New Zealand consists of two separate main islands - the North Island and the South Island. Budget Rent a Car operates a separate car fleet for each of these islands.

As many of our customers would like to experience both the North and South Islands, we have instituted a special rental system called a ‘Multi-Island Hire’ rental. What this does is create one continuous rental (at one rate) for the customer even though the renter will be having two separate cars – e.g. one rental car in the North Island and another rental car in the South Island. Book online now to take advantage of this. You will be guided thoruhg the process.

A Multi-Island Hire rental means that you do not have to pay for the car to cross on the ferry, and it provides you with the flexibility to fly into Budget locations between the islands. To be able to do a Multi-Island Hire there are some general requirements that need to be met:

• A minimum rental of 3 days required in each Island (i.e. a minimum total rental of 6 days in both islands). If this requirement is not met, then the rental will be charged as 2 separate hires.
• If you are travelling more than once between the two islands (e.g. begins the rental in the North Island, travels to the South Island and then re-crosses back into the North Island to finish the rental), this third rental period has no minimum rental requirement. This rental can be of any length so long as the first two rental periods meets the minimum requirements.
• If the minimum rental requirements are met, the rental can start and finish at any Budget location in New Zealand (subject to vehicle availability).
• You can cross between the 2 islands using the Picton Ferry Terminal and the Wellington Ferry Terminal, or you can fly into other Budget locations. Note: This policy only applies if you are travelling to the other island, not to a location within the same island.
• A maximum of 5 hours is allowed between the drop off of the vehicle in one island and the pick up of the next vehicle (i.e. the length of the ferry trip between the islands is approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes in total).
• A minimum of 48 hours notice is required of the customers’ intention to cross between the islands if a crossover booking has not be previously made. If notice is not given, we cannot guarantee a vehicle will be available on the other side.

Please note that no Budget vehicle is allowed to cross the Cook Strait between the islands. If you take a vehicle between the islands and leave the vehicle on the other side without Budget authorisation a relocation fee of NZD$450.00 (inc. of GST) will apply.

For any queries at all, please contact our Reservations Call Centre on 0800 (BUDGET) 0800 283 438. Booking online for Multi-Island Hires, so get started now.

Wellington Ferry and Timetable

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Wellington Ferry Terminal:
Phone: (04) 473-7588, Fax:(04) 384-6470

Picton Terminal and Timetable

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The terminal is located in Auckland Street in central Picton.
Picton Ferry Terminal:
Phone: (03) 573-6081, Fax: (03) 573-7928

Note that Budget does not meet ferrys marked with an *.
+ Peak Season crossing time only.
Timetable is current at November 2005 and is subject to change.
See www.interislander.co.nz.

Popular Car Rental Locations:

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