Lotus Flower Season

The Lotus Flower Season, held by the Blue Water Lotus Garden, lasts for a few months. During this time, visitors can see beautiful lotus flowers in full bloom.

The next season runs from December 2024 to April 2025. It features thousands of Lotus and Water Lily flowers over 14 acres of ponds and ornamental lakes.

During the Lotus Flower Season, visitors will experience the world’s most extensive collection of lotus flower varieties, producing millions of huge flowers spread over 14 acres of water gardens. Highlights include Lotus Lake and Lotus Wetlands, which have thousands of blooms daily, creating a virtual sea of flowers in every direction. The Giants of the Amazon exhibit is a special feature that displays one of the world’s largest waterlily species, Victoria Cruziana. The lily pads can get as big as a dinner table (1.5 metres in diameter).

Visitors will love exploring the tropical-themed gardens, which feature an amazing array of exotic plants, garden exhibits, fountains, waterfalls, floral sculptures, walks, and scenic vistas.

Extensive picnic facilities, including numerous shelters and BBQs, are spread throughout the gardens. Alternatively, garden visitors can enjoy the wonderful hospitality of the cafe, which offers fantastic views of the flowers.

Cochrane Lake & Bridge Walk

This is our largest lake in the garden, holding over 11 million litres of water. It stretches 250m long and contains over 70 varieties of waterlily flowers, creating a carpet of colour across the lake’s surface. The display features our prized collection of Claude Monet’s original water lilies, which he planted in his garden at Giverny in France.

At the end of the lake, a plantation of hundreds of Mrs Perry Slocum Lotus, Hindu Lotus and Cream Lutea Lotus add to the visual experience, producing thousands of blooms every day. The gardens surrounding the lake also contain many perennial flowers and shade, giving banana and cocos palms. The lake also features a 300m walk through its middle, with 11 bridges, including the famous red-arched bridge. Often, native water birds such as Giant Egrets, Water Hens, Spoon Bills and numerous ducks are seen foraging for food or building nests.

On the southern side of the lake, a sandy pathway offers easy access, with numerous picnic shelters for people to rest and take in the stunning views. Adding to the vista are two fountains built in the shape of giant lotus flowers. They seem to float on the lake’s surface, producing a dancing, reflective effect of their surroundings.

Lotus Lake & Golden Lotus

Can you imagine being in a place so beautiful that you never want to leave? The walk around Lotus Lake is one of those places.

The lake produces the largest display of lotus flowers in the garden, with over 10,000 blooms. The featured flowers are Carolina Queen Lotus (pink) and Cream Lutea Lotus (white), with blossoms as large as a dinner plate. The flowers grow around the entire 500m circumference of the lake, creating an intoxicating visual experience.

The gardens edging the sandy pathway have been carefully created and planted with exotic flowering plants, adding to the wonderful vistas. Featured flowering plants include a range of salvias, impatiens, succulents, cordylines, begonias, canna lilies, crepe myrtles, and pergola vines. Banana and coco palms provide shade as you wander, along with numerous reed-covered rotundas offering great vantage points to take in the serenity.

Giants of the Amazon

See our collection of giant waterlilies and other wonders of the natural world.

The natural world contains many rare, beautiful and amazing plants and in our Tropical World Complex you will discover some of the world’s most spectacular ones.

Giant Amazon Waterlily
The Giant Amazon Waterlily we grow is named Victoria Cruziana, slightly smaller than its cousin, the Victoria Amazonica. The plant is native to the subtropical regions of South America and grows in a slightly cooler habitat than its cousin. The V.Cruziana is a spectacular plant and produces very large lily pads that reach 1.5 – 2 metres in diameter. The leaves are slightly different to the V.Amazonica, featuring higher sides and a greener appearance on the underside. Like its cousin, the Cruziana’s leaves and stalks are also covered in razor-sharp spines, producing very large flowers up to 30cm in diameter.

In the summer of 2015, the Victoria Cruziana Waterlily produced the largest lily pad ever seen in Australia. It measured a whopping 1.75m in diameter. Maybe this year it will be even bigger!

Giant Asian Waterlily
Also known as the “Crocodile Plant” or Euryale ferox, it is a type of giant waterlily native to the tropical regions of Asia. This amazing waterlily produces massive spiny leaves over 1m in diameter covered in razor-sharp barbs on both sides. The colour markings and texture of the lily pads also have characteristics similar to those of crocodile skin. This is why crocodiles have been known to hide under the leaves; they offer great camouflage from unsuspecting prey. The flower is very small and beautiful, with delicate purple petals often seen protruding through a leaf. The seed is eaten extensively in Asia, commonly called foxnuts or makhana. The Chinese have cultivated this prickly plant (for food) for over 3,000 years.

Winch Waterlily Collection
Mr Charles Winch was one of the world’s foremost breeders of tropical waterlilies, breeding over 600 different hybrids, which are signified by their large, colourful flowers and amazing variegated leaves. On display is a selection of his most spectacular varieties.

Warning: We don’t allow visitors to sit on the lily pads, as they are quite fragile and covered in razor-sharp spines underneath.

Lotus Wetlands

Created along the loamy river flats, the wetlands contain numerous bogs and shallow ponds containing a large variety of water & bog plants. Five of our favourite varieties of lotus flowers are featured here including Mrs Perry Slocum, Carolina Queen, Hindu, Roseam Plena, Green Magic and Crème Lutea. Because the ponds are shallow, the lotus flowers grow to a height of 1.5m, creating a virtual forest of flowers. It’s the best place in the garden for visitors to get very close to the flowers and their perfume.

The wetlands also feature the “Indian Blue Lotus” (which is actually a tropical waterlily), along with numerous other beautiful waterlilies. The ponds and bogs are edged with extensive garden beds full of perennial colour including impatiens, sunflowers, salvias, canna lilies, petunias, marigolds and celosias. Another feature is our collection of hibiscus, thalis and papyrus.

The wetlands also provide an important habitat for many frogs, insects, and invertebrates that live in the rich ponds. Many of our native animals rely on this habitat, especially when food is scarce in the natural environment.

Dragons Trail

Take the kids on an adventure to meet our mystical Red Dragons. The journey will take you into the Belly of Dragons as it snakes its way through magical fields of white lotus flowers, cascading ponds and tropical gardens.

At the end of the trail you will find our Red Dragons, who protect fantasy falls and all the gardens waterways during the summer.
It’s believed that if you through a coin into the Dragons pond it will bring you good luck for the rest of the year.

Native Beauties

Many people don’t realise there are more than 17 species of native waterlilies and two species of native lotus have been discovered in Northern Australia. Most of these species are sub-tropical and tropical varieties that normally grow north of the Tropic of Capricorn. However, the Blue Lotus Water Garden has been successful in growing number of them in their new “Kakadu Lagoon” exhibit.

Over the past twenty years, Geoff Cochrane (the gardens’ owner) has collected seeds of these beautiful plants during many expeditions to Northern Australia. The seeds are then germinated in experimental ponds at Mossman, Queensland, before the mature plants are relocated to our Kakadu Lagoon display, which makes up part of our Tropical World complex.

The featured varieties you will see on display include: Gigantea Waterlily, Immutabilis Waterlily and Violacea Waterlily, Cape York Lotus and Waltzing Matilda Lotus. All these native beauties have been selected for their showy long-lasting flowers.

River Walk & Bird Watching

The Little Yarra River is one of the main tributaries of the Yarra River that flows through Melbourne. Its headwaters are located in the hills about 20km east of the gardens. The river and its riparian environment are home to many of Victoria’s iconic native plants and animals, some of which are rare or endangered.

The river itself has a population of cute platypus, sometimes seen in the early morning or at dusk. Fish species include River Blackfish, Trout, Grayling, Smelt, Perch and Eels. The river is also home to the Spiny Freshwater Crayfish and a number of yabby species.

The surrounding vegetation provides habitat for may native birds including honey eaters, parrots, kookaburras, owls and cockatoos. If your very luck you may even see a koala, wallaby or anticlines (native marsupial), which make their home on the banks of the river.

A special feature of the area is the huge Manna Gums that tower 50m high, providing shade and habitat. Other feature plants include our special grove of rare indigenous tree ferns. The tree ferns, and many other indigenous ferns were planted as part of ongoing restoration works within 10m-15m of the river. Our conservation efforts also include ongoing removal of exotic plants, weed removal, bank stabilisation and the recent plantings of thousands of locally native trees, shrubs, grasses and plants. These works will be ongoing and will improve the overall environment, encouraging native animals and birds into the reserve.

The shady & cool walk along the river is a great place to experience the wonderful Australian environment, which is a completely different experience to the exotic gardens that neighbour it.

Kids Fun & Fairy Garden

The flower fairies have been busy building their own village, located near a grove of giant mushrooms and garden beds full of flowers. The fairies have also added a few fun features for little humans including 3 fantasy cubby houses, a rainbow slide, flower boats, wishing well, giant flower sculptures and the magical fairy throne. It also contains numerous lakeside picnic shelters and a BBQ, it’s a great place for families to have a picnic (with the fairies).

We also have play equipment with a boat sand pit near our cafe for young ones. And in our new family fun space with bbq area and playground below the Giant Amazon enclosure.

Kids of all ages will love the upgraded Dragon Walk located at the back of the gardens with two realistic dragon statues that appear to walk on water.

Free Adventure Spotto – Every Day
Every kid will love this free activity of discovery, fun and adventure. Our garden Spotto has been designed in a fun way to get kids interested in exploring the gardens and the wonders of nature. Each child receives a sheet and pencil on arrival, the sheet contains clues to a dozen features, animals or plants found in the garden.

Cafe & Kiosk

The cafe and other ammenities located inside the gardens are provided exclusively for visitors who have purchased a garden ticket. We don’t allow free access to the public to use these facilities.

Enjoy the best in local food & hospitality. The Blue Lotus Water Garden is pleased to announce local culinary experts 3 Sugars.

Cafe from Warburton will run the gardens’ hospitality services, cafe, and kiosk in 2024. The team at 3 Sugars plans to offer customers a wide range of dine-in and takeaway options, focusing on homemade delicious food, excellent coffee, and friendly hospitality.

The seasonal outdoor cafe is set amongst lush tropical gardens and includes a unique collection of “Balinese” style weatherproof shelters and one group pavilion all built on the edge of our famous waterlily pond. No matter where you sit you can see stunning views of the gardens and the wonderful water flowers.

Also located inside the gardens is a great Kiosk & Ice Cream Shop. Treat yourself, or the kids to a decadent gourmet ice cream as you walk around the gardens. The kiosk also offers a range of hot & cold snacks, cold drinks, coffee and more.

Picnic & BBQ Facilities

Visitors are welcome to have a picnic in one of the many picnic shelters or picnic areas located inside the garden. You are welcome to bring into the gardens your own food and drink (except alcohol). We have 7 large general use park bbqs (coin operated) that visitors can use located in different spots around the gardens.

Please Note: Picnics are prohibited in the cafe, nursery and carpark areas. We don’t reserve bbqs and encourage visitors to share with others. Groups that wish to bring their own portable bbq must gain permission from management prior to your visit.

Plant Nursery & Flower Shop

Our seasonal water plant nursery opens on Boxing Day, December 26th, and is open seven days a week until mid-April. No ticket is required to access the retail plant nursery or gift shops, which are located outside of the gardens.

We boast Victoria’s largest range of potted lotus plants and waterlilies suitable for backyard pots, bowls, ponds, dams and lakes. We also stock a range of other ornamental plants perfect for adding extra texture and colour to any water garden. To download our latest Plant Catalogue click on the button below or for more info on growing lotus or waterlilies.

Freshly cut lotus flowers are available from the plant nursery daily between 26th Dec – late March. Customers that wish to purchase more than 20 flowers will need to pre-order 24 hours in advance and collect their order from the nursery (sorry, we don’t offer a delivery service). The minimum flower order is 20 stems. Please contact us via email to place a flower order. Please include the quantity, colour, date & time you wish to collect them and your contact phone number.
Please send email to: [email protected]

Gift Shop
Located next to the nursery is our lovely gift shop, which offers visitors a cool and comfortable space to browse our great range of indoor plants, souvenirs, T-shirts, hats, gardening books, homewares, gifts, artwork, and garden-themed products. Try on our exclusive range of lotus and waterlily tops, sit on the comfy couch, watch a garden video, or read a book. The gift shop’s opening times and dates are the same as the garden’s.

Time To Get Around

The gardens are over 14 acres in size, with more than 3km of pathways and numerous plant-based attractions to see. We suggest you allow 1-2 hours to explore the gardens, nursery and retail areas, longer if you plan to have lunch at the café or use the picnic/BBQ facilities. Some people stay for only 1 hour; some visitors stay all day. The best time to see the lotus & waterlily flowers is January to mid-March. The best time to see the Giant Amazon Waterlilies and perennial flowers is February – April.

Car Parking

We have free on-site parking for cars and buses. People with limited mobility are advised to park in our main car park in the designated spots. Please note that parking is limited and based on a first-come, first-served system. If the car park is full, we advise you to take a drive, explore the local area, and come back in an hour or so. We will reopen the car park as soon as space becomes available.

Getting Here

By Car
We are located at 2628 Warburton Highway, Yarra Junction in the Yarra Valley. Travel time is approximately 1.5 hours by car from Melbourne CBD and only 25 minutes from Lilydale.
The entrance to the garden is located on the right-hand side of the Warburton Highway, approximately 1km east of the township of Yarra Junction. Large PINK signs are displayed out front on each side of the driveway entrance.

Public Transport
Catch the train to Lilydale Station and then Bus Service (route 683) to the intersection of Warburton Highway and Riversdale Rd, Yarra Junction (also known as Upper Yarra Secondary College bus stop). The gardens’ entrance is about 300m (5 min) east along the highway from the bus stop.

Please note that dogs (except service dogs) are not permitted within the Water Gardens. So come check out the lotus flowers at the best time of year by visiting the Blue Lotus Water Garden in the beautiful Yarra Valley.