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. Mandalong Country Estate
- Location: Mandaluck Chase, Mandalong, NSW 2264
- Capacity: 150
- Accommodation: Sleeps 16
- Wedding Packages: DIY/BYO
This beautiful bush cathedral is located within the Watagans State Forest at Mandalong Country Estate and comes fully furnished with bench seating, an arbour and festoon lights. The property has an equally gorgeous wet weather back up option in an open sided shed with the same bush backdrop.
At Mandalong Country Estate you get the entire property for your exclusive use for 2+ nights to DIY your perfect celebration. There's a fully furnished rustic barn with fairy lights for your reception and a 7 bedroom house with a swimming pool and outdoor spa to accommodate 16 guests onsite.
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. Leuralla Amphitheatre
- Location: 41 Olympian Parade, Leura, NSW 2780
- Capacity: 200
- Wedding Packages: All inclusive
Leuralla Amphitheatre offers a similarly unique ceremony space to an open air chapel, and comes with inbuilt seating for up to 150 guests. With uninterrupted views over the dramatic cliffs of the Jamison Valley, the amphitheatre is one of the best wedding ceremony venues in any bushland region of Australia.
9. The Woodhouse Wollombi
- Location: 2674 Paynes Crossing Rd, Wollombi, NSW 2325
- Capacity: 150
- Accommodation: Sleeps 17
- Wedding Packages: All inclusive
The Forest Chapel at The Woodhouse Wollombi is nestled under a natural aisle of Paperbark Trees on the private grounds of Redwood Park. This luxury European style estate spans 100 acres of manicured fields and bushland, and centres around an architecturally designed, 3 peaked Woodhouse featuring an adjoining outdoor dance floor.
Beside The Woodhouse reception space is a brand new vine-covered pergola with an outdoor bar that overlooks the estate's private lake & surrounding nature. The pergola is ideal for outdoor drinks & canapés prior to entering The Woodhouse for your reception, but can seat up to 60 guests for a fully outdoor wedding.
10. Hatters Hill Cave
- Location: 227 Chifley Road, Dargan, NSW 2786
- Capacity: 100
- Accommodation: Sleeps 22+
- Wedding Packages: DIY/BYO
This secret bush cave wedding location is hidden on a private property a short walk from the Hatters Hill Gallery and is among Australia's top 10 most unique places to get married right now. Featuring high cathedral ceilings and a spacious cavern, the cave is suitable for wedding ceremonies with up to 100 guests and is immersed in pristine Blue Mountains bushland.
It's free to use the cave for your wedding ceremony when you book the Airbnb property at the same address (sleeps 20). You'll also need to hire Hatters Hill Gallery for your wedding reception which is inexpensive but has incredible views over the Hartley Valley and Wollemi wilderness areas.
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.