About $20,000 was raised at the popular annual St Joseph's School Book Fair on Sunday.
More than 50 bargain hunters queued at the school gates and around the corner to the bus stop, before the sale launched at 10am.
Thousands of donated second-hand books of all genres filled three classrooms and a marquee and ranged in price from 50c to $5.
Year 7 and 8 children ran their own stalls selling a variety of colourful confectionery.
International cuisine was on offer from eateries around the Wakatipu.
There was a village fete atmosphere, complete with bouncy castle, face-painting, games and activities and a silent auction.
Principal Trisch Inder said the enduring popularity of the book fair was due in part to the good deals on offer and increased interest in reading as winter approached.
The money raised would be put towards several school projects, including the possible purchase of 10 to 15 laptops.
The best of the remaining "couple of trailers" full of tomes would be stored for next year's fair, she said.
"This year a huge number of parents and families are supporting it and it's all those hands that make it really successful."
