Car Rental - Newquay
Rent a car in Newquay and explore the best of England’s surfing capital. Located on Cornwall's Atlantic north coast, the resort town boasts glorious sandy beaches and ancient coastal scenery. Newquay is also legendary among the surfing fraternity for its world-class breaks and has a growing reputation as a major destination for fashionable food lovers.
You’ll find our Newquay car rental pick-up point just outside the terminal at Newquay International Airport – five miles from the town itself and conveniently located to access the main A39 and A30 routes around Cornwall.
Renting a car in Newquay with Hertz means that you can get straight out on the road to discover the sights of this beautiful pocket of south-west England. And there are plenty of Newquay rental cars to choose from too.
There are no hidden extras to pay, and you can amend or cancel a reservation for free right up to two days before collection. Plus, our best price guarantee means that if you find a lower Hertz price, we'll refund the difference.
Newquay Locations
A Quick Guide to Newquay
Newquay is one of Britain’s best-loved seaside resorts, offering some of the most gorgeous beaches in Cornwall. That means you don’t need to take your Newquay rental car too far from town to enjoy some of the region’s other great attractions.
Surf the Waves or Relax on Shore
It’s all about the beaches in sunny Cornwall, and Newquay has around 15 of them to shout about – each one offering a different experience. Many of Newquay’s beaches have bars and restaurants so that you can enjoy a drink with your dinner while watching a stunning sunset.
The town is bookended by two of the best. To the west is the iconic Fistral Beach, one of the leading surfing beaches in the UK. Here you’ll find surf lessons on offer and equipment for rent, along with a great mix of cafés and restaurants. To the east of town is Lusty Glaze, a beautiful horseshoe-shaped cove where you can sit back, relax and soak up the views.
You’ll find it’s around a 15-minute drive between both beaches in your Newquay rental car. So you can always head out for some water sports in the morning and then spend a relaxing afternoon soaking up the sun.
Indulge in Newquay’s Gastronomic Pleasures
Newquay’s food scene is second-to-none. With its local fishing fleet based at the harbor, fish and seafood feature high on the menu. Look out for local mackerel, sardines and sole, or freshly caught lobster and crab.
Celebrity TV chef Rick Stein has a restaurant overlooking Fistral Bay, where you can taste his legendary fish and chips, as well as many Indian and Far Eastern dishes inspired by his travels.
Take your rental car a few miles north of Newquay you’ll find another stunning beach at Watergate Bay, home to several excellent eateries. Zacry’s, with its U.S-influenced menu, and Fifteen Cornwall, the Italian-inspired restaurant created by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, are some popular haunts.
One of the best times to visit Newquay is during its annual fish festival. This popular event runs over a long weekend in mid-September and includes cookery tuition, celebrity guests and a multitude of fish-themed stalls on the harbor side. Fish and seafood lovers will be in heaven.
Lose Yourself in a Lost Garden
Just under 20 miles from Newquay, near Pentewan, on Cornwall’s south coast, is the Lost Gardens of Heligan – one of the county’s most romantic, yet mysterious, places.
After some years of neglect, this natural wonderland was unveiled to the public in 1992. Today, it offers more than 200 acres of horticultural paradise, ripe for exploration along winding paths and raised boardwalks that snake their way through ancient woodlands and luxuriant foliage.
Park up your Newquay rental car and spend the day here, taking in the exotic jungle, Italian garden and Alpine-inspired ravine.
Visit the Garden of Eden
Also close to Cornwall’s south coast, near the town of St Austell, is the awe-inspiring Eden Project. This vast garden is housed in a series of giant biomes, each one representing a different climatic zone. They’re also contained within a gigantic crater the size of 30 soccer pitches.
The whole ethos of the Eden Project is one of environmental protection and sustainability, and you can’t fail to be impressed by the sheer scale of the site as you move from the rainforests to the deserts of California, via South Africa and the Mediterranean.
Driving In and Around Newquay
Newquay is a compact little town and driving around shouldn’t present too many problems. It’s worth being aware that during school summer holidays in late July and August, and major surfing events, the roads can become congested.
If you want to park up your Newquay rental car and hit the town center on foot, you’ll find there are plenty of available spaces in parking lots that are dotted around the town. The main beaches also have their own parking, so you can pull up and enjoy a relaxing day at the beach.
Our Newquay car rental pick-up point at the airport is a 15-minute drive from the center on the B3276. Getting out and about to see the attractions is easy. The Eden Project is a 35-minute drive away on the A3059, while the Lost Gardens of Heligan are 40 minutes away on the A3058.
Cornwall’s main town, Truro, is the best place for shopping and is about 15 miles south of Newquay in your rental car. It’s worth noting again that during the summer holidays, the roads will be much busier, so you’ll need to allow more time before you hit the road.
Driving in the UK is on the left-hand side of the road and the wearing of seat belts is mandatory. Speed limits are 30mph in built-up areas, 60mph on the main A-roads and 70 mph on divided highways (called dual carriageways) and the main highways (motorways). Keep a close eye on speed limits and note that it’s illegal in the UK to turn right on a red light.
