Book lovers browsed thousands of donated second-hand fiction, non-fiction, adult and children's hardbacks, paperbacks and magazines at the St Josephs School book fair yesterday.
Outside in the playground, business was brisk at the chocolate wheel and refreshment and white elephant stalls.
Principal Phil O'Connor-Cooper said the public response was "fantastic", with staff and parent volunteers "flat out" in the first hour of the fair, then dealing with steady streams of buyers afterwards.
The fair grossed more than $21,000, up at least $2000 on last year's total.
Ms O'Connor-Cooper was working in the non-fiction section and said history, war and sports books proved especially popular.
"People are delighted to buy modern books that cost $30 for $3 or $4.
They're getting extremely good value paying $20 to $30 and having enough reading for a year."
About 150 businesses "have been incredibly generous and supplying amazing prizes," she said.
Queenstown mother Katrina Davies said she was attending the fair for the first time.
"It's good - my kids are entertained so I can look at the books.
It's a great way for the school to raise money."
There was a shopping frenzy at the Wakatipu Ski Club's annual sale, also held yesterday.
About 1100 adults and just as many children hunted for bargains at the Queenstown Events Centre, as strong contingents of New Zealanders Australians, British and Asian buyers prepared for the 2008 ski season.
Sale manager Pete Devine said the sale grossed a record $179,000, up on last year's $160,000 gross.
"We think it was an outstanding success."
A huge number of skis, boards and boots were on offer.
The major ski companies, including NZ Ski.com, which runs Coronet Peak and the Remarkables, and Wanaka's Treble Cone Ski Area and Cardrona Alpine Resort.
Cardrona sales manager Brigitte Tait said inquiries had come thick and fast about what was happening on the slopes, with skiers keen to hear about Cardrona's fast new Captain's Basin quad chairlift.
Browns Ski Shop co-owner Paul "Haggis" Vaitkus said there appeared to be a wider range and higher quality of goods on offer this year.
"Every year there's always interest in kids' gear, and powder skis with all this new snow."
Peta Carey, of Queenstown, said she was enjoying her first visit to the sale.
She was looking for clothes and an extra pair of skis for her and 2-year-old daughter Billie.
Young Englishwoman Victoria Searle, of Queenstown, said her friends recommended she arrive early at her first sale.
"I've picked up a board, orange trousers, and I'm shopping around for some boots," she said.
The Queenstown Shakespeare Trust's debut fund-raising garage sale proved so popular on Saturday that the committee says it will make it an annual event.
Almost $300 was raised from sales of donated skis, board boots, clothes, scooters, household items and bric-a-brac at a committee member's house in Fernhill.
The funds will help meet the costs of the trust's last production and contribute to its next show in 2009.
In July, the trust plans to launch a series of rehearsed play evenings to which the public will be invited.
"It's a way of getting new or amateur actors to be in a production but without the pressure of being on stage," committee member Lisa Nilsen said.
A Queenstown pioneer who fought in the American Civil War was remembered by about 70 descendants and guests at Frankton Cemetery on Saturday.
