Great Auckland Bargain Book Fair

Great Auckland Bargain Book Fair Auckland’s biggest and best book fair! First weekend in November at the Barfoot & Thompson Stadium! 2021 DATES CONFIRMED: Sat 6th & Sun 7th November 2021.

The Great Auckland Bargain Book Fair is an annual event that runs for 24 hours over the first week of November, at the Barfoot & Thompson Stadium in Kohimarama. We accept donations of second hand books, DVD's, CD's, records and magazines throughout the year; and these are sorted into categories and put on sale over one weekend, with all proceeds going to charitable group and local sports club that utilise the Barfoot & Thompson Stadium in Kohimarama.

KINGS BIRTHDAY WEEKEND DROP OFF Unfortunately with the college having no sport this weekend the school gate, we have bee...
28/05/2026

KINGS BIRTHDAY WEEKEND DROP OFF
Unfortunately with the college having no sport this weekend the school gate, we have been told, will be closed. So you won't be able to drive through the school to the back of the stadium.
BUT you can drop off still, but unfortunately you will have to carry them - see map below. Go to gate 1, turn sharp left and park there and then follow the map which says 'Weekend Entrance' this will lead you to the drop off area.
Thank you in advance if you are dropping off books.

Yesterday was a soul destroying afternoon for our two volunteer book sorters. Someone dropped off 12 cartons of the wors...
19/05/2026

Yesterday was a soul destroying afternoon for our two volunteer book sorters. Someone dropped off 12 cartons of the worst drop off we have had in a long time, these were dropped off in the afternoon between lunchtime and 4pm.
Not one book was sellable, the volunteers went through them all with gloves on, and all taken to our Reclaim bin. These books had been damp at some stage, they were dirty, some with mould and in some cases just falling apart, some with no spines or covers as per photos.
This is a waste of time for the sorters who give up there time to sort sellable books for our bookfair. We have to pay for disposal, so this means less money we can give to our charities.
Its sad someone thinks it's alright, to dump, leave and run. Everyone has a blue bin.
A BIG thank you to our dedicated volunteers and all the volunteers in Op Shops that have the same problem daily.

BOOK FAIR DONATION DROP OFF SITE MAP attachedMonday to Friday 4pm to 7pmSaturday and Sunday and school holidays dependan...
12/05/2026

BOOK FAIR DONATION DROP OFF SITE MAP attached
Monday to Friday 4pm to 7pm
Saturday and Sunday and school holidays dependant on school gate and stadium activity, but hours are usually 9am to 3pm, excluding public holidays.

GETTING TO DROP OFF Through Gate 2 when open as above.
Follow green arrows on map to get around back of the school, you will see large shipping containers (see photo 2), and a sign and arrow, go down to the left of containers you will see red stairs there are shelves underneath the red stairs leave your donation on shelves see photo 3).

If gate 2 is closed, go through gate 1 park in front of school and walk your donations using the green arrow for weekend entrance.

The shelves are cleared 7 days a week BUT if you have a large quality please ring 0274 522 491 to arrange a volunteer to meet you.

Thanks again for your donations of books, puzzles, CDs, DVDs and Records - but they must be in saleable condition.

12/05/2026

Even though it's getting colder and it's getting darker early, we are beavering away sorting books for our 2026 bookfair every late afternoon. It's great meeting the people dropping off boxes, hearing if they are downsizing, moving house, or just having a sort out. Some haven't been to our book sale but heard about us and then there are those that look forward to our bookfair every year.
We have 46 categories of books so that keeps the sorters on their toes and then we have puzzles, CDs, DVDs and Records.
So if you are moving or having a clean out we would love to see you.

Unfortunately, there will be no book drop offs on Saturday May 9th due to Selwyn College's 70th Anniversary celebrations...
30/04/2026

Unfortunately, there will be no book drop offs on Saturday May 9th due to Selwyn College's 70th Anniversary celebrations and an event at the stadium on the same day. The book drop off will be closed, sorry for the inconvenience but this is the first time ever we have had to do this, but both are major events. Book drop off will only be closed for the one day.

Great weather for a clean out of unwanted sellable books for our bookfair 7th and 8th November.Our sorters have been bus...
14/04/2026

Great weather for a clean out of unwanted sellable books for our bookfair 7th and 8th November.
Our sorters have been busy, and with school holidays people have taken the opportunity to drop off as we can enter the school all day Monday to Friday.
Go through gate 2, turn left straight away, follow the drive around through middle of school, you will see the shipping containers with our black and yellow Book Drop Off sign. The arrow points to under the red stairs were our shelves are located.
If you have a quantity to drop off please phone 0274522491 so we can arrange a time to meet you there.
Thank you to everyone who has dropped books off, we are ahead of target, so keep them coming.

Some of the beautiful books that have been donated. Our two volunteer sorters have been busy since we opened in January,...
21/02/2026

Some of the beautiful books that have been donated. Our two volunteer sorters have been busy since we opened in January, we are over 250 banana boxes heading towards our 1400 target for the sale in November.

Thank you to those who have dropped off beautiful books for us to sell 7th and 8th November, MARK IN YOUR DIARY.

Remember the saying - don't donate it if you wouldn't give it to a friend 😀

Thank you to those who have given us great books, puzzles, music etc for our November Bookfair keep them coming, we so ...
03/02/2026

Thank you to those who have given us great books, puzzles, music etc for our November Bookfair keep them coming, we so appreciate your generosity.

BUT in the last 2 weeks we have sent out 2 Reclaim bins due to people leaving on the shelves, books that are just unsuitable it is so unfair to our sorters.
DIrty, damaged/covers missing, mouldy (this is dangerous to our volunteers health) water damaged and the list goes on - see photos below.
Every time the bin goes out it is less money we can give our charities.
Use your own blue bin OR there is a FREE drop of service at Reclaim for books that are unsaleable which are recycled.

Reclaim - 218 Station Rd, Penrose down the driveway to the left.
Monday to Friday 6.30am to 4.00pm
Saturday 6.30am to 12.00pm

Our volunteers have finished for 2025 and deserve a holiday. They will return on 20th January so please do not leave bo...
23/12/2025

Our volunteers have finished for 2025 and deserve a holiday.
They will return on 20th January so please do not leave books, please hold them until our return. There is no dry area outside to leave books.
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Thank you to everyone that supported the 2025, 24 hour Gabbs Bookfair - seeing lots of familiar faces and lots and lots ...
04/11/2025

Thank you to everyone that supported the 2025, 24 hour Gabbs Bookfair - seeing lots of familiar faces and lots and lots of new faces which is fantastic.
Thank you for all the positive comments throughout the weekend and appreciating all the hardwork that goes into running a bookfair of this size.
Mark in your diary Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th November 2026 - always the first full weekend in November.
We are giving our volunteer sorters a break and we start collecting for next year as of December 1st until December 20th and then back on 20th January onwards.
See you in 2026.

Address

203 Kohimarama Road
Auckland
1071

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