Arcadia Books — Port Chalmers
A secondhand bookshop in Port Chalmers, Dunedin. Part of the Dunedin & Port Chalmers secondhand bookshops directory — see also our NZ used-book price guide.
No rights-cleared photo yet — our own photos coming soon. Open the map pin for the street location.
About
Arcadia Books is the reason to make the 20-minute drive along the harbour to Port Chalmers. Tucked into George Street, the town’s heritage main street, it is a proper old-school bookshop spread through several small rooms, with an owner known for knowing his stock and happy to talk books — or to leave you alone to browse.
The Spinoff ranked it fourth in Dunedin, calling it “absolutely worth a trip if you’re passing through” and noting prices run slightly above central Dunedin, which it blamed on the cruise ships that berth at the port. Visitors describe nooks and crannies with surprising finds and an arrangement that takes some working out.
Opening hours are afternoons, typically Wednesday to Sunday, and it is cash only, so plan ahead. Pair it with a coffee on George Street and a walk up to the Port Chalmers lookout.
Price tip: The Spinoff called it “a little more expensive” than city shops (cruise-ship traffic); visitor examples include a Knut Hamsun novel at about $20.
What you’ll find
Literary fiction and translated classics, poetry, thrillers, children’s books, comics, NZ non-fiction and quirky out-of-print titles spread across multiple rooms.
Practical info
- Address
- 27 George Street, Port Chalmers, Dunedin 9023
- Hours
- Listed Wed–Sun 12pm–5pm; Mon–Tue closed — call ahead
- Phone
- 03 472 7494
Visitors consistently report cash only. Afternoon hours from online directories; phone 03 472 7494 before driving out.
Visitor notes & reviews
“It has a very decent selection of books and is absolutely worth a trip if you’re passing through.”
2024-05 · The Spinoff