Cruise Ship Car Rental

Cruise Ship Car Rental Paihia & Waitangi | Bay of Islands Hire Cars

Arriving in the Bay of Islands by cruise ship? We’ll bring your hire car to you.

We offer a wide range of quality, self-charging hybrid cars, that are super economical on fuel, modern and comfortable.

Make the most of your limited time ashore with an easy, flexible rental car service for cruise ship passengers arriving in Paihia or Waitangi.

Easy same-day pickup, flexible drop-off, unlimited kms and friendly local service.

Why cruise passengers choose Blue Star

We meet you near the ship — no need to travel to a rental depot
Same-day pickup and drop-off available
Modern hybrid cars and SUVs
Save on fuel while exploring Northland
Unlimited kms included
AA Roadside Assistance included
Flexible pickup and drop-off options
Friendly local Bay of Islands service

check availability:

Easy car hire for cruise ship passengers

The bonus of a hybrid car is using 30% less fuel and self-charging as you drive

Flexible Pick Up & Drop Off
Unlimited Kms / Insurance Options
Additional Drivers at No Extra Cost
top rated local company
vip service - we greet you on arrival
Read All FAQ - click here

*Please note we charge the total cost to your credit card the day before pickup. No deposit is taken.

Top Rated Local COMpANY

Friendly local Bay of Islands Owned and Operated Hybrid Hire Company

Read All Reviews >

Blue Star Car Rentals
4.9
Based on 112 reviews
review us on
Jules Fyfe
03:13 18 Jul 26
Easy, affordable. Good fuel-efficient car met our needs perfectly.
Dan Davies
05:54 27 Jun 26
I highly recommend Bluestar rentals, delivery at short notice, excellent service communication, and a Great car.And very fair pricing,
Jacques Pelletier
22:04 14 Jun 26
Thank you for everythingthe car and your service was perfectyou help us to have a great time in Opua
Sharlene Te Haara
08:41 17 May 26
I would like to thank the team at Blue Star Rentals for their amazing service they provide. Best rental company since I have been hiring rentals.Very comfortable, very reliable and you can trust their service. No other hidden costs when you pick up.So thank you Chris and Hailey for your customer service 100%. Will hire from here again
Karyn Reid
03:56 08 Apr 26
Fantastic service, awesome car, thanks Chris and Hilary
Mark Schmitz
03:08 05 Apr 26
Perfect and well organised service, delivery and pick-up to the marina at Opua, a clean fuel-efficient car.
Gecko Lightning
19:12 28 Mar 26
It's not often you get to interact with the actual owner of a car rental company. Chris met us coming off the airplane in Kerikeri, walked us to our car, had us laughing and in such a good mood before we got into the car - it set a perfect tone for our 10 days exploring BOI & the Far North. Our car was a solid new'ish hybrid that served us very well. I fear he has spoiled all my future car rental experiences for life. 5 stars aren't enough.
Roy de Hamel
20:47 26 Mar 26
Great cars, price and service. Definitely recommended!
Mascha Bender (Alanalive)
04:40 25 Feb 26
Great car rental company with fantastic service and communication! Highly recommended! Got a free upgrade, thank you so much!!!
Gunnar Bringel
04:12 21 Feb 26
It was great renting the car from Blue Star. The service was fantastic and provided a great flexibility were to pick up and leave the car.Price was also competitive when comparing with other rental firms.
Edward Grant
23:50 15 Feb 26
Had a great time with our Blue Star rental. Very comfortable vehicle, perfectly clean and tidy. Highly recommend and will use again!
Emelyne LE BODO
00:08 10 Feb 26
5 stars for this experience with Blue Star Car Rentals. We had the car we booked, the service was easy, very friendly and helpful with the place to pick up and drop off. We fully recommend.
Chris Wikaira
08:36 09 Feb 26
Super friendly and helpful. Great car. Will definitely use again when in the north.
Kelly Behan Falk
18:57 04 Feb 26
Fantastic company to work with! The car has been great, exactly what I wanted, and Chris has gone out of his way to accommodate anything I needed! 100% recommend them!!!!
Grant Clayton
23:43 23 Jan 26
Absolutely fantastic, friendly service and nice clean cars.Always happy to help and do what they can to accommodate their clients.I use them on almost a weekly basis.Best car hire company in Northland.Thank you kindly,Grant
Alina Singletary
21:03 21 Jan 26
Wonderful people! Incredible experience! Fantastic car! Wish we had a Blue Star in every place we travel! Well done! Hopefully we get the chance to rent from Blue Star again!
John Eastman
21:10 13 Jan 26
Great experience with Blue Star Car Rentals at Kerikeri airport; very friendly service, inexpensive and flexible on return timing. I would recommend them and will use again.
joemilsom (Josefu)
23:17 04 Jan 26
Was very pleased by the service at blue star car rentals; wasn’t expecting them to both drop off and pick up the car after the rental period but was pleasantly surprised!Much better option than the other rental agencies in terms of pricing and the owners are super nice.Would definitely recommend if you are based in the far north for your next holiday.
Jessica O'Dell
19:09 04 Jan 26
So thankful for Blue Star Car Rentals - after some mayhem with our flight getting cancelled and us missing the window to pick up our original rental car, Chris was so accommodating in getting us situated with a car in record time and was even there to greet us at the airport. The whole process was wonderfully easy and stress-free after a stressful day. Highly recommend and thank you Chris!
Virgile Betteto
00:29 03 Jan 26
Blue Star Car Rental has been the perfect agency for me to visit the Bay of Islands and Northland ! A car is definitely required to look around and I highly recommend Blue Star for your car !
More reviews

Cruise Ship Car Rental in Paihia and Waitangi.
Make the most of your limited time ashore with an easy, flexible rental car service for cruise ship passengers arriving in Paihia or Waitangi.

Blue Star Car Rentals offers a simple cruise arrival service where we can meet you near the wharf with your rental car, help you get on the road quickly, and arrange an easy return at the agreed time and place. No rental desk queues. No waiting around. Just friendly local service and the freedom to explore the Bay of Islands at your own pace.

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Explore local beaches, restaurants, historic sites, natural wonders and a whole lot more by hiring an eco-friendly Blue Star vehicle.

Local, friendly and hassle-free

Blue Star Car Rentals is a locally owned Bay of Islands car hire company. We know cruise ship days can be busy, so our goal is to make your rental smooth from the moment you step ashore.

You get clear communication, a clean and comfortable vehicle, and a local team who understands the area.

No complicated process. No surprise rental desk queues. Just a practical, friendly way to see more of the Bay of Islands.

Secure availability for your arrival date.

Whether you want to visit Kerikeri, explore historic Waitangi, enjoy local beaches, stop for lunch, or take a scenic drive through Northland, our modern hybrid vehicles are a comfortable and economical way to see more in one day.

Book your cruise ship rental car early to secure availability for your arrival date.

Easy car hire for cruise ship passengers
When booking, choose the pickup/drop-off option for Cruise Ship Arrival / Deliver to Me and let us know your ship name, arrival date, and expected wharf location.
Our team will arrange where to meet you and hand over the vehicle. At the end of your visit, we’ll meet you again at the agreed return point near the wharf or another suitable location.

How cruise ship pickup works

1. Book Online

Check availability for your cruise arrival date and choose the vehicle that suits your group.

2. Tell us your ship details

Add your ship name, arrival time, and expected arrival point, such as Paihia or Waitangi Wharf.

3. We arrange the meeting point

Our team will confirm the best place to meet you near the wharf.

4. Enjoy your day exploring

Drive around Paihia, Waitangi, Kerikeri, Russell and the wider Bay of Islands at your own pace.

5. Return the car easily

We’ll meet you at the agreed time and location for a simple drop-off before you return to your ship.

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Flexible Pick up / Drop Off at no extra cost for the Mid North: including Bay of Islands Airport, Kerikeri, Paihia, OPUA MARINA. Excludes Russell.

Perfect for families, couples and small groups
Our cruise ship car rental service is ideal for:
Families wanting freedom and flexibility
Couples who prefer exploring independently
Small groups wanting a private day out
Travellers who have already visited Paihia and want to go further
Passengers who want to avoid crowded buses and fixed tour schedules
Visitors wanting to see Kerikeri, Waitangi, Russell or local beaches in one day

Why cruise passengers choose Blue Star
We meet you near the ship — no need to travel to a rental depot
Same-day pickup and drop-off available
Modern hybrid cars and SUVs
Save on fuel while exploring Northland
Unlimited kms included
AA Roadside Assistance included
Flexible pickup and drop-off options
Friendly local Bay of Islands service