the branch and the team will do their best to accommodate your situation.

If you’re visiting Nelson, chances are you plan to check out some of the nearby attractions. In order to reach destinations like Abel Tasman National Park, Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve and the Marlborough Sounds, having a car can be extremely beneficial.

While there are buses available operating to these areas, travelling in your own rental vehicle allows you to explore them at your own pace. You can take in the serenity of these stunning places without worrying about a public transport timetable with a GO Rentals vehicle.

A 4WD isn’t essential for a great trip to Nelson, especially if you aren’t intending to explore its nearby natural wonders. For a more sedate trip to Nelson, explore our range of small cars and SUVs.

A 4WD will enable you to explore some of the wild side of this region. Access off-the-beaten track areas with ease and take on adventures such as the stunning Porika Road.

If you plan to head south to check out some skiing destinations, a 4WD can also make travelling to locations like the Rainbow Ski Area easier and more enjoyable.

Check out our range of 4WDs available for hire and begin planning your no-limits Nelson adventure.

It is recommended to carry snow chains when driving in winter, especially if you are heading to nearby ski fields like the Rainbow Ski Area.

GO Rentals offers snow chains for hire, and they can be fitted to almost all of our vehicles.

The most popular skiing area near Nelson is the Rainbow Ski Area, around 2 hours south of the city. It offers rentals, lessons and plenty of nearby accommodation.

Other skiing destinations such as Mount Hutt and Porters Ski Area can be found closer to the centre of the South Island, upwards of 5 hours away from Nelson.

In order to rent and drive most GO Rentals cars, you must be at least 21 years of age. However, you must be 25 to rent cars like the Tesla Model 3 and Tesla Model Y.

We have no upper age limit to rent a car at Nelson Airport. You must hold a full, unrestricted driver licence.

For New Zealand residents, provisional drivers licence holders are not allowed to rent vehicles from GO Rentals.

It is legally allowed for holders of provisional driver’s licences from several countries to rent cars in New Zealand. However, GO Rentals does not allow such travellers to rent vehicles, and almost all other rental companies have similar rules in place.

Only New Zealand holders of temporary licences are permitted to hire a vehicle with GO Rentals. Photo identification is required if hiring a vehicle with a New Zealand temporary licence.

You can drive on most full international driver's licences without an international driver's permit. Your foreign licence allows you to drive in New Zealand for 1 year from the date you enter the country, provided you have no suspensions or disqualifications. If your licence is not in English, you must obtain an official NZTA approved English translation and carry both copies with you at all times. For more information, check out our complete guides to driving with licences from the following countries:

• Australia
• Canada
• China
• Germany
• Japan
• Singapore
• United States
• United Kingdom

You can hire a car in Nelson from GO Rentals with a restricted New Zealand licence. For insurance purposes, you are subject to the conditions of your licence, and you may be liable for any insurance claim resulting from driving outside of these conditions.

Some vehicles require the hirer and driver to be at least 25 years of age and have a clean, full licence.

Unfortunately, holders of restricted international driving licences cannot rent a car with us.

Generally, New Zealand car rental companies are required to offer basic insurance within their car rental fees. The good news is that GO Basic Insurance – included at no extra cost in all our rentals – includes all the coverage you need to drive in New Zealand.

If you’d like even more coverage, we also offer GO Assured and GO Peace of Mind Cover. GO Assured starts at $500 excess, and GO Peace of Mind starts at $0 excess.

All GO Rentals insurance also includes coverage for third-party damage and injuries.

We sure do! With the GO Rentals app, you can access your account and booking information any time you like. It also means you get to skip the queue and enjoy a breezy check-in process

Nelson Airport is one of New Zealand’s busiest regional airports – large enough to cater for a number of flights in and out each day but not so big that you will get lost. There are nine tarmac gates at Nelson Airport and up to 500 flights a week so there is plenty going on in and around the airport to keep you entertained whilst you wait for your flight. We’re delighted to be the latest addition to the terminal building so pop across and say hi.

There are several options for electric vehicle charging in Nelson. Chargers can be found in locations such as:

• Nelson Information Centre Car Park - 81 Trafalgar Street
• Harkness Car Park - 280 Queen Street
• 75 Vanguard Street

All GO Rentals vehicles have unlimited kilometres, allowing you to explore New Zealand to your heart’s content.

We offer 24-hour roadside mechanical assistance on all our rental vehicles with the New Zealand Automobile Assistance (AA). If your car breaks down, get in touch with the AA at 0800 734 543 or *222.

Our policy covers the cost of mechanical breakdowns only. All other call outs, such as a flat battery due to lights being left on, will be subject to the relevant AA charges.

Whilst our Nelson branch is relatively new, data from our other South Island branches suggests that the most popular rental cars from our Nelson Airport branch will be from our 4x4 range including the Toyota Rav4 and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport. For shorter term hires, the Toyota Corolla is always a popular vehicle here in New Zealand and the Tesla Model 3 and Tesla Model Y are proving to be a popular rental car from all our branches.

Nelson is a great place to base yourself for exploring the upper South Island and popular destinations for people picking up a hire car in Nelson include Picton, Blenheim and the Abel Tasman National Park. Beyond this, Nelson is the gateway to the South Island and people will often head off on a South Island adventure, taking the east coast to Kaikoura and Christchurch or the West Coast to explore the glaciers in Franz Josef or Fox before heading across to Queenstown.