Get GOing with GO Rentals for easy car hire from Wellington to Dunedin! Enjoy a wild South Island adventure as you make your way from the urban capital to the wildlife capital of New Zealand. With a wide range of modern vehicles from SUVs to minibuses, basic insurance coverage and unlimited kilometres, you can steer into adventure with GO Rentals.
More Reasons to GO
With GO Rentals, you can enjoy the open road at your own pace without hurrying back to your pickup point.
Plus, a Wellington to Dunedin adventure will let you experience the best the South Island has to offer. Start your journey in New Zealand's biggest city before setting off into the rugged rural wilds. Hop on the Wellington-to-Picton ferry to begin your adventure and explore the nation’s ‘Wildlife Capital’ at your own pace.
We make it easy to pick up your rental car in Wellington and drop it off in Dunedin on your preferred date with our one-way rental.
FREE basic car rental insurance
Our basic insurance cover is included in the cost of every car hire with two upgraded insurance options available!
One-way car rentals
We can organise one-way rentals with pick-up in one location and drop-off in another. Stick to your dream itinerary without worrying about circling back.
Offset carbon emissions
In partnership with CarbonClick, you can choose to offset the carbon emission of your GO Rentals road trip.
24hr AA roadside assistance
All GO Rentals hire cars have access to the AA 24-hour mechanical breakdown assistance and our Tesla EVs have access to Tesla Roadside Assistance.
GO App
With our GO Rentals App, you can book a car, check in faster and even control your Tesla car functions, right from the palm of your hand.
Simply add your itinerary details to our booking widget, including your chosen return location, and click "Find my car". We offer one-way car rentals at all of our 10 locations on both the South and North Islands. If you’re planning on a Wellington to Dunedin trip, just select your pick-up date and drop-off location for a convenient and great value rental car experience. Please note:
While our one-way rentals are dependent on peak season times and vehicle availability in branches, we can create more one-way availability if we need to move vehicles to another location. If you are not happy with the availability on our website, give us a call, and we’ll do our best to accommodate your epic one-way road trip.
You can take any GO Rentals vehicle on the Cook Strait Ferry between the North and South Island, which is perfect for a stress-free one-way road trip. We have 10 car rental branches spread evenly throughout New Zealand, in the major destinations. You’re never far from a GO Rentals car.
Get your journey started as quickly as possible thanks to our speedy check-in. Manage your booking online or download our app to get through the check-in process and on the road faster.
We’re here to do more than just get you from A to B. With our interactive trip planner and extensive travel blog for inspiration, your hire car is the perfect companion to incredible adventures across the South Island. Here are some must-see stops as you make your way from Wellington to Dunedin.
Start your journey in New Zealand's capital city and enjoy a full day of urban adventure before you head into the wild. In Wellington, stock up on road trip supplies and take in beautiful city sights like Mount Victoria, the famous cable car or even the Weta Cave for Lord of The Rings fans.
Your car ferry to the South Island stops in Picton, but don’t rush off without seeing all the port has to offer first! Picton has stunning golden beaches, whale and dolphin sightings and gorgeous nearby forests. From sea kayaking to boat cruises, Picton is the best spot for adventure in the Marlborough Sounds.
This sunny location gives you a chance to enjoy the local food and wine culture, or find a beach and enjoy the sunlight. In the town itself, you can find a wonderful array of restaurants, cafes, bars and more. While you won’t find a Lord of the Rings Filming location nearby, You can find a collection of WW1 aircraft personally curated by Peter Jackson in the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre!
Christchurch is a sprawling city full of beautiful cultural landmarks. Take a stop on your journey to enjoy an incredible array of 5-star restaurants and quality shopping boutiques, or strike out on your own to find hidden gems in the local cafes and artistic shops. You’ll discover something just for you right around the corner.
Oamaru is the largest town in the Waitaki District and features stunning architecture, multiple penguin colonies and New Zealand's oldest public gardens. You can find classic shops, galleries and local crafts in the town’s unique Victorian Precinct. Or, you can stretch your legs with a walk through the public gardens or sea views like Cape Wanbrow.
If you’re interested in craft food or drinks, then you’ll find something extraordinary for you in Geraldine. This idyllic town on the way to Mount Cook National Park is home to a wide range of artisanal food producers and cafes dedicated to their unique profession. Enjoy hand-crafted cheese, sample Humdinger Gin or take a stroll through the Peel Forest Park Reserve.
Before you arrive at your final destination, take the opportunity to stretch your legs on the absolutely breathtaking Rakaia Gorge Walkway. This easy scenic walk will take you through lava flows, forests and the Snowden coal mines. The track then comes out through tussock-covered terraces as you make your way to the lookout point for a well-earned rest.
Your journey ends right in the wildlife capital of New Zealand. Dunedin offers fascinating heritage, beautiful scenery and a diverse range of wildlife. See the northern royal albatross in their natural habitat, visit antique Victorian architecture, or take a tour to discover the world's smallest penguins.
We love that our stress-free rental cars do more than get you from A to B. They become part of your travel memories, and we want to see them!
Submit a happy photo to our Snap Happy Photo Competition and be in with a chance to receive up to $500 back off your booking!
New Zealand is best explored in a modern, reliable car. But don't take our word for it. Cruise through the happy customers revv'd up about their experience:
The photo was taken at Island Bay Beach to recreate/revamp a picture that was taken when we were little in the same spot. We're originally from Wellington but have lived overseas now since '96. From start to finish booking the car with GO Rentals has been super easy! Renting a car can be scary with hidden fees etc. But everything was clear, upfront, and seamless. I spent no more than 5 mins at pick up/return. I've been a returning customer for over 15 years because of this service! Thank you again. Always an absolute pleasure with high-quality cars and service.
Thanks GO Rentals for a nice car which takes us to this wonderful road.
Stopped at Moeraki Beaches to enjoy the stunning seashore between Christchurch and Dunedin. Just one of many amazing sights seen on our marvellous tour of NZ in our lovely GO Rentals car.
Normally, you have a great view of the Lanarch Castle, but on this morning, it was super foggy, which made it an incredible atmosphere. Due to that atmosphere, we felt it was the perfect spot for our reliable travel partner! :)
With a great selection of affordable vehicles, GO Rentals is ready to get you on the road for a one-way trip. Choose from 4-wheel drives and SUVs for ski or family trips to luxury electric vehicles for a stylish self-drive trip. Put your itinerary details in to see our vehicle availability and start planning your GO trip.
Wellington: Traffic in Wellington can be very busy, especially during peak hours. Congestion is a common issue throughout the city. Street parking and paid facilities are available for $4 to $5 per hour on weekdays, and $3 on weekends. Free parking is rare but can be found in the outer districts or residential areas.
Dunedin: Traffic is generally light, with occasional congestion in peak hours. You can find street parking and a few paid facilities costing $1 to $3.50 per hour. Free parking is available in suburban areas and certain shopping centres.
New Zealand has only three toll roads, and you won’t have to run into any of them on your Wellington to Dunedin trip.
With the GO Rentals Total Road Care Package, you don’t have to stress about any toll roads you come across. This mandatory $3/day package covers you for all toll road fees you may incur, including associated admin costs.
New Zealand roads are generally well-maintained, but conditions and speed limits can vary depending on the area. Speed limits in cities and urban areas are typically low, around 50km/h, with 100km/h speeds on the open road.
Check out our complete guide to New Zealand's toll roads for more information.
We regularly update our relocation deals to help you save on one-way road trips. Check out our latest relocation deals to see if your itinerary matches our deal. Save money and still access our award-winning customer service.
The price of our rental vehicles does not increase for one-way hires. However, depending on the location availability, a relocation fee of between $100 - $1,000 may apply and will be shown within your booking summary before checkout.
All of our car rentals can go on the Cook Strait ferry from the North to the South Island. Book your one-way car rental in advance and secure a place on the ferry from Wellington to Picton and you can have a stress-free road trip across the whole of New Zealand.
You can add an additional driver to your booking at any time and they can return your one-way rental. The additional driver will need to meet the minimum licence requirements and be able to present this licence at any of our branches before being added to the rental agreement.
You are not restricted to a kilometre limit on any of our GO Rentals car classes. This means you can pick up your one-way car rental, drive the whole of New Zealand, and not be charged an additional fee when you drop off. Get GOing on your epic Kiwi trip today!
A straight trip from Wellington to Dunedin is 790km and should take approximately 13 hours to travel. We recommend giving yourself at least five days to give yourself time to see what the South Island has to offer.
