The Chinese Garden of Friendship in Darling Harbour offers a truly unique and serene location for your wedding ceremony. Step away from the hustle of the city and into a beautifully designed traditional Chinese landscape, a perfect backdrop for a memorable marriage ceremony. The blend of cultural elegance and lush greenery makes it a coveted wedding venue in Sydney.
This is no ordinary park! The garden is modelled after 5th-century private gardens in China, providing an authentic, exotic, and beautiful setting unlike any other wedding venue in Sydney. Your photos will be spectacular.
With sheltered pavilions, graceful bridges, and reflective pools, you have multiple stunning locations for your ceremony. The Water Pavilion is a popular choice, offering a tranquil backdrop surrounded by water and exquisite architecture.
Nestled in Darling Harbour, the garden is incredibly accessible for all your guests, whether they are local or travelling from afar. It’s an oasis of calm right in the heart of the city.
From the striking Dragon Wall to the winding pathways, waterfalls, and exotic plants, the garden is a photographer’s dream. You'll capture incredible and diverse images within the one wedding venue.
Despite being in the CBD, the garden's high walls and thoughtful design create a sense of seclusion and tranquillity, ensuring your ceremony feels intimate and personal, surrounded by the natural harmony of the elements.
Yes, a booking is required to hold a wedding ceremony at the Chinese Garden of Friendship, and associated fees apply. This secures your chosen ceremony spot, such as one of the beautiful pavilions.
Bookings are generally managed by the venue's events team, which is part of Property NSW.
The Chinese Garden of Friendship offers several venue options, primarily covered pavilions, for daytime ceremonies. The capacity and fees vary depending on the specific location and duration. For example, some common options and their general requirements include:
*Please Note: All booking requirements, fees, and current rates must be confirmed directly with the Chinese Garden of Friendship's events team.
Standard: 20 People. Add Guests: Add up to 100+ in total +$75.
You can have up to 20 people (the 2 of you and 18 guests) at your ceremony. This excludes children under 6 years old. For an additional fee of $75, this number can be increased to 100+ people in total. To add guests after your initial booking, go to the Add-ons tab in your portal.
I understand that, it is my responsibility to make the required booking with the park authority and pay any associated site fees directly to them.
Please aim to arrive 15 minutes prior to your ceremony (along with your guests) to ensure you are in the right location and ready to go at your scheduled time. The Chinese Garden is located at the corner of Pier Street and Harbour Street, Darling Harbour, NSW 2000, Australia.
The Garden does not have dedicated on-site parking. However, there are numerous secure, paid parking stations nearby. The most convenient are:
Allow extra time to park and walk to the Garden's entrance.
The L2 (Randwick) and L3 (Kingsford) Light Rail lines are a quick and easy option. Alight at the Chinatown stop or the Exhibition Centre stop, which are both a very short walk (2-5 minutes) to the Garden.
The Garden is easily accessible from two major Sydney Train Stations:
Alternatively, you can catch the Light Rail from Central to Chinatown.
Many bus routes service the nearby surrounding streets, including routes to Circular Quay, Town Hall, and Central Station. Check the Transport NSW website for the best route to Darling Harbour.
Now it doesn't happen often, but when it does you will need to shelter under trees or bring umbrellas - how romantic.
A key benefit of selecting the Chinese Garden of Friendship is that the ceremony locations available for hire are covered pavilions. If you secure a booking for a specific pavilion (such as the Water Pavilion or Hall of Longevity), that area is sheltered from rain, providing a reliable wet weather option for your ceremony without the need for an external backup plan.
a) Reservation of Location and Payment of Associated Fees
I understand that it is our responsibility to ensure this location is available for our ceremony. I will make all necessary arrangements and pay any associated fees directly to the venue or relevant authority.
b) Guest Numbers
I understand that the Standard number of people is 20. This can be increased to 100+ people for an additional fee of $75 (click on Add Ons after making your booking).
c) Standard Duration of Booking is 30 Minutes
I understand that the total time for the standard booking is 30 minutes, which is plenty of time for a beautiful ceremony. This time cannot be extended on the day of the ceremony. However, if you would like to extend the duration of your booking, this can be done prior to the date of the ceremony for an additional fee of $150. (Click on Add Ons after making your booking.)
d) Confetti and Natural Materials
I understand that to maintain the cleanliness and integrity of the area, confetti of any sort, including natural materials such as flower petals, rice, glitter, or artificial equivalents, are strictly prohibited—unless prior written consent is received from the venue.
e) Public Liability Insurance
I understand that if Public Liability confirmation is required, there will be an additional fee of $50 to provide this.
