Nan Tien Temple

Nan Tien, the southern paradise, was built by the Taiwanese Fo Guang Shan order and opened in 1995 on a hillside above Wollongong, and its scale is unexpected in an Australian industrial city: a main shrine holding thousands of small Buddha figures, an eight-storey pagoda, courtyards, a lotus pond, a museum and a vegetarian dining hall. The temple functions as a working monastery and cultural centre rather than an attraction, with meditation classes, calligraphy and tea ceremonies open to visitors, and a lodge for those staying overnight. Dress and behaviour expectations are posted at the entrance, and the grounds are quiet enough that the surrounding steelworks city disappears entirely.

What you actually see

• The main shrine - the great hall lined with thousands of Buddha figures.
• The pagoda - the eight-storey tower on the hillside.
• The gardens and lotus pond - courtyards and water in the temple grounds.
• The vegetarian dining hall - simple Buddhist food served to visitors.

When to go

Year-round; the temple closes on Mondays except public holidays. Chinese New Year and Buddha's Birthday bring festivals and large crowds. Weekday mornings are calm and best for the atmosphere.

Honest expectations

This is an active religious site with expectations of modest dress and quiet behaviour, and photography is restricted inside the shrines. It sits beside a motorway and industrial area, so the approach is unlovely. Public transport requires a taxi for the last stretch.

Nearby

Wollongong and its beaches are minutes north; the Sea Cliff Bridge lies further up the coast.