13 dedicated sites · Australia 2026
Natural burial in Australia
A practical, unhyped guide to genuine natural burial in 2026. Dedicated bushland natural burial sites in every state, what makes a burial actually "natural" rather than green-washed, biodegradable coffin and shroud options, aquamation legality and typical costs.
★Key takeaways
- ✓13 dedicated natural burial sites across NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, ACT and TAS in 2026. Bushland setting, biodegradable coffin or shroud required, no embalming, no traditional monument.
- ✓Genuine natural burial = biodegradable container + no embalming + dedicated natural section + no permanent monument. Anything less is green-washing.
- ✓Biodegradable coffin options: cardboard ($200-$500), willow ($800-$1,500), bamboo ($700-$1,200), untreated pine ($300-$700), wool / calico shroud ($150-$400).
- ✓Aquamation (water-based cremation, 90% less energy than flame cremation) is legal in Victoria only as at May 2026. NSW, SA, ACT regulatory openness; QLD, WA not yet authorised.
- ✓Cost: $3,000-$7,000 total – typically $5,000-$8,000 cheaper than a conventional burial with monument.
- ✓Authoritative voice: Natural Death Care Centre (naturaldeath.org.au) and Greener Funerals Australia (greenerfunerals.org.au).
The four-part test
What counts as natural burial
1. Biodegradable container
Cardboard, willow, bamboo, untreated pine, wool shroud, calico shroud. No varnish, no chipboard, no metal handles, no synthetic linings, no concrete vault. The container must break down with the body.
2. No embalming
Embalming with formaldehyde-based fluid is prohibited at natural burial sites. Refrigeration is sufficient for the 3-7 days between death and burial. Embalming is not legally required for any Australian funeral.
3. Dedicated natural section
A purpose-managed bushland section where native vegetation re-establishes over the gravesite. Not a conventional lawn cemetery with a biodegradable coffin option. There are around 13 genuinely dedicated sites in Australia.
4. No traditional monument
No headstone, no concrete kerbing, no granite monument. Gravesites are GPS-marked and family is given a memorial certificate. Memorial plaques are typically set into a shared memorial wall or path, not on the grave itself.
Sources: Natural Death Care Centre (naturaldeath.org.au); Greener Funerals Australia (greenerfunerals.org.au); cemetery authority natural burial section rules.
Dedicated natural burial sites by state
Where to plan a genuinely natural funeral
NSW · 3
Lismore Memorial Park natural burial section
Lismore City Council
One of the longest-established natural burial sites in Australia. Bushland setting on the Far North Coast. Biodegradable coffin or shroud required; no embalming; GPS-marked grave with native plant marker (no headstone).
Kemps Creek Memorial Park natural burial
Catholic Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (CMCT)
Dedicated natural burial section within a larger Catholic-tradition cemetery in Sydney’s south-west. Biodegradable coffin required; native vegetation re-establishment. Faith-friendly natural option.
Macquarie Park natural burial section
Northern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust
Sydney North Shore. Natural burial section integrated into the larger memorial park. Biodegradable coffin requirement, no embalming, GPS-marked sites.
VIC · 3
Bunurong Memorial Park natural burial
Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (SMCT)
Dandenong / Cranbourne. Dedicated indigenous flora natural burial section. SMCT is one of the most experienced operators of natural burial in Australia; biodegradable coffin / shroud only.
Lilydale Memorial Park natural burial
Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (GMCT)
Outer eastern Melbourne, Yarra Valley foothills. Natural burial section among native bushland. No embalming, biodegradable container required.
Healesville Cemetery natural burial
GMCT
Regional Victoria. Smaller natural burial allocation in a bushland-set cemetery. Native plant marker, no traditional monument.
QLD · 2
Eco Memorial Park (Stapylton)
Eco Memorial Park Pty Ltd
Between Brisbane and Gold Coast. Independent dedicated natural burial site. Biodegradable coffin / shroud; native bushland rehabilitation. Memorial plaques set into pavers in a separate memorial area, not on the gravesite.
Albany Creek Memorial Park bushland section
Brisbane City Council
Northern Brisbane. Natural-style bushland fringe section as alternative to lawn cemetery. Pricing below most independent natural sites.
WA · 2
Pinnaroo Valley Memorial Park natural burial
Metropolitan Cemeteries Board (MCB)
Padbury, northern Perth. Bushland-design memorial park with dedicated natural burial section among native flora. MCB has been a leader in WA natural burial policy.
Karrakatta natural section
Metropolitan Cemeteries Board (MCB)
Limited natural burial allocation within Perth’s largest cemetery. Biodegradable coffin / shroud requirement.
SA · 1
Centennial Park natural burial
Centennial Park Cemetery Authority
Pasadena, Adelaide inner-south. Natural burial section established 2010, one of the earliest in SA. Native plants, communal memorial wall.
ACT · 1
Gungahlin Cemetery natural burial
ACT Public Cemeteries Authority
Canberra. Dedicated natural burial section. Biodegradable coffin / shroud, native plant identification.
TAS · 1
Cornelian Bay Cemetery natural burial
Cornelian Bay Cemetery (Hobart)
Hobart. Smaller natural burial allocation in a heritage cemetery. Confirm current availability with the cemetery directly.
Biodegradable container options
Coffin + shroud choices for natural burial
| Container | Typical cost (AUD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cardboard coffin | $200 – $500 | Plain or hand-decorated. Cheapest option. Some natural sites accept only un-laminated. |
| Untreated pine coffin | $300 – $700 | No varnish, no chipboard, no synthetic lining. Most widely accepted. |
| Bamboo coffin | $700 – $1,200 | Fast-growing renewable material. Plaited finish. |
| Willow / wicker coffin | $800 – $1,500 | Traditional natural-burial appearance. Hand-woven. |
| Wool shroud | $250 – $400 | Australian wool, biodegradable. Used in place of a coffin where the site permits. |
| Calico / cotton shroud | $150 – $300 | Lowest-cost option. Used in many faith traditions (Muslim, some Hindu, some Jewish). |
Always confirm acceptable containers with the specific natural burial site before purchase. Some sites require certification of materials; some permit shrouds only, others require a rigid container for handling.
Aquamation / alkaline hydrolysis
Water cremation: Victoria only (as at 2026)
Aquamation (alkaline hydrolysis, also marketed as "water cremation" or "resomation") dissolves the body in a heated alkaline solution rather than burning it. The end product is similar to flame cremation – white powdered bone returned to the family in an urn – with around 90% less energy use, no atmospheric emissions and no mercury release from dental amalgam.
Legal status by state (May 2026):
- Victoria: legal under the Cemeteries and Crematoria Amendment Act 2019. Multiple providers operating.
- NSW: regulatory consultation in progress; not yet authorised commercially.
- SA: regulatory openness; pilot processes have been discussed.
- ACT: open to authorisation pending demand evidence.
- QLD, WA, TAS, NT: not yet authorised.
Cost in Victoria: $2,800 – $4,500. Roughly equivalent to direct cremation.
Practical note: if aquamation is important to you and you are not in Victoria, direct cremation is the closest non-burial option. Status may change; check with the relevant state government before planning.
Common questions
Natural burial – common questions
What counts as a natural burial in Australia?
A genuine natural burial means: a biodegradable container (cardboard, willow, bamboo, untreated pine, wool shroud, calico shroud), no embalming with formaldehyde-based fluid, burial in a dedicated natural burial section rather than a conventional lawn grave, no concrete or sealed vault, no traditional headstone or monument. Native vegetation is allowed to re-establish over time. There is no Australian-wide certification standard; the Natural Death Care Centre is the closest thing to an authoritative voice on what is genuinely natural.
Can I have a natural burial anywhere in Australia?
Only in cemeteries that have a dedicated natural burial section. There are around 13 dedicated sites across NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, ACT and TAS. Some general cemeteries permit biodegradable coffins on request but otherwise look conventional (lawn grave, possible headstone) and would not qualify as genuine natural burial. If natural burial matters to you, choose a dedicated site, not a regular cemetery with a "natural option".
Is embalming required by Australian law?
No. Embalming is not legally required for any funeral in Australia. Refrigeration is the standard preservation method and is mandatory in most states once the body is held more than 24-48 hours. Embalming is occasionally required for international repatriation, interstate transport in some specific circumstances or open-casket viewing where there is a long delay before the service. Natural burial sites prohibit embalming with formaldehyde-based fluids.
What is aquamation and where is it legal in Australia?
Aquamation (also called alkaline hydrolysis, water cremation or resomation) dissolves the body using a heated alkaline solution rather than fire. It produces a similar end product to flame cremation (white powdered bone) with around 90% less energy use and no atmospheric emissions. As at May 2026 aquamation is legal in Victoria only (Cemeteries and Crematoria Amendment Act 2019, services available through several Victorian providers). NSW, SA and ACT have indicated regulatory openness; QLD and WA have not yet authorised it. Direct cremation is the closest equivalent option in non-VIC states.
How much does a natural burial cost in Australia?
Natural burial typically costs $3,000-$7,000 in total. The biggest savings come from: a biodegradable coffin or shroud ($200-$1,200 vs $800-$8,000 for a traditional coffin), lower plot cost in most natural burial sites ($2,500-$6,500 vs $4,500-$25,000+ for lawn graves), no embalming ($400-$900 saved), no monument ($1,500-$8,000 saved). Funeral director professional fees are largely unchanged. See our /funeral-cost-calculator/ for an interactive estimate.
Is natural burial more eco-friendly than cremation?
Yes, on most measures. Cremation releases roughly 240 kg of CO2 per body, plus mercury (from dental amalgam fillings) and other particulates. A natural burial sequesters carbon in the body and allows native vegetation to re-establish. Lifecycle analyses (e.g. work by the Centre for Natural Burial in the UK adapted for Australian conditions) generally rank natural burial > aquamation > cremation > conventional burial in terms of environmental impact. The difference is largest where natural burial replaces conventional burial with embalming, concrete vault and a stone monument.
What is "green-washing" in the funeral industry?
Some funeral providers advertise an "eco" or "green" funeral that is essentially a conventional funeral with a slightly more biodegradable coffin. The deceased is still embalmed, still buried in a lawn grave, still given a conventional headstone. The marketing is misleading. A genuine natural burial requires all four elements: biodegradable container, no embalming, dedicated natural burial section, no permanent monument. Ask the funeral director directly which of these four are included.
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