Bush Chapels
Looking for a bush chapel for your wedding? Bush chapels in NSW are located in some of the state's most beautiful stretches of nature. Nestled in National Parks and surrounded by native Australian bushland, bush chapels offer a unique setting for private and secluded weddings amongst lush wilderness.
Bush chapels are some of the best wedding ceremony venues in the state. These incredible fairytale-like settings include enchanted forests, private woodlands and bushy rural retreats. Magical archway aisles that weave through trees, historic ruins and pine tree cathedrals are just some of the spectacular surrounds of bush chapels in NSW.
Here are 10 amazing bush chapels in NSW. They are located in Sydney, Kangaroo Valley, the South Coast, Southern Highlands and Central Coast and offer an utterly unique alternative to garden weddings and outdoor venues.
Top 10 Bush Chapels in NSW
1. The Woods Farm Bush Chapel
- Location: Bayly Road, Tomerong, NSW 2540
- Capacity: 200
- Accommodation: Sleeps 120
- Wedding Packages: BYO
The bush chapel at The Woods Farm is one of the most incredible ceremony locations in Australia. This gorgeous little rustic chapel is immersed in a fairytale-like setting amongst native Australian bushland. It is accessed via a 120 metre aisle of jasmine covered arches that lead to 3 metre high antique doors and a chandelier altar.
The bush chapel comes with exclusive hire of the entire 40 acre farm including a chandelier reception shed, outdoor reception area, cottages and a glamping village that sleeps up to 120 guests. The property has plenty to keep staying guests entertained with a swimming pool, bike sheds and lots of friendly petting animals.
2. The Lodge Bush Cathedral
- Location: 406 Jamberoo Mountain Road, Jamberoo, NSW 2533
- Capacity: 300
- Accommodation: Sleeps 136
- Wedding Packages: All inclusive
The Lodge is a private & affordable wedding hotel that you can book for your exclusive use for 3 day weddings. It comes with 43 newly renovated guest rooms that overlook a huge outdoor swimming pool surrounded in a tranquil and leafy country valley south of Wollongong.
The bush chapel is a brand new open-air timber pavilion set in a paved Pine Tree Forest. The tranquil spot is located beside a quietly running creek and has two huge getting ready rooms a few steps away. Also onsite is a reception hall, shaded avenues suitable for outdoor receptions and spaces for pre wedding and post wedding events including a restaurant & bar.
3. St Joseph's Guesthouse
- Location: 1029 Saint Albans Road, Saint Albans, NSW 2775
- Capacity: 10 - 100
- Accommodation: Sleeps 10
- Wedding Packages: BYO
St Joseph's Guesthouse is located in a quiet bushland setting in the Hawkesbury Valley and is a unique, non-denominational wedding venue built in the ruins of a 160 year old Catholic Church. Owner Steve has resurrected this wedding church with his own hands and now delights in renting it out to couples for elopements up to weddings with 100 guests.
On the top two levels of the church are 5 luxury bedrooms with a huge communal kitchen and indoor & outdoor lounges. The ground floor features an intimate event space that can seat up to 60 guests or 100 standing. The original church bell still works under which you can get married on the front sandstone steps and outdoor receptions are particularly well suited here.
4. Mali Brae Farm
- Location: 562 Nowra Rd, Moss Vale NSW 2577
- Capacity: 120
- Accommodation: Sleeps 2
- Wedding Packages: All inclusive
The rustic ruins at Mali Brae Farm is an atmospheric chapel-like setting for wedding ceremonies surrounded in nature. The 90 acre farm is exclusively yours when you book your wedding here, and comes with 2 luxe-rustic reception venues.
Augustine's Room is a brand new micro wedding venue that seats 30 - 55 guests and has views over the farm through floor to ceiling windows. The original Hay Shed seats up to 120 guests for larger celebrations and has been fully renovated with polished wooden floors, skylights and a grand brick fireplace.
5. Paradise Bush Chapel
- Location: Kulnura - Central Coast, NSW
- Capacity: 230
- Accommodation: Sleeps 8
- Wedding Packages: DIY
Paradise Botanical Gardens is a 230 acre property surrounded by bushland in the tiny cloud-high hamlet of Kulnura. A newly renovated open-air pavilion area seats up to 90 guests and is a beautifully secluded, bush chapel-like space that can be used for wedding ceremonies and outdoor receptions.
The gardens also have a unique outdoor reception option at heritage Roman Columns through which you can thread one long table and dine under the stars. A grand Kings Garden, rare plants, a rustic Monet Bridge and entrance arbour are just a few of the many photo opportunities at this relatively hidden gem.
6. Australian Rainforest Chapel
- Location: 362 Narellan Rd, Mount Annan, NSW 2567
- Capacity: 200
- Wedding Packages: All inclusive
At the Australian Botanical Gardens in Mount Annan a short drive south west of Sydney is The Connections Garden - an outdoor chapel-like space set on a timber platform over a pond and surrounded by native Australian rainforest. You can hire this outdoor wedding chapel for under $900 or with furnished ceremony packages for around $1,500.
The rainforest chapel can also be hired for outdoor wedding receptions and seats up to 50 guests. There are other reception options within the gardens including a marquee lawn (BYO marquee) and a function centre that seats 120.
7. Glenworth Valley Weddings
- Location: 69 Cooks Road, Glenworth Valley, NSW 2250
- Capacity: 30 - 330
- Accommodation: Sleeps 20 + glamping
- Wedding Packages: All inclusive
Glenworth Valley is a massive 3,000 acre property nestled in stunning native Australian bushland just north of Sydney. The back-to-nature venue is home to Australia's largest horse riding centre and is renowned for the unique 'running of the horses' experience that comes with all wedding bookings.
The open air bush chapel at Glenworth Valley is a private and scenic wedding ceremony site with elegant sandstone pews and a stunning wilderness backdrop. For receptions there's a multipurpose events centre that caters for weddings of 30 - 330 guests. Five luxury villas provide optional accommodation and glamping village set ups are also available.
8. Weddings in the Wilde
- Location: 71 Ryans Ln, Wildes Meadow NSW 2577
- Capacity: 200
- Accommodation: Sleeps 120
- Wedding Packages: DIY
Weddings in the Wilde is a 40 hectare retreat completely immersed in rainforest within the Southern Highlands region of NSW. The property offers a very intimate and secluded setting for weddings and there is a gorgeous bush chapel made of timber logs that seats up to 130 guests.
At Weddings in the Wilde all your wedding guests stay for the weekend in basic but clean dorm style accommodation. The property is fully DIY and many couples opt to hire a marquee or tipi to make full use of the incredible natural surrounds of the great outdoors.
9. Kianinny Bush Cottages
- Location: 246 Tathra Rd, Tathra NSW 2550
- Capacity: 60 - 150
- Accommodation: Sleeps 150
- Wedding Packages: DIY
The floating timber platform at Kianinny Bush Cottages is located on the property's lake and is completely surrounded by native Australian bushland. The platform is accessed via a walkway from one of two bush pavilions. The covered pavilion has open-air windows creating a long bar-style viewing area that is fully shaded for guests.
Kianinny Bush Cottages are set across 100 acres of bushland just a few minutes from the beach on the far South Coast of NSW. During the week the site caters for adventure groups and has onsite canoeing, zip-lining, mini-putt and archery for guests who wish to stay for a few days. Receptions are fully DIY and affordable with the option for pavilion or outdoor set ups.
10. Wildwood Kangaroo Valley
- Location: 407D Bendeela Rd, Kangaroo Valley NSW 2577
- Capacity: 90
- Accommodation: Sleeps 8
- Wedding Packages: Inclusive
Nestled in 100 acres of subtropical rainforest in Kangaroo Valley is Wildwood, an intimate DIY style wedding venue with two bush chapel options. The Old Shed is an open ended chapel-like pavilion nestled within the trees. There's also a completely open timber pavilion perched on the sandstone escarpment edge that overlooks incredible National Park views.
The reception venue is a marquee style pavilion with an adjoining picnic lawn which is a beautiful space for outdoor cocktails & canapés. Wedding packages include everything you need for your entire wedding day with a choice of preferred caterers to choose from.
Bush Chapels are among the most enchanting places for wedding ceremonies in NSW. Popular with couples planning a rustic wedding, the bush chapel offers a wonderful weather-proof space for ceremonies, adding the benefit of functionality to the unique and memorable setting they provide.
If you're looking for a ceremony site that's a bit different to traditional wedding venues, the bush chapel is a guaranteed winner with wedding guests.