Hidden in the beautiful Yarra Valley is the stunning Blue Lotus Water Garden, which is celebrating 20 years of spectacular floral events. The garden is open to the public on Boxing Day, 26 December, for the start of their Lotus Flower Season. Visitors will experience a breathtaking floral display with tens of thousands of massive lotus flowers and other exotic blooms covering 14 acres of tropically themed water gardens.
Over the summer months, a real highlight of this unique attraction is the Tropical World exhibit, containing rare and beautiful plants from around the world. A special feature is the giant Victoria Waterlilies made famous by David Attenborough in his fantastic series, Secret Life of Plants. These amazing Amazon giants produce huge leaves (lily pads) that grow to over 1.5m in diameter, as big as a dinner table. The Blue Lotus Water Garden is the only place in Victoria where you can see this wonder of nature.
This place has so much to offer, it’s easy to spend a few hours exploring the network of trails and garden-based exhibits. Some make a whole day of it, taking advantage of the extensive picnic and barbecue facilities with dozens of lakeside shelters offering breathtaking views. And they haven’t forgotten about the little ones, there’s a playground, a fairy garden, giant chess, a tree house and a magical dragon trail, along with free activity sheets to keep them entertained. Best of all, children aged 15 years and younger are free (subject to T&Cs).
If picnics are not your thing, located inside the gardens is a wonderful lakeside café and ice cream kiosk run by the friendly team from Three Sugars Café. Their garden-inspired menu offers a range of tasty meals, snacks and drinks, with their homemade pies and cakes a real culinary delight.
As the cooler days of autumn arrive, the garden holds its second floral event of the year, known simply as the Autumn Flower Season. From mid-March, thousands of begonias and other seasonal flowers burst into bloom across gardens. One of the stunning visual features at this time of year is the Avenue of Begonias. This 500m long boardwalk and arbour complex is built through the middle of the largest lake. It showcases hundreds of giant hanging baskets filled to the brim with flowers and provides stunning views in all directions.
The Blue Lotus Water Garden is a ticketed seasonal attraction that holds two floral events each year.
The Lotus Flower Season (26 Dec – 20 March) followed by
The Autumn Flower Season (21 March – 19 April)
To find out more or book tickets, please visit their website: bluelotus.com.au
Address: 2628 Warburton Highway, Yarra Junction (look for the pink flags out the front).
