Nan Tien Temple
The largest Buddhist temple in the Southern Hemisphere, built in Australia by the Fo Guang Shan order of Taiwan, China. It features a palace-style main hall and an eight-tier pagoda, and offers vegetarian meals and meditation courses.
Nan Tien Temple was completed in 1995 by the Fo Guang Shan order of Taiwan, China, on the southern outskirts of Wollongong, and is said to be the largest Buddhist temple in the Southern Hemisphere. The Great Buddha Hall, the Guanyin Hall and the eight-storey Nan Tien Pagoda are built into the hillside, combining Chinese palace architecture with Australian mountain scenery. Entry is free. The temple is open roughly 09:00 to 17:00 and closed on Mondays. Photography is not allowed inside the halls, and visitors should dress modestly. The Dripping Water vegetarian restaurant serves a buffet, and the temple also offers one-day meditation and sutra-copying activities. From Sydney Central station, take the South Coast line train about 1.5 hours to Unanderra station, then walk about 20 minutes. If you drive, combine it with Sea Cliff Bridge and the Kiama Blowhole.
Opening hours
Tue–Sun 9:00 am–5:00 pm (temple closed Mondays)
Nearby sights
- Sea Cliff Bridge
- Royal National Park
- Kamay Botany Bay National Park
- Sydney Fish Market
- Chinatown & Paddy's Markets
- Chinese Garden of Friendship
- Darling Harbour
- SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium