MEL - CHC timing

[Leroy87]

Hi everyone,

I'm looking at going to New Zealand for a few weeks in late Jan/Feb next year, hiring a car and driving the South Island.

Looking to fly in and out of CHC from MEL.

The cheapest flights (by ~$70 per person each way) are VA 100 there and VA 7541 (air NZ codeshare) back.

Question is:
What do people do when you arrive in CHC at midnight?
- Airport hotel and hire car from airport the next day?
- Taxi to city? (are there any around? Even coming into MEL late at night can be a long wait for a taxi).

Similarly, what do you do to get to the airport for a 0630 departure? Airport hotel or taxi or drop a car hire (are they open that early?)

Or is the answer "it's cheap because no-one does it - get the better timed VA 7548 and VA 101 instead."

Any thoughts from people that have done this before?

 

[Chipper]

I flew at 18.35 and got in just before midnight. I was going on the train the next day so got a taxi to a motel near the railway station. As for flying back, for a 06.45 take off I stayed at the Sudima Hotel, which is less than 5 minutes walk to the airport. They will also drive you if you ask, and give you a wake up call. Getting up at 04.00 is no fun but you're motivated not to sleep in and I even woke up 5 minutes before the alarm! Reasonable hotel, nothing flash, comfy room. They're undergoing renos at the moment but that work doesn't go on at night so it's no problem.

Not sure about car hire but I'd say that the rental places would be open to accommodate the late flights. We had three flights land at the same time so stands to reason they'd be open for business. Maybe check the airport website? I've flown in twice late at night and never had a problem getting a taxi.

Plenty of people on the plane, I think the time works as you get a full day in Oz before you fly and a full day when you land.

 

[featheast]

Just booked my NZ trip to CHC for the Australia Day week 2015.
Outbound VA100, will stay at Sudima overnight, which is very close to the airport. (Used hotelclub 15 off coupon)
Had a hard time to choose between 6.05am NZ or 8.35pm JQ fly back, but to save one night's stay, opt to orange... Hopefully no delay, no cancellation, and no drama.

In terms of car hire, I booked with Apex (which is the cheapest comparing to major companies), they don't have on-site office, you need to make a call to arrange pickup. But based on the stories from TripAdvisor, should be OK.

 

[AdMEL]

I flew on VA100 in Feb this year and stayed at Ibis in the centre of the city. Nice near new refurb - managed to get it for ~ AU$100 for a night (using a Hotel Club discount). I was booking a car through Avis, whose website states they close at 12.30am - not much margin for a delayed flight. This combined with not wanting to worry about having a few drinks in the lounge/on the flight and having to drive in a strange city at midnight not knowing what parking would be like, caused me to re-book the car rental for the next day. Plenty of taxis - cost almost NZ$50. Needn't have worried - flight was on time, car rental still open, easy drive with very little traffic (from taxi) and plenty of parking.

 

[Leroy87]

Thanks for these responses guys, very helpful.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Probably too late, for the OP, but you can book Supershuttle who will meet the last QF and that VA flight, and take you to the city.
Not cheap, but cheaper than the taxi.
I have used it on arrival at 11pm, after immi, its a quick half an hour or so to the city.
CHC itself is still in major rebuild mode, and as it is, is still a job in progress.
Not sure if you want to pick up a car at 11pm and drive, if I remember correctly, there was still one booth open. Or you want to walk to the Sudima, if not a lot of baggage, turn left as you exit the int terminal, go past the bus park, and keep walking, I have seen it, and indeed its not far from CHC int.
If you want to shuttle bus (cheap) into CHC and pick up hire car next day, Google Supershuttle. A lot of people do come in on that last QF and the VA flight into CHC, but they get picked up. Supershuttle is the same company that does NZ airport shuttles all over the country.
One bit of advice, the flight in the last hour or so before landing into CHC can be very very very very bumpy, and it feels like the plane is going down fast.
My first time at night, and was I scared.
On the way back to Aust, you probably will drop off the hire car at CHC airport, but if you want to, there is the Metro bus #29, from Christchurch CBD to the airport for Nzd$8.00 per person, stops running about 9.30pm though.
Supershuttle (and no, I don't work for them), but they are cheaper than taxi will drop and pick up anywhere, shared ride with others.
Book 24/48 hours in advance should be enough.
Can book and pay online, you provide your flight timings, and they will pick up from hotel in CBD.
OR last night, Sudima.

 

[cavemanzk]

Another option is to pre-book an taxi though Air New Zealand, they have an site call https://www.taxi.co.nz/. They are pre-paid fixed cost & and about half of the cost, if you we're to grab an taxi at the airport. They even have an person in arrivals waiting for you!

Not really much point heading into the CBD at the Night, there is nothing. I'd personally stay at Sudmia, I've done it a few times this year & worked out some much easier when taking an flight in the morning like NZ5001.