For accurate pricing and package details, let us know where you would like to arrange the funeral.
Kangaroos in the Natural Memorial Reserve at Lake Macquarie Memorial Park
A natural resting place, embraced by nature.
At Lake Macquarie Memorial Park, we believe that every farewell should honour not only a life lived but the beauty of the natural world that surrounds us.
Our Natural Memorial Reserve offers families a meaningful alternative to traditional memorials, a resting place that becomes part of the living landscape, a place of peace, reflection, and everlasting connection.
Nestled among rolling grasslands, mature native trees, and soft forest undergrowth, each grave is carefully placed within areas of Australian beauty. Established in 2012, the Reserve was the first of its kind in the Lake Macquarie–Hunter region and remains one of only a few memorial gardens across Australia offering such a setting, a place where memories are nurtured gently in harmony with the earth.
Tree in the Natural Memorial Reserve at Lake Macquarie Memorial Park
What is a Natural Burial?
Natural burial offers a way to say goodbye that is simple, heartfelt, and environmentally mindful. Loved ones are laid to rest using biodegradable materials, allowing them to return naturally to the earth without the need for heavy landscaping, embalming, or permanent monuments.
Each grave is prepared with care, often by hand where possible, ensuring minimal impact on the land. Caskets made from sustainable materials such as timber, wool, or wicker are used, and families may include small, meaningful items like clothing, jewellery, or a bible, while helping preserve the Reserve’s natural balance by avoiding non-biodegradable materials.
Over time, burial soil settles naturally, maintaining the soft, organic rhythm of the landscape. Native flowers and the enduring beauty of natural flora become the memorial itself, creating a space of gentle remembrance for generations to come.
Memorialisation and Remembrance
In keeping with the spirit of the Natural Memorial Reserve, traditional headstones are not installed. Instead, winding sandstone and bushrock pathways guide visitors through the Reserve, and each resting place is carefully recorded with GPS coordinates, ensuring families can always locate their loved one’s place of rest.
For those wishing for a tangible tribute, a small, discreet plaque may be placed along selected perimeter rocks, blending seamlessly into the natural environment.
Fresh flowers are welcome during visits and can be placed within biodegradable or reusable vases, keeping every tribute as respectful and enduring as the Reserve itself.
Ongoing Care
The Natural Memorial Reserve is respectfully maintained by our dedicated team of groundskeepers who take great pride in preserving its beauty across every season. Through sustainable practices such as seasonal planting, the team nurtures native Australian flora, including Banksias, Acacias, Grevillea, Callistemon, and Australian Grass Trees, supporting a vibrant, living memorial landscape.
Their ongoing care ensures the Reserve remains a place of tranquillity, reflection, and enduring connection to nature for families and visitors alike.
Outdoor Funeral Services
Families are invited to hold outdoor funeral services within the Natural Memorial Reserve itself or nearby in our established Remembrance Garden. Hearse access is available when needed, thoughtfully integrated to preserve the Reserve’s peaceful environment.
Surrounded by native bushland or beneath the open sky, these services offer a beautiful, serene setting to farewell and celebrate a loved one’s life.
Choosing A Natural Resting Place
Whether you are planning ahead or arranging a resting place for a loved one, our compassionate Family Service Advisors are here to guide you through the process with care and understanding.
Families can select a resting place within the Natural Memorial Reserve based on availability and personal preference. To protect the environment, graves are prepared at a single depth, with side-by-side resting places available in certain areas, our team can advise on current options.
You are warmly invited to contact us to discuss available sites, explore the Natural Memorial Reserve, and find the setting that feels right for you.
Aerial shot of Lake Macquarie Memorial Park
A Place of Everlasting Remembrance
Choosing a natural burial is choosing a legacy of care, connection, and peace. It is a decision that honours life not just in memory but in the very land that carries it forward.
At Lake Macquarie Memorial Park, the Natural Memorial Reserve offers a place where memories are preserved, nature is protected, and the spirit of life continues to grow.
A place of peace.
A place of beauty.
A place of everlasting remembrance.
A woman holding a bouquet of flowers
Find Out More
To learn more about the Lake Macquarie Natural Memorial Reserve, including the full range of environmental benefits, please contact our compassionate team.