Nan Tien Temple: Finding Buddhism In Australia

Exploring Nan Tien Temple, the largest Buddhist Temple in the Southern Hemisphere.

I never would have guessed that I’d find the southern hemisphere’s biggest Buddhist Temple in Australia.

But I did!

The Nan Tien Temple, located in Berkeley, New South Wales, is a gigantic and magnificent landmark.

The grounds are free to enter, though donations are encouraged.

Nan Tien Temple was founded by the Chinese Buddhist order known as Fo Guang Shan.

The temple’s organization works to integrate the religion with the local culture.

At the temple you can find:

two main temple halls
gift shops
classrooms
a vegetarian restaurant
an 8-floor pagoda
a calligraphy room
beautifully landscaped gardens
a tea house
an art and sculpture museum hall
and probably more that I didn’t even see

The most fascinating pieces in the museum hall were tiny carvings made on eggshell and strands of human hair. You have to look through a magnifying glass to see the details.

There is also a small, dark mirror hall in the museum, where Buddha statues and twinkling lights reflect in seemingly infinite mirrors and create a hypnotizing view.