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Beautiful & Unique - The Chapel at the Olive Grove

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1 bedroom, desk, iron/ironing board, free WiFi - Beautiful & Unique - The Chapel at the Olive Grove (Russell)
Outdoor dining - Beautiful & Unique - The Chapel at the Olive Grove (Russell)
Exterior - Beautiful & Unique - The Chapel at the Olive Grove (Russell)
Interior - Beautiful & Unique - The Chapel at the Olive Grove (Russell)
Dining - Beautiful & Unique - The Chapel at the Olive Grove (Russell)
Chapel at the Olive Grove offers a serene retreat for couples in Russell. This 1870s wooden chapel, with its high ceilings and thick Kauri plank walls, provides an escape from day-to-day life with its kitchenette and BBQ perfect for quiet evenings.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 2

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
  • Outdoor Space
  • Parking available
  • Barbecue grill

Add dates for prices

About this property

Beautiful & Unique - The Chapel at the Olive Grove

  • As unique as you can get! This gorgeous 1870's wooden chapel has been lovingly transported and restored into perfect holiday accommodation. The space is perfectly set up as a couples getaway providing an ideal escape from day to day life.
    Located just 5 minutes drive from Russell, the Chapel at the Olive Grove is close enough to town to enjoy all there is to offer and it also has a Kitchenette and BBQ for those wishing to stay in for a quiet, romantic evening together.

    The chapel was built in 1875 in Kawakawa, Bay of Islands by Irish coal miners and was formerly know as St Francis Xavier catholic church.
    It is listed as a Category 2 Historic building with Heritage New Zealand and is constructed of 1 inch thick rough sawn Kauri planks.
    It was moved to the site on the olive grove in 2012 by a local couple after it had fallen into disrepair and was no longer in use. It has been lovingly restored and set for its new life as holiday accommodation amongst the olive trees.

    Because of the high ceiling and thick wooden walls the Chapel is lovely and cool in the hot summer months and we have an airconditioner/heatpump for added comfort.

    Please do note that there is no TV. There is good wireless Wifi and a portable speaker if you would like to bring your own devise and streaming services to use

    COVID-19 Travel Restrictions
    Should you be unable to travel for your confirmed booking due to a Covid-19 level change we will happily rebook your dates to a suitable time in the future at no extra charge and can do so as many times as needed

Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach nearby
  • Beach loungers

Internet

  • Available in the cottage: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Parking on site

Kitchenette

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Electric kettle
  • Microwave
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • Bedroom
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 1 bathroom
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table

Entertainment

  • Books
  • Stereo
  • Streaming services

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture

Work spaces

  • Desk

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoking not allowed

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • In a village

Things to do

  • Cycling nearby
  • Ecotours nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)

General

  • Garden
  • Property does not allow children

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Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 2:00 PM
Contactless check-in available

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

This property does not allow children
Note from host: Babies under 1 year old ok with own cot

Events

No events allowed
Chapel is available separately as a wedding venue

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Note from host: Chapel is available separately as a wedding venue
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

About the neighborhood

Located in Russell, this cottage is near the beach. Russell Museum and Pompallier Mission are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Bay of Islands Marina and Paihia Wharf. Makana Chocolate Boutique and Action World are also worth visiting. Be sure not to miss outdoor adventures like ecotours and cycling. Visit our Russell travel guide
View more Cottages in Russell
Map
Russell, Northland

What's nearby

  • Russell Christ Church
    Russell Christ Church
    6 min drive - 4.0 km
  • Russell Beach
    Russell Beach
    7 min drive - 4.4 km
  • Russell Museum
    Russell Museum
    7 min drive - 4.4 km
  • Pompalier House
    7 min drive - 4.4 km
  • Long Beach
    7 min drive - 4.0 km

Getting around

  • Kerikeri (KKE-Bay of Islands)
    51 min drive

Restaurants

  • CBK Craft Bar & Kitchen
    22 min drive
  • Charlotte's Kitchen
    22 min drive
  • Duke of Marlborough Hotel
    4 min drive
  • Orange Frog
    23 min drive
  • Seaside
    4 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Beautiful & Unique - The Chapel at the Olive Grove pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking?

Onsite parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Beautiful & Unique - The Chapel at the Olive Grove?

Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Beautiful & Unique - The Chapel at the Olive Grove?

Check-out is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Beautiful & Unique - The Chapel at the Olive Grove located?

Situated near the beach, this cottage is 0.2 mi (0.3 km) from Bay of Islands and within 3 mi (5 km) of Russell Christ Church and Russell Museum. Pompalier House and Russell Beach are also within 3 mi (5 km).

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Beautiful & Unique - The Chapel at the Olive Grove Reviews

Reviews

Exceptional

All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
Rating 10 - Excellent. 16 out of 16 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 16 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 16 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 16 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 16 reviews

10

Cleanliness

10

Location

10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

William B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Everything was great about the chapel.Clean, quiet, great location.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Diane

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Charming former church in an idyllic setting. A lovely place to unwind and listen to the many varieties of birds in the area. We also got to see several new species to us. The kitchen was perfect for making simple meals. And it's just a 5 min. drive from Russell where there are a number of activities to engage in ( good restaurants, museums, short ferry ride to Pahia, several walking trails, etc.). I would definitely return to this place.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Garth W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cute Little Church

A very unique style of accommodation, a very well restored 1875 chapel converted to a compact accommodation space. Small kitchen, but adequate for your needs. Nice outdoor area overlooking two ponds, heaps of bird life. Overall, a great place to stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kevin H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy

Lovely place

Gorgeous location and place. Perfect for a couple’s getaway. Hard to communicate with property owner/manager owing to need to create an account with the VRBO platform which we didn’t want to do. And there was no other option.
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Paul L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic location

So peaceful, beautifully done, stylish and modern inside. Fantastic location close to everything, very tranquil and relaxing. We loved it here.
Stayed 9 nights in Dec 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kristi F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing place!

What a great find for us. It was exactly what we were looking for as we were visiting for a friend’s wedding. We would definitely highly recommend this place!
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Zoe F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect little chapel!

Such a beautiful space, everything was spotlessly clean, little kitchen has everything you need and we loved using the BBQ and enjoying the grounds around the chapel. Highly recommend !
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ursula B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Thanks so much

Lovely place
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

grant r.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic

Absolutely bliss
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Brian M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Stars. Bird Life. Quiet.

Simplicity personified.
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Historic & peaceful

A peaceful special place to stay. Relocated into a beautiful location
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Brydie H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Recommend and would stay again

I loved staying at the Chapel, it was very private and quiet apart from the occasional sounds of birds outside. The heat pump made it nice and warm in winter. It had everything I needed and it was a nice distance between the ferry and Russell. I wondered whether it would feel weird staying in a former church but it only gave off good vibes. Definitely would recommend and stay again.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Albert B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Very unique

My partner and I had a perfect stay in this beautiful place. Bad weather on the first day but happened that sleeping in a chapel on a stormy night is quite an extraordinary experience :) This is more than a unique place. This is memories. Highly recommended
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Debbie R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location for our 25th wedding anniversary

Just wonderful so peaceful, just what was needed. The owners have done an awsome job. We will def visit again
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Solenn L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Exactly as per the photos

Very lovely place. Super quiet. Very handy location at equidistant from the car ferry and Russell. Hassle-free check in/check out process. Highly recommend
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Andrew S.

Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2026