Raukokore

There are all kinds of small (and not-so-small) landmarks dotting the East Coast of New Zealand, from painted caravans on the beach to giant, rusty, 660-metre piers. One of our favourites was this sweet little Anglican church in Raukokore. It was built in 1894 and sits right out by the water on its own little promontory, all by its lonesome… (You can get a better idea of its isolation and picturesque setting from this beautiful photo by Don Smith.) Actually, I suppose it’s not all by its lonesome, as there are penguins who live under it, possums that stop by to inflict damage (go back to Australia, possums!), a steady stream of tourists dropping in, and surely people who go there regularly to worship. But when we were there, we were the only ones around. We didn’t see (or smell) any penguins, and the space was just lovely and clean and sunny and quiet. =) The little church may be standing there all alone, but it doesn’t seem lonely- just peaceful. =)