Sort & Filter

University Bookshop

A woman looking at a book at the University of Canterbury Bookshop.
Close up of a book about the Christchurch earthquakes at the University of Canterbury Bookshop.
Books on shelves at the University of Canterbury Bookshop.
The inside of the University of Canterbury Bookshop.
A woman browsing books at the University of Canterbury Bookshop.
Entrance to the University of Canterbury Bookshop.

Monday8:30 am – 5:00 pm.

Tuesday8:30 am – 5:00 pm.

Wednesday8:30 am – 5:00 pm.

Thursday8:30 am – 5:00 pm.

Friday8:30 am – 5:00 pm.

Saturday10:00 am – 3:00 pm.

SundayClosed.

University Dr, Ilam, Christchurch

03 364 2043

Facebook

Website

A well-kept literary secret is the University Bookshop on Ilam Campus. Nestled amongst the towering gum trees, manicured gardens and delightful river, the University Bookshop offers a vibrant shopping experience. Browsers, bibliophiles, students, children and grannies can take their pick from books ranging from art, cookery, languages and travel, to science, fiction, crime and photography. The best bit? There’s always a couple of tables with discounted books for those looking for a bargain.

Don’t be put off by the bookshop being on campus, which is a destination in itself for its recreation centre, art displays and cafés. The friendly staff will help you navigate the store and happily order anything you want but can’t find. Oh, and there’s free parking out back for those who don’t have a campus parking permit.

Words by Tahlia Vogel & Photography by Anna Briggs

Information not correct? Report an error

Location

University Dr, Ilam, Christchurch

Similar Places

Naveya & Sloane Jewellery

Wide shot of jewellery showroom with cabinet full of jewellery and a shop assistant behind at Naveya & Sloane Jewellery.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
Fashion key icon.

Naveya & Sloane is a jewellery house born and bred in New Zealand, and in mid-2025, they opened their Christchurch showroom on Oxford Terrace.

Dead Video

Dead Video sign.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
Theatre and performance key icon.

If you’re wondering — did streaming kill the video star? — the answer is not quite, thanks to neat people like Evan at Dead Video.

Infinite Definite

Infinite Definite shopfront in Christchurch.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury Editor's Pick
Fashion key icon.

Cool kicks, clothing and lifestyle goods find themselves a home here, and with over 60 different designers in stock, there is something for everyone.

The Arts Centre

The exterior of a building at the Christchurch Arts Centre.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury Editor's Pick
Cafes key icon. Galleries and museum key icon. Theatre and performance key icon.

A much-loved heritage hub for all things creative and cultural, Christchurch’s Arts Centre is a real jewel in the city’s crown.

Featured in

In Our Book: Here are the Best Bookshops in Christchurch Ōtautahi

A woman with a short brown bob reading an old book.
Story Christchurch & Canterbury
There is a certain kind of feeling you get when you enter a good bookshop, it’s warm and inviting, and a sense of cosiness and calm takes over. The scent of hundreds and thousands of pages waiting to be discovered and devoured is nostalgic, and it is easy to lose an hour or two browsing the aisles deliberating over your next read. In Ōtautahi Christchurch, we are blessed with a stellar number of bookstores, from a specialist children’s shop, booksellers that have been in the city for generations and second-hand shops that ensure literary gems reach the hands of new readers. So whether you are on the hunt for the latest bestseller, looking to build up your child’s library collection or happiest when spending an afternoon amongst stacks and rows of books, here’s your guide (in no particular order) to enjoying the best bookshops around the city.

CHC Institutions We Love

Lots of people sitting outside at Smash Palace, Christchurch.
Story Christchurch & Canterbury
Still going strong after 10 plus years, and there's a whole multitude of reasons why.