A Guide to Sydney's Cemeteries in 2022

Cemeteries which work for you

With 14 operating cemeteries in the Greater Sydney area to choose from, it might be a bit overwhelming to decide which of the Sydney cemeteries or locations is right for you, your preferences and funeral wishes.

Whether it's traditional burials or ash memorials, we've compiled a list to help you search through the Sydney cemeteries, and find a cremation or burial site, in a location suited to you.

How Safewill can Help

If you're looking for a simple and affordable way to say goodbye to your loved one, Safewill Cremations can help. Our dedicated team can organise transportation, a private cremation, all required paperwork, an environmentally friendly coffin and a quick return of the ashes - starting from just $1799.

We also have expert knowledge of cemeteries in the area, and might be able to help you choose a burial site suited to you and your family members needs. Read on to find out more.

Western Sydney cemeteries

1. Rookwood Cemetery

Recognised as the largest and one of the oldest cemeteries in New South Wales, Rookwood Cemetery has four unique chapels available for people to say goodbye to family members or loved ones.

The notable cemetery provides cremation and exhumation services, as well as heritage memorials, monument maintenance and stonemasons. After a funeral service, friends and family are able to gather at Rookwood's cafe and function centres. The cemetery also offers community memorials, a family research facility and an onsite florist. With gravestones dating back centuries, some find this historic burial site fitting for their loved ones wishes.

Where to find it: Hawthorne Ave, Rookwood NSW 2141
Plots for sale: Yes (immediate and prepaid)
Crematorium: Yes
Mausoleum: Yes
Niche wall: Yes
Rose garden: Yes

2. Rookwood Memorial Gardens and Crematorium

Rookwood Memorial Gardens and Crematorium offers a picturesque location for a memorable farewell or permanent burial, with three heritage chapels. The Columbarium Room gives family members and friends the option for greater capacity to attend services in either the East or South Chapel, and this site can offer great peace in somewhere family members might like to revisit a burial plot. The burial garden also has two onsite florists that can organise vases and bouquets for memorials.

Where to find it: Memorial Avenue, Rookwood NSW 2141
Plots for sale: Yes (for cremated remains only)
Crematorium: Yes
Mausoleum: No
Niche wall: Yes
Rose garden: Yes

3. Pinegrove Memorial Park Cemetery and Crematorium

Surrounded by serene gardens and lawns, Pinegrove cemetery offers a natural open-air environment with fresh flowers maintained throughout the year. The park has two chapels available for funeral services, as well as an onsite florist and Chinese Memorial Garden.

Not only does it have space, but it offers a peaceful location to host a memorial or lay a loved one to rest in a well maintained burial site.

Where to find it: Kington Street, Minchinbury NSW 2770
Plots for sale: Yes
Crematorium: Yes
Mausoleum: Yes
Niche wall: Yes
Rose garden: Yes

4. Riverstone Cemetery

Situated among gum trees, Riverstone is a traditional and rural cemetery made up of monumental graves. With no chapels onsite, the cemetery is ideal for simple farewells across faiths. Burials are available in memorial gardens, wall niches and customised garden cylinders. The cemetery also offers interpreter services for those who need it.

Where to find it: 1 Cemetery Road, Angus NSW 2765
Plots for sale: Yes
Crematorium: No
Mausoleum: Yes
Niche wall: Yes
Memorial garden: Yes

Eastern suburbs Sydney cemeteries

1. Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park

The Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park is a serene location to say goodbye to a loved one, complete with surrounding garden beds and a pond of tranquillity. The park has two chapels for funeral services, as well as a cafe and function centre to gather with guests afterward. Fresh flowers are sourced from local growers and available at the florist onsite.

Where to find it: 12 Military Road, Matraville NSW 2036
Plots for sale: Yes
Crematorium: Yes
Mausoleum: Yes
Niche wall: Yes
Rose garden: Yes

2. Waverley Cemetery

The heritage-listed cemetery is perched on top of the Bronte cliffs overlooking the Tasman Sea. Waverley offers funeral and burial services with beautiful oceanic surroundings. The cemetery also provides ash memorials in the Duff Memorial Garden, Circular Mound, Scatter Ash Garden and Ivy Leaf Memorial Wall.

Where to find it: St Thomas Street, Bronte NSW 2024
Plots for sale: Yes
Crematorium: No
Mausoleum: Yes
Niche wall: Yes
Rose garden: Yes

Northern Sydney cemeteries

1. Field of Mars Cemetery

Nestled among gum trees and creeks on the northern nature reserve, Field of Mars offers burial and cremation memorial services. Burial sites are available on St Anthony's Lawn for the Catholic faith, Upper Greek Lawn Monumental for expansive landscape views, Lawn Sites for picturesque bushland scenery, and the new Sacred Crypts of Our Lady.

Where to find it: Quarry Road, Ryde NSW 2112
Plots for sale: Yes
Crematorium: No
Mausoleum: Yes
Niche wall: Yes
Rose garden: Yes

2. Macquarie Park Cemetery and Crematorium

Macquarie Park Cemetery is surrounded by flower gardens and greenery for a peaceful farewell. Catering for all religious and cultural needs, there are five unique chapels for funeral services: Camellia, Lotus, Magnolia, Palm, and Rose. The park also has an onsite cafe, florist and function centre for gatherings.

Where to find it: Corner Delhi and Plassey Roads, North Ryde NSW 2113
Plots for sale: Yes
Crematorium: Yes
Mausoleum: Contact cemetery
Niche wall: Yes
Rose garden: Yes

3. Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens and Crematorium

Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens provides people with a peaceful environment to rest cremated remains. Memorials range from garden chairs to granite designs for a personalised remembrance. The memorial park has four historic chapels for funeral services, as well as the Skyline Lounges and Cafe to gather with guests for a meal and drink.

Where to find it: 199 Delhi Road, North Ryde NSW 2113
Plots for sale: Yes (for cremated remains only)
Crematorium: Yes
Mausoleum: No
Niche wall: Yes
Rose garden: Yes

Southern Sydney cemeteries

1. Woronora Memorial Park

Woronora Memorial Park has two Art Deco chapels surrounded by gardens, perfect for an intimate goodbye. Fresh from local growers, flowers are available at the onsite florist from Monday to Friday between 8am and 3pm. For extended gatherings, the park has a cafe and function centre for families and friends to share a cup of tea and some food.

Where to find it: 121 Linden Street, Sutherland NSW 2232
Plots for sale: Yes
Crematorium: Yes
Mausoleum: Yes
Niche wall: Yes
Rose garden: Yes

South-west Sydney cemeteries

1. Liverpool Cemetery and Crematorium

For a unique goodbye to loved ones, Liverpool Cemetery and Crematorium is known for providing a range of traditional and contemporary burial and cremation options. The cemetery's chapel offers multi-denominational and Christian services at its chapel, as well as condolence lounges and a florist.

Where to find it: 207 Moore Street, Liverpool NSW 2170
Plots for sale: Yes
Crematorium: Yes
Mausoleum: Yes
Niche wall: Yes
Rose garden: Yes

2. Forest Lawn Memorial Park

Among the hillside and bushland, Forest Lawn offers scenic memorial gardens for personalised farewells. The park offers multicultural services, notably having an Orthodox monumental section and Po Fook Shan for Indo-Chinese families to fulfil important cultural obligations. Forest Lawn provides people with additional florist and tea room amenities.

Where to find it: Camden Valley Way, Leppington NSW 2179
Plots for sale: Yes
Crematorium: Yes
Mausoleum: Yes
Niche wall: Yes
Rose garden: Yes

The Hills Shire

1. Castlebrook Memorial Park

Established over 50 years ago, Castlebrook Memorial Park offers a tranquil final resting place. Overlooking expansive greenery, Castlebrook's Garden Chapel can accommodate intimate and larger services. The park provides people with multicultural services for Chinese Christian memorials, as well as a local cafe and florist.

Where to find it: 712-746 Windsor Road, Rouse Hill NSW 2155
Plots for sale: Yes
Crematorium: Yes
Mausoleum: Yes
Niche wall: Yes
Rose garden: Yes

The Forest

1. Frenchs Forest Bushland Cemetery

One of the main cemeteries in Sydney's Northern Beaches, Frenchs Forest Bushland Cemetery is renowned for its native bushland setting. The cemetery has a north and south chapel for memorials, as well as a condolence room, Orthodox monumental section and Po Fook Shan for Indo-Chinese families to fulfil cultural obligations.

Where to find it: 1 Hakea Avenue, Davidson NSW 2085
Plots for sale: Yes
Crematorium: No
Mausoleum: Contact cemetery
Niche wall: Yes
Rose garden: Yes

Lower North Shore

1. Gore Hill Memorial Cemetery

Gore Hill Memorial Cemetery is a heritage-listed cemetery full of evergreen trees, many symbolising everlasting life, eternal friendship and remembrance. Unlike most of Sydney's cemeteries, Gore Hill Memorial Cemetery exclusively offers niche walls to memorialise a loved one.

Where to find it: Pacific Highway, St Leonards NSW 2065
Plots for sale: No
Crematorium: No
Mausoleum: No
Niche wall: Yes
Rose garden: No

Choosing from Sydney Cemeteries

Choosing a cemetery can be important, whether you've chosen burial or cremation for your loved one. Location can undoubtedly have an impact on your choice, but it's also important to consider features of the cemetery's grounds, and if it's somewhere you'd want to visit.

In addition to choosing between cemeteries in Sydney, the decision on a headstone, casket or grave flowers also offer ways to personalise a burial or memorial service. In trying to find some sense of peace and comfort through a funeral after the passing of a loved one, it's important to consider all aspects, beyond just where the cemetery is located.

With this in mind, cemetery choice and funeral arrangements can feel overwhelming. When you add in the preparations before a burial or cremation- from the paperwork to the transport, a church speaker and coffin details inbetween- it can feel all too much.

Say farewell with Safewill

Our team of compassionate experts at Safewill Cremations can help you plan a meaningful direct cremation. Offering an affordable fixed-fee option so you can celebrate your way, we're here to help you find cemeteries which fit your needs, arrange all the details and focus on grieving rather than organising at this stressful time.

Call one of our dedicated funeral planners for a one-to-one chat on how we can support you. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on1300 730 639, or via livechat now.