Fo Guang Shan Nan Tien Temple

Visited with our photography group and were genuinely impressed. Nan Tien Temple, located in Berkeley near Wollongong, is the largest Buddhist temple in the Southern Hemisphere—and you can feel the scale and serenity as soon as you step onto the grounds. Beautifully landscaped gardens, huge temple halls, an eight-storey pagoda, and sweeping views all contribute to a deeply peaceful atmosphere. Definitely set aside a few hours—there’s a lot to explore. A few tips: • No photography is allowed inside the shrines, ever. This isn’t clearly mentioned on the website, so best to know ahead. • That said, there are loads of fantastic photo opportunities outside—gardens, architecture, statues, and pagodas. It’s a dream for outdoor photography. • Shoes are allowed inside the main temple building, which is unusual compared to many other countries where it’s strictly no shoes. • Plenty of parking, and a small café on-site for snacks or tea. We’re planning to go back in spring when the gardens are in full bloom—it’ll be even more photogenic.

Beautiful and peaceful place to visit. The temple architecture is stunning, and the gardens are well-maintained, creating a calm and serene atmosphere. A great spot for meditation, exploring, or just enjoying the peaceful surroundings. Definitely worth a visit!

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++

It's a very beautiful and peaceful place. Temple has 4 big buddha's and feels spiritual. Must visit place with parents. Walkway is easily accessible. 5-10 mins hill walk if you want to see big bell.

Highly recommend visiting Nan Tien Temple! The environment is super peaceful and relaxing 🥹🥹🥹 a perfect place to slow down, whether you’re religious or not🥰🥰 I’ve joined their calligraphy,meditation, retreat and had their vegetarian food! all amazing experiences.also I volunteered few time, the venerables there are incredibly kind and warm😭😭 they always willing to listen and offer gentle guidance. Honestly, they feel like family🥹 The volunteers are also super friendly and helpful🥰🥰🥰 It’s one of my favorite places in Sydney to recharge and find some inner peace!!!!!

A great place of peace and mindfulness, time to slow down and breathe deeply. Lots of experiences to do, meditation, vegetarian dining, cultural exhibitions, garden walk and love the gift shop.

It’s amazing to see road signs directions to this temple which implies that this temple is a significant place. I’m amazed by the sheer size and beauty of this Nan Tien temple which belongs to the famous Fo Guang Shan Buddhist organisation. It is so serene, beautiful and very well maintained with beautiful landscapes the moment you drive in to the temple. Worth the visit and do try to eat the vegetarian food at the Teahouse too.

Architecture: The temple features traditional Chinese architectural styles, with beautiful pagodas, tranquil gardens, and intricate sculptures. • Cultural Experiences: Visitors can participate in meditation sessions, teachings, and festivals that celebrate Buddhist traditions. • Visitor Facilities: The temple has a vegetarian restaurant, a gift shop, and a visitor center that offers insights into Buddhist philosophy. Atmosphere: The temple provides a peaceful retreat from the busy city life, making it an ideal spot for reflection and relaxation. Its serene environment and beautiful landscaping enhance the spiritual experience. Overall Impression: Nan Tien Temple is a must-visit for those interested in Buddhism, spirituality, or simply seeking a tranquil escape. It offers a unique glimpse into Buddhist culture and practices in a stunning setting.

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?!