Nan Tien Temple

South Coast NSW

LoginSave

South of the city, Nan Tien is the southern hemisphere's largest Buddhist temple, belonging to the Taiwanese Fo Guang Shan order. It's quite a sight, with an eight-storey Chinese-style pagoda, two large prayer halls, and landscaped gardens dotted with Buddha statues. Dress appropriately (no shorts or singlets).

Check the timetable on the website for Buddhism and meditation classes, t'ai chi and meditation retreats. Classes start at $40; occasionally they're free.

Cheap vegetarian lunch buffets are served at 11.30am on weekends.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • coastal view with era beach, royal national park, nsw

    Royal National Park

    27.1 MILES

    The 15,091-hectare Royal National Park was established in 1879, making it the oldest national park in the world after Yellowstone in the USA. Stretching…

  • Wollongong Botanic Garden

    Wollongong Botanic Garden

    4.11 MILES

    In a region already awash in scenic spots, Wollongong's botanic gardens still delight visitors with their attractive lily ponds, manicured lawns and…

  • Silos Estate

    Silos Estate

    26.42 MILES

    Beautifully set on a verdant former dairy farm between Berry and Nowra, this crowd-pleasing winery makes a range of tasty drops. Swirl a glass of bright…

  • International Cricket Hall of Fame

    International Cricket Hall of Fame

    24.22 MILES

    Bowral is where the late, great cricketer Sir Donald Bradman, Australia’s most legendary sporting hero, spent his boyhood. Incorporating the Bradman…

  • Seven Mile Beach

    Seven Mile Beach

    21.18 MILES

    This superlative crescent of sand, stretching south from Gerroa to Shoalhaven Heads, is one of the South Coast's most memorable beaches thanks to its pale…

  • Pioneer Village Museum

    Pioneer Village Museum

    25.97 MILES

    This open-air museum, with meticulously recreated 19th-century cottages set in seven hectares of bushland, thoroughly immerses visitors in the sounds and…

  • Minnamurra Rainforest Centre

    Minnamurra Rainforest Centre

    13.54 MILES

    At the eastern edge of Budderoo National Park, 15km inland from Kiama via Jamberoo, this is a surprisingly lush subtropical rainforest. A 1.6km loop walk…

  • Coolangatta Estate

    Coolangatta Estate

    27.24 MILES

    Founded on a 19th-century wine-growing estate, Coolangatta has been bottling its signature creamy semillons and stone-fruit scented savagnins since 1990…

View more attractions

Nearby South Coast NSW attractions

1. Wollongong Art Gallery

3.9 MILES

The work of local creators, including Aboriginal artists, is displayed in this attractive four-floor gallery. Much of the permanent collection centres on…

2. Wollongong Botanic Garden

4.11 MILES

In a region already awash in scenic spots, Wollongong's botanic gardens still delight visitors with their attractive lily ponds, manicured lawns and…

3. Wollongong City Beach

4.24 MILES

The southern of Wollongong's two city beaches is a popular stretch of golden sand with good swimming (especially at the northern end) and, depending on…

4. Belmore Basin

4.47 MILES

The basin, cut from solid rock in 1868, is a good place to orient yourself in Wollongong. The harbour beach is great for young children, with sand and…

5. Breakwater Lighthouse

4.61 MILES

Presently more of a landmark than an attraction, this heritage lighthouse on the harbour was built in 1871 (and switched on the following year). It was…

6. Wollongong Head Lighthouse

4.64 MILES

The larger and newer of Wollongong's two lighthouses, this 25m concrete tower is still active. Picnic benches close by on the grassy headland, and…

7. North Beach

4.69 MILES

Stretching north from the harbour, North Beach is an excellent all-rounder: shallows for kids to splash in, breaks suitable for various levels and…

8. Science Space

5.36 MILES

Buoyancy, inertia, the Stroop effect and other scientific laws and phenomena are explained with cranks, bubbling tubes and even a mechanical elephant at…