West Coast secondhand books
The West Coast has one dedicated secondhand bookshop, and it is a good one: Red Books on Mackay Street in Greymouth, opened in 2019 on the site of Peter Hooper’s legendary Walden Books. It is strong on literature and West Coast history, and a few minutes’ walk from the TranzAlpine terminus.
The Salvation Army’s Family Stores in Greymouth and Westport cover the cheap-paperback end. We could not confirm a secondhand book outlet in Hokitika or Reefton from operator sources — Hokitika’s bookshop sells new West Coast titles and stationery.
Everything here was checked on 1 November 2026.
1 dedicated bookshop · 2 op shops with books · updated 2026-11-01
Jump to: Greymouth · Westport · Crawl guide · FAQ
Greymouth — secondhand books & op shops
Dedicated bookshops
Op shops & charity stores with books
Westport — secondhand books & op shops
Op shops & charity stores with books
West Coast bookshop crawl guide
On a TranzAlpine day trip you have roughly an hour in Greymouth: walk from the station to Red Books on Mackay Street (Tuesday–Saturday), then the Salvation Army on Murray Street if time allows.
Driving the coast, Westport’s Salvation Army is about 100 km north of Greymouth. Heading over to Christchurch, Book Barn on Ferry and the Christchurch shops are the next big stop.
FAQ
Is there a secondhand bookshop in Greymouth?
Yes — Red Books, 138 Mackay Street, open Tuesday to Saturday 10am–4pm. Bring cash.
Can I visit Red Books on the TranzAlpine?
Yes. It is a few minutes’ walk from Greymouth station, though the train’s turnaround is short, so head straight there.
Where can I buy secondhand books in Hokitika or Westport?
Westport’s Salvation Army Family Store sells donated books. In Hokitika we could not confirm a secondhand book outlet from operator sources; local op shops may have shelves.
Not listed (closed, unverified or no books)
- West Coast Books / Paper Plus Hokitika — new books and stationery.
- Dennis’s Bookshop & Stationery, Westport — new books only.
- SPCA and Vinnies op shops, Hokitika; Reefton Second Hand Mart — open, but books only mentioned in aggregators or reviews, not by the operator.
Nearby regions
Ashburton, Chertsey & Akaroa · Nelson, Richmond & Motueka · All South Island regions