Fo Guang Shan Nan Tien Temple

Look up the dress code if you want to enter the temple. Long pants n long dress. Amazing experience to see the architecture and learn about the culture. Beautiful and well kept with a serene environment. Friendly staff but be sure to follow the rules about when and where to take photos/videos. The Buddhist posters with all the quotes on life and philosophy are wonderfully inspiring. Just over the bridge to the museum is worth the extra steps as learning about the history of the temple is just as enlightening. A++

Visiting the Buddhist temple was a new and unique experience for us, and we truly enjoyed it. The serene atmosphere and beautiful views made it a special stop on our journey. It was a great opportunity to learn about and respect different beliefs and cultures, which we appreciated. The temple also had a restaurant with a delicious-looking menu, but since we had just had lunch, we didn’t get to try the tea rooms’ offerings—maybe next time! A peaceful and enriching experience we’ll remember. 🌿🙏

Beautiful serene Gardens and temples/shrines. We went on a Tuesday and it had rained earlier so it was really nice and quiet. There are toilets available, food to buy, and at different times meditation retreats and many other things like that you can book. Everything is just so perfectly maintained. Just a nice peaceful place to wander through. You don't have to be a Buddhist to enjoy the serenity. I think my photos show you the beauty of the place. There is much more.

Very beautiful and calm Buddhist temple built with Chinese architecture. No need to buy tickets and no waiting time. Ample parking spaces are available within the premises. Highly recommended to experience this beautiful place. 🪷 ☸️ 🪷

Nan Tien Temple in Wollongong, NSW, is a serene and inspiring place that offers a peaceful escape from the everyday. The architecture and statues are breathtaking, with beautifully landscaped gardens and intricate details that create a calm, spiritual atmosphere. The view from the top of the temple grounds is stunning, giving a sense of tranquility over the surrounding area. It's a wonderful spot to meditate, learn about Buddhist culture, or simply enjoy the peaceful surroundings. Highly recommend visiting for a unique and rejuvenating experience.

Peaceful and beautiful Buddhist temple. Make sure you wear shorts longer than knee if you want to go inside the temple as protocol of temple. Plenty of parking and free access.

Come check out the largest Buddhist temple in New South Wales! Whether you're a Buddhist or not, everyone is welcome to visit and admire the statues, buildings, and beautiful nature surrounding it. The interior is very beautiful, but I think we are not allowed to take photos inside. Plus, don't miss the celebration of Buddha's birthday in April at Darling Harbour, Sydney!

A very beautiful temple with accommodating tour guides and monks. It was a very tranquil experience getting to walk around the temple and see the significance of Buddhist life to adherents. I did a meditation with one of the monks and I felt very calm and serene after the experience. Beautiful architecture highly recommend. Better to go on a week day early when there's less people.

Along with the many scenic overlooks and beaches of Wollongong, this Buddhist temple complex is a must-visit when you are in town. It's huge, and as you wander among the different buildings, you definitely feel like you're in Asia rather than Australia. There's a dining hall on-site here, and we had the set vegetarian lunch. (It's all they offer.) The experience was totally a throwback to some of the temple dining experiences I've had in Asia. At the dining hall, you get a plate full of vegan food with your choice of steamed or fried rice and a bowl of rice-and-bean soup that was so bland we weren't sure if it was supposed to be a savoury side or a sweet dessert. I dumped salt in mine to make it savoury -- the boyfriend dumped sugar in his to make it sweet, ha. The Asians sitting near us were probably rolling their eyes hardcore at this. The rest of the food was simple, but tasty -- marinated tofu, veggies, and fried bean curd mock meat. All in all, it was a versatile meal and our taste buds weren't bored. The place was popular too -- the temple dining hall opened at 11:30am and there was already a long line waiting at the door at 11:15am. I wouldn't say come to Nan Tien just for the food at the dining hall, but if you're sightseeing at the temple anyway, it's worth checking to see if the dining hall is open, even if you're not a vegetarian. It really is tasty. Just be warned that the dining hall's atmosphere is a little less "zen" vibe than I had hoped, and a little more of a bland, institutional cafeteria vibe. It was also crazy hot inside the restaurant -- maybe no AC? If the set menu doesn't appeal to you, you might head over to the Dew Drop Inn to see if their teahouse is serving food. You can get smaller dishes there and I think it might be a nicer, more peaceful atmosphere. We didn't have time to go. Other sightseeing things to do at Nan Tien include the towering main pagoda when you first arrive -- you can go inside the calligraphy hall to watch people doing "one-stroke calligraphy," an ancient art form. You can also climb the hill for lovely views of Wollongong before making your way to the main temple complex area. The main temple has a row of impressive statues, and along the sides of the main temple complex you'll find a tea room (you can buy beautiful but expensive teacups and kettles here). There's also an art gallery with gaudy decor in a tunnel-like room and a trippy "mirrored gallery" which looks like a 1970s disco music video complete with Buddha statues and starlight reflecting everywhere. Yes. Lots to see and do here, overall -- I'd recommend spending at least an hour at Nan Tien, or an hour and a half if you're planning on eating lunch here.

This temple used to be a great place for a pleasant afternoon with the family. However, some things have changed for the worse. The staff there are now trying to scam people into buying the scarfs they sell outside some buildings, telling women who wear shorts that they cannot enter unless they do so as their shorts are 'too short'. This has occurred at both the gift shop and in the prayer rooms of the lower levels. This is absurd, it's none of their business in the first place! I was originally planning on spending more money there in donations and purchases but after today, I will not be returning, ever. Additionally, this rule was never implemented before leading me to believe that this is a new attempt at a cash grab. Since when was it OK for a place of religion to take advantage of worshippers who simply wish to visit the temple to pray for luck/happiness?!