Visiting the Baha’i House of Worship

The House of Worship, grounds, and Visitor Center will be closed on Wednesday, 4 September.

The Baha’i House of Worship is now open daily.

Monday to Sunday: 10am – 4pm

The Baha’i Temple is open every day and admission is free. You can:

  • meditate and pray silently in the Temple
  • attend a devotional service
  • walk in the gardens
  • visit the Information Centre
  • browse in the bookshop
  • eat in the covered open-air picnic area.

Services

A public devotional service is held every Sunday at 11am. The service runs for 40 minutes and includes readings from the Baha’i writings and the scriptures of other major religions. Ordinary members of the community – men and women, adults and children – read the texts without commentary. The atmosphere is enhanced by a cappella music.

There is strictly no sermon or collection. Only Baha’is may donate to the upkeep of the Temple.

Special services are held from time to time to commemorate Baha’i Holy Days and other important events such as International Women’s Day, International Day of Peace and Human Rights Day. These services are usually followed by a short talk and discussion in the Information Centre.

Getting there

The Baha’i Temple is located at 173 Mona Vale Road, Ingleside, near Sydney’s northern beaches. The GPS address should be entered as “Bahai Temple Way”. For public transport routes visit the Transport for NSW website or call 131 500.

Group bookings

Group tours arranged to your requirements can include:

  • A guided tour of the Temple
  • A video presentation and discussion time in the Information Centre
  • A walk in the gardens
  • Refreshments

School groups and bus tours are welcome. Provisions are made for people with disabilities. With advance notice, guides can be arranged for most foreign language groups.

Group bookings can be arranged by calling the Information Centre on (02) 9998 9221 or email temple@bahai.org.au with your requirements.

Weddings

The Temple is reserved for private prayer and meditation or for public services of worship.

Accordingly, weddings may only be conducted outdoors in designated areas in the grounds, not in the Temple itself. Couples sometimes arrange to say prayers in the Temple before or after their wedding ceremony.

Weddings held in the grounds must be Baha’i weddings, whether or not the couple are Baha’is. The marriage must be celebrated by a legally authorised marriage celebrant.

For further information about holding a wedding in the grounds, please contact the National Baha’i Office.

Photography

Visitors to the Baha’i Temple are welcome to take photographs and to film for their personal use, providing they respect the sacred nature of the Temple and do not disturb other visitors.

Publishers and producers wishing to include an image of the Temple in a publication, television program, website or the like are requested to seek prior permission by contacting the National Baha’i Office. Consideration of such requests will take into account the context in which the image will occur, the nature of the publication or program, and whether the proposed use will uphold the dignity of the Temple, which Baha’is consider to be a sacred place.

Permission will not be given to any use of the image of the Temple in commercial or political advertisements, nor for any purpose that could associate it with a commercial product or company in the mind of the public.

Use of Drones

All drone usage must be approved beforehand. Requests should be made at least 14 days in advance to the National Baha’i Office or, in the case of media requests, to the Office of External Affairs.

Drone operators are required to maintain the sacredness and dignity of the Temple. Drones should not interfere with day-to-day operations, visitors, services, programs, or individuals in prayer.

A full copy of the drone policy can be obtained from the National Baha’i Office.