Situated at Berkeley - a suburb of Wollongong in the state of New South Wales. It is one of the branch temples of Fo Guang Shan, founded in 1965 by Venerable Master Hsing Yun, which has over 200 branches worldwide. "Nan Tien" in Chinese, literally means "Paradise of the South". This is the biggest Buddhist temple in the southern hemisphere. Since the opening of the temple in October 1995, it has become a new venue for local and international tourists and also acts as an important cultural centre bridging different cultures. Fo Guang Buddhism is rooted in the Mahayana tradition which emphasises that Buddhahood is within everyone's potential reach. Fo Guang followers strive to bring Buddhism into daily life and aptly term their faith "Humanistic Buddhism." 1 2 AWARD OF EXCELLENCE: Located in a quiet, peaceful environment, overlooking Mount Keira and Mount Kembla, Nan Tien Temple has now been recognised as a wonderful place to visit. Due to its multi-functional role, the Temple has been proudly awarded for the following awards: 2011 - Winner of Major Tourist Attactions in South Coast Tourism Awards 2011 - Winner of South Coast Champion in South Coast Tourism Awards 2000 - First prize in the Schools/Institutions section at the Wollongong Garden Festival 1999 - Award of Excellence for the NSW Tourism Competition 1997 - Winner for Major Tourist Attraction in the Illawarra and Southern Highlands Tourism Competition 1996 - Award for Gardening 1995 - Award for Best Architecture 1995 - Award for Best Lighting Design
