Hard to Find Books

Monday9:30 am – 5:15 pm.

Tuesday9:30 am – 5:15 pm.

Wednesday9:30 am – 5:15 pm.

Thursday9:30 am – 5:15 pm.

Friday9:30 am – 5:15 pm.

Saturday9:30 am – 5:15 pm.

Sunday9:30 am – 5:15 pm.

20 Dowling St, Central, Dunedin

03 471 8518

Housed in a nondescript building, Hard to Find Books is easy to miss if it weren’t for the discrete sign out front. But make no mistake, while the bookshop may be hard to find, the books certainly are not. Climb the stairs (or take the antique chair-lift) and allow yourself to breathe in the familiar smell of well-loved books, in a space where books are the only things that matter.

Specialising in rare and hard-to-find books, the shelves are stocked from floor to ceiling with titles covering every possible subject matter, from 18th century trains to Julia Child's recipes. And just in case you can’t find the particular book you were after, hidden behind the shelves the stock room holds an extra 100,000 books. The staff are eager to help, and just as happy to let you peruse at your own leisure.

Spend the afternoon (or an entire day) getting lost in the bookshop, rediscovering old favourites, new favourites and everything in between.

Words by Tahlia Vogel & Photography by Naomi Haussmann

Information not correct? Report an error

Location

20 Dowling St, Central, Dunedin

Nearby Places

Vull Design

Interior of shop with hanging lights.
Place Dunedin

Vull Design boasts a carefully and tastefully curated selection of design products for your home.

Albar

Interior view of Albar, Dunedin.
Place Dunedin
Bars key icon.

A local favourite and the social hub of many.

Ebb-Kitchen

Exterior of Ebb-Kitchen.
Place Dunedin
Cafes key icon. Restaurants key icon.

A green oasis nestled into Dunedin’s urban streets, Ebb-Kitchen bridges the gap between city and nature, bringing the best parts of each together on the plate.

The Corner Store

The exterior of the building of The Corner Store.
Place Dunedin
Cafes key icon.

Slap bang in the middle of Central Dunedin, The Corner Store is everything you could ever want in an inner-city cafe.

Similar Places

2gypsies

Close up of handmade soaps.
Place Dunedin

A homewares store with gifts and furniture from the Orient, 2gypsies offers art, accessories, cushions and glassware with a distinct Eastern style to the people of Port Chalmers.

Vull Design

Interior of shop with hanging lights.
Place Dunedin

Vull Design boasts a carefully and tastefully curated selection of design products for your home.

Princes St Butcher

Jars of pasta sauce and honey on display.
Place Dunedin

A complete foodie destination.

Dead Souls Bookshop

Books on shelves.
Place Dunedin Editor's Pick

Dead Souls offers every visitor a bit of that magic that only the best bookstores have.