Queenstown Car & SUV Hire | Blue Dot Rentals
Blue Dot Rentals is a locally owned New Zealand rental company. In Queenstown we keep things deliberately small: one well-maintained Toyota Highlander SUV, looked after properly, handed over in person. No counter, no queue, no upsell script.
Because there is only one vehicle here, Queenstown books out quickly. If your dates matter, book ahead or call us and we will tell you straight away whether it is free.
Check availability for your dates
One SUV, unlimited kilometres, met at the airport. Talk to a person, not a call centre.
The Vehicle
What you book is what you get. We do not run a “or similar” category system in Queenstown, because there is only one car.
5 seats, automatic, petrol
Not a 4WD — see winter driving below
Drive as far as you like
Comfortable for 4 adults plus bags
Unlimited kilometres included. Rates vary with season and length of hire — longer bookings cost less per day. A refundable bond applies ($250 with a credit card and NZ licence; $500 otherwise; $1,500 for drivers under 25). Fuel is not included.
Pickup & Drop-off
✈️ Queenstown Airport (ZQN)
Send us your flight number when you book and we will meet you in person at the terminal. Please arrange this at least 24 hours ahead so we know when to be there.
🏔️ Queenstown Town Centre
154A Howden Drive, Queenstown. We can also arrange collection or drop-off near your accommodation within the township — just ask.
Where This Car Is Great
A comfortable, economical SUV suits almost everything people actually drive to from Queenstown:
- Arrowtown — 20 minutes on sealed road
- Gibbston Valley wineries — 25 minutes
- Glenorchy — 45 minutes along the lake, one of the best drives in the country
- Wānaka — about 1 hour over the Crown Range, or 1.5 hours the long way
- Cromwell & Central Otago — 45 minutes
- Te Anau and on to Milford Sound — a long but spectacular day trip
Winter Driving — Please Read
We would rather be straight with you than sell you the wrong car.
This Highlander is a two-wheel-drive vehicle. It is fine on sealed roads around Queenstown, Arrowtown, Cromwell and Wānaka in normal winter conditions. It is not a 4WD or AWD, and we do not recommend it as a ski-field vehicle.
The access roads to Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Cardrona regularly require chains for two-wheel-drive vehicles, and the ski fields can turn cars away at the bottom of the road if they are not carrying them. If you plan to drive up:
- Ask us for snow chains when you book — we can supply them, and we will show you how to fit them at handover
- Check the ski field road status each morning before you set off
- Consider the ski-field shuttle from town on heavy snow days — it is often the easier option
If you specifically need an all-wheel-drive vehicle, tell us. We have an AWD Toyota Estima in our Auckland fleet, and we would rather help you find the right vehicle than put you on a road you should not be on.
Why Book Direct With Us
We meet you at the terminal and hand over the keys
Booking direct costs less than through a comparison site
No per-kilometre charges to worry about
Small NZ company, not a multinational franchise
Someone answers if something goes wrong
What we quote is what you pay at pickup
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this vehicle a 4WD or AWD?
No. It is a two-wheel-drive (front-wheel-drive) Toyota Highlander. It handles sealed roads around the region well, but it is not an all-wheel-drive vehicle and we do not recommend it for ski-field access without chains.
Can I drive to Coronet Peak or The Remarkables?
You can, but you should carry snow chains and check the road status that morning. Ski fields can refuse entry to two-wheel-drive vehicles without chains. Ask us for chains when you book. On heavy snow days the shuttle from town is genuinely the easier choice.
Do you have more than one car in Queenstown?
Not at the moment. We run one vehicle here and look after it properly. It does book out, so give us as much notice as you can. We have larger fleets in Auckland and Christchurch if you need something specific.
Do you meet me at the airport?
Yes. Send your flight number when booking, ideally at least 24 hours ahead, and we will meet you at the terminal. There is no counter to queue at.
What is the minimum driver age?
Drivers aged 25 and over with a full valid licence book on standard terms. Drivers under 25 can hire but a $1,500 refundable bond applies.
Are kilometres unlimited?
Yes, unlimited kilometres are included. Fuel is not — please return the car with the same fuel level it had at pickup.
Can I take the car to other parts of the South Island?
Yes. Wānaka, Te Anau, Milford, Dunedin and Christchurch are all fine. If you want to cross to the North Island by ferry you must tell us first so we can approve it.
Can I drop the car off somewhere else?
One-way hires are possible to our other branches, though a relocation fee usually applies. Ask us before booking and we will quote it.
One car, one owner, straight answers
Check the dates online, or call and we will tell you in a minute whether it is free.
Also hiring in Auckland, Auckland Airport and Christchurch (Lincoln). Questions? Contact us.