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
1010 out of 10
Exceptional
Entire home
1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 2
Popular amenities
Kitchen
Free Wi-Fi
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 transport
Parking on site
Kitchenette
Coffee/tea maker
Cookware, dishware, and utensils
Electric kettle
Hob
Microwave
Paper towels
Refrigerator
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
Smoke-free property
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)
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
This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession.
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
On-site 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
If you cancel your booking, you'll be subject to the host's cancellation policy. In accordance with EU regulations about consumer rights, property booking services are not subject to the right of withdrawal.
About the area
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. Make sure you don't miss outdoor adventures like ecotours and cycling. Visit our Russell travel guide
Is Beautiful & Unique - The Chapel at the Olive Grove pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much is parking at Beautiful & Unique - The Chapel at the Olive Grove?
On-site 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?
Checkout 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 miles (5 km) of Russell Christ Church and Russell Museum. Pompalier House and Russell Beach are also within 3 miles (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 travellers 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.
Everything was great about the chapel.Clean, quiet, great location.
William B.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Diane
23 Dec 2025
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.
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.
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.
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!
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 !
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.
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
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