The Last Church in Āpiti

Cottage in Āpiti, Manawatū-Whanganui, NZ

100% Recommended•

4 people

Pet-friendly

The Last Church in Āpiti is the ultimate escape to relax and discover the stunning Manawatū.

Located in the quaint village of Āpiti, set in a valley at the base of the Ruahine Ranges, this renovated Sunday School is a cosy and quirky base to explore the ranges, glow worms, swimming holes, and more. We have a roaring wood burner fire and an outdoor cast iron bath tub for you to enjoy.

The church, a seperate dwelling, boasts its original pews and has been home to weddings and intimate music gigs.

In 2021, we were recognised by the NZ Herald as one of the top wellness retreats to visit.

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Features and Amenities

2 bedrooms

2 beds

1 bathroom

Bath

BBQ

Indoor fireplace

Details

Check in after 3:00pm
Check out before 11:00am
Weekday minimum booking: 1 night
Weekend minimum booking: 2 nights

Cancellation Policy:

Receive a full refund (minus service fee) up until 1 week prior to check-in.

Additional Information

Prices

Base Price $160 / night
Cleaning Fee $75
Extra People $50 / night after 2 people
Discounts
25% discount for bookings of 7 nights or longer

Finding fulfillment

Based on traveller reviews, these are the top fulfilling moments experienced while staying here. Learn more

Peacefulness

Rejuvenation

Unplugged

Reviews (14)

100% Recommended

stephanie

18 Aug 2025

We loved our weekend here at this beautiful cosy property. We had heaps of fun round the cosy fire, looking at the daffodils and lambs over the road, and had a great snack and pool at the Tavern. Cosy, clean and peaceful.

Slowness

Rejuvenation

Human connection

Peacefulness

Benjamin

30 May 2025

Really upfront informative information about the local area and property. Was so pleasent by the fire on the rainy days. Will have to come again.

Verity

7 Oct 2024

We loved our stay, enjoyed sitting by the fire watching movies! Would recommend to anyone wanting to unwind.

Slowness

Groundedness

Peacefulness

Unplugged

Host

Jemma

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Āpiti, New Zealand

1Listings

Kia ora, I'm Jemma and along with my husband Alexander we've loving restored and created The Last Church in Āpiti. We love sharing the space with visitors, alongside some of our favourite places to explore in the region. Manawatū is truely a hidden gem in NZ and everyone who visits the region loves it. We look forward to welcoming you!

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Location

The map shows the listing location and awesome adventures nearby.

Listing location

Adventures nearby

Adventures Nearby

Here are some details about the adventures nearby. Refer to the map for their location.

Apiti Tavern

Renowned for Smoker Jon's smoked meat and gourmet menu, there is no place we'd recommend more highly than a meal and drink at the Āpiti Tavern.

Makoura Lodge

The team at Makoura Lodge know how to have fun! They provide 4WD options, claybird shooting, archery, axe-throwing and more.

Makoura Lodge

Spend time with the horses, do a Hill Country Safari in a 4WD, or book a revitalising yoga session if you're looking to relax.

Rangiwahia Scenic Reserve

Another of the region's hidden treasures, with two walking tracks through ancient native bush which once covered Aotearoa. The trees are labelled making it an educational walk, too. There are two tracks, 1 and 3+ hours.

Cross Hill Gardens

Cross Hill Gardens is a large, 7-hectare garden that includes one of the world’s finest collections of rhododendrons and azaleas. These provide a dazzling colour display during the months of October and November, which is an occasion to mark on every gardener’s calendar. It's also a beautiful place to get some colourful snaps worthy of Instagram.

Limestone Glow Worms Cave

These special limestone caves are home to glow worms. Take some waterproof boots or gumboots as you'll likely be treading through a bit of water in the cave. Note that this isn't a dog-friendly place either.