We scour the South Island in search of the country’s best second-hand stores, with a little help from some Your Home & Garden friends
1. Salvation Army Family Store Rangiora
My all-time favourite op-shop is our local Salvation Army Family Store here in Rangiora. It is clean and well presented, the staff are really friendly and the goods are very reasonably priced. It is especially good for furniture, homeware and collectables as well as clothing, books and toys. I seldom leave there empty-handed. It is always lovely chatting with the staff and other regular shoppers.
– Jecasta South, @jecasta.south
15 Albert Street, Rangiora
2. Shop On Carroll Dunedin
This is one of those op-shops you can’t leave without buying something. It’s run by Presbyterian Support Otago and always has a well-curated selection of ’60s and ’70s homeware and pottery, plus heaps of vintage clothing (often with a few Dunedin designer pieces on the racks, too).
– Georgia Rose Munn,@georgiarosemunn
10 Carroll Street, Dunedin
3. Salvation Army Family Store Woolston
For homeware I tend to go to The Salvation Army on Ferry Road. I’ve got so many good pieces from there, including an amazing pink velour chesterfield sofa, which was in excellent condition. They also have heaps of great knick-knacks which are all displayed really nicely.
– Danielle France, @themustardjumper
636 Ferry Road, Woolston, Christchurch
4. Hospice Shop Invercargill
In Invercargill I would say the best spot is the Hospice Shop on Yarrow Street. It always has the best clothes and furniture. I got the most amazing Muppets Viewmaster in its original packaging from here. Everything is so affordable; they don’t put big price tags on down here.
– Jenna-lee Shave, @snapsbyshave
117 Yarrow Street, Invercargill
5. Shingle Creek Collectables Alexandra
This is a treasure trove for anyone who loves vintage. It is a fabulous combination of bric-a-brac, antique shopping and bargain hunting. The owner sources items from all over Central Otago. It has everything from old door hardware to one-off items of furniture. It is only open during the weekend and each time there are new pieces to discover. It’s in the middle of the Central Otago landscape (with no cellphone reception) and is a must if you are in Alexandra. It is where I got an old stove (pictured) that I repurposed for the kids’ play area in our Alexandra cottage.
– Alice Pearson, @pearsonandprojects
2320 State Highway 8, Shingle Creek, Alexandra
6. Allsorts Christchurch
Allsorts is a secondhand furniture and homeware store located on Ferry Road. You can’t miss it – just look for the building with the massive liquorice allsorts on it. Inside is a treasure trove of knick-knacks, retro mirrors, vintage clocks, dressers and vintage rugs. If you’re lucky, you can find some amazing mid-century pieces at really affordable prices (I just picked up a dining table for only $40). I have found so many beautiful pieces at Allsorts, many of which are currently in my bedroom and will be kept for years to come.
– Danielle France, @themustardjumper
374 Ferry Road, Woolston, Christchurch
7. Nelson Tasman Hospice Shop Richmond
Nelson and Richmond have some great op-shops, and this large store, the new location for Richmond’s Hospice Shop, is a great place to start. The expanded store was opened because the charity had an overflow of furniture in its Nelson store… so there’s lots of good furniture to find here!
– Finder’s Fi, @fiona_ralph
315 Queen Street (Shop 3), Richmond
8. Salvation Army Family Store Oamaru
This store is on the way into Oamaru and stocks just homeware and furniture. It always has excellent retro glassware, kitsch prints and tapestries, and a healthy serving of mismatched Crown Lynn crockery.
– Georgia Rose Munn, @georgiarosemunn
356 Thames Highway, Oamaru
9. Habitat for Humanity ReStore Christchurch
Habitat for Humanity ReStore on Wairakei Road has heaps of great furniture – you can often get some really good couch sets for affordable prices.
– Danielle France, @themustardjumper
567 Wairakei Road, Burnside, Christchurch
North Island based? We’ve also compiled a list of 11 local op-shops for you to check out.
Photography by (In order): Sarah Rowlands, The Virtue, Guy Frederick, Claire Mossong, Jackie Meiring, Helen Bankers /bauersyndication.com.au.
This article was first published in Your Home and Garden. Follow YHG on Instagram, Facebook and sign up to the fortnightly email for inspiration between the issues.
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