The Last Church is a church conversion in the small Manawatū settlement of Āpiti, its Sunday school room now a beautifully designed guest space that holds a 5.0 rating from nine reviews, with guests praising the cleanliness, comfort and a genuinely magical atmosphere. Converted rural stays trade on character, but the good ones pair it with the practical things: pantry basics, plenty of towels and spare bedding, and a warm, spotless bathroom. Guests who love this kind of getaway bring their groceries, because villages like Āpiti sit well away from the nearest shops, and they come for what the quiet provides — dark skies and a long soak in an outdoor bath under the stars. Old buildings can be cold, so a well-run conversion heats properly rather than relying on charm alone. Tucked into the Manawatū hill country, this is exactly the kind of place guests book to get away from it all with friends.