Fo Guang Shan Nan Tien Temple

Nan Tien Temple is a very peaceful and beautiful place, which gives you the opportunity to relax and to take a break from the chaotic city life. Starting from the entrance gate to the Main shrine and the Pagoda, it presents really good architecture. Last time, I visited the temple during Chinese new year which gave me a chance to connect with the staffs/volunteers there. They were very nice and friendly people. Really loved the place overall. Make sure you pay a visit if you’re in Wollongong!

The Nan Tien Temple is a peaceful and beautiful place to visit. The moment you enter, you can feel a sense of calm and serenity, which makes it perfect for anyone looking to relax, reflect, or simply escape the busy city life for a while. The architecture is stunning and very well maintained, surrounded by open spaces and landscaped gardens that make it ideal for a slow walk or quiet moment of meditation. I really enjoyed taking my time exploring the grounds and soaking in the tranquil atmosphere. It’s also a wonderful place to learn more about Buddhist culture and appreciate the spiritual significance behind the design and surroundings. Overall, it’s a must-visit if you’re looking for a peaceful, meaningful, and refreshing experience.

Visited on 9th January 2026. Free entry and free parking. Very well kept temple grounds. Worth a half-day visit. The temple gift shop is very nice too — especially if you're looking for charms, key rings, bracelets, books, or art. They also have a nice tea shop, selling mostly tea sets.

"A truly peaceful and relaxing retreat, Nan Tien Temple is a must-visit. The grounds are beautifully maintained and offer a serene escape from the city hustle. I highly recommend spending time simply walking the expansive area—it's incredibly calming. Also, you absolutely must try the Tea House as well.

It’s great spot for recreational and pilgrimage. It’s so tranquil and relaxing during our visits. The staff are very friendly and helpful to answer dharma questions. The vegetarian foods are very fresh and delicious 🤤 will call again definitely!

nice temple to visit for a couple of hours. make sure your shoulders and knees are covered if you want to go inside the temples! long skirts, as long as ur ankles are allowed

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.

The temple is an amazing place to visit It’s the spiritual home of much of the Buddhist community of Australia There are many temples and rooms for worship and meditation Lots of beautiful features and lovely gardens There is also a nice restaurant serving vegetarian meals in the Buddhist tradition They also offer a retreat for those who want to study the Buddhist culture

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?!