From Point Clare to Kangaroo Valley (Nan Tien Temple and Kiama)

The same friends I’ve been staying with in Point Clare have planned some more fun activities for me, so we left Point Clare and headed to a little community called Kangaroo Valley which is about 3 hours south of Point Clare.

I like the tunnel system around Sydney.  Some of them are quite long and so light fixtures are used to make sure drivers are kept alert.

Our first stop was at Nan Tien Temple in Wollongong, one of the largest Buddhist Temples in the Southern Hemisphere.  It was founded by, and constructed, under the auspices of the Mahayana Buddhist organization known as Fo Guang Shan, and completed in 1995.  The organization itself was founded in Taiwan in 1967 by Venerable Master Hsing Yun, and has 120 branches throughout the world.  The Nan Tien temple complex includes two massive prayer halls, an eight-level pagoda, various meeting rooms, a museum, conference and accommodation facilities, and a restaurant.  

The lotus pond.  Lotus - whether shown as a developing bud, in full bloom, with it without a stem - is one of the most complex and prominent Buddhist symbols of purity and enlightenment.

Front Shrine (also called the Great Compassion Shrine)

The Main Shrine is the most important building and also called the Great Hero Hall.

This tree caught my eye - three different trunks from one base.

This is the sign at the bottom of the pathway leading up to the Gratitude Bell.  I guess if you get to the top without encountering a snake we should all be grateful!

Nan Tien’s Pagoda is an eight storey resting place for the cremated ashes of devotees and their relatives; it can accommodate the remains of over 7000 people.

Kiama’s famous Blowhole is the largest in the world, and when the swell is running from the southeast it can be an absolutely amazing sight, with plumes of water recorded at heights of over 30 metres.  Unfortunately there was very little wind at all today so no big shows through the blowhole but still some beautiful coastline.

At Blowhole Point, the Kiama Lighthouse is hard to miss. Established in 1887 this lighthouse sit 36.5 metres above sea level.

Here’s where tonight’s dinner came from - fresh, fresh, fresh!!

When driving in this part of Australia I frequently saw these rope-like, net structures crossing over the roads.  Turns out these are provided as safe crossing access for koalas!!

At our destination for the weekend - Kangaroo Valley.  And how about that, what do I see … kangaroos!!

Friends, of friends, of friends - we were lucky to have access to this swimming pool in an amazingly gorgeous setting (including the kangaroos).  Perfect way to end a travel day.