A visit to the peaceful Blue Lotus Water Gardens (Australia)

White lotus flower with yellow centre. Light is filtering through the delicate petals. There is a green floating pad in the background.

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Blue Lotus Water Gardens in Yarra Junction is a 14-acre oasis only 1 hours’ drive from Melbourne. The gardens have 3km of walking tracks, ample picnic areas, fairy garden, nursery, café and endless blooms of lotus flowers.

These beautifully designed gardens with carpets of lotus and water lilies are a tropical oasis and make a perfect day trip.

Blue Lotus Water Gardens is a unique attraction near Melbourne and are definitely worth visiting if you enjoy quiet spaces and relaxing gardens.

The gardens are open from December to April each year to coincide with the flowering season.

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What to expect

The gardens

The gardens contain many areas including Monet’s Lake, Lotus Wetlands, Lotus Lake, and the Giant Amazon Waterlilies.  Whilst the lotus flowers are the main attraction, the water lilies are also stunning!

There is a large range of exotic and Australian native flowers to see.  

In addition to the outdoor lakes there are enclosed buildings and pavilions with a range of flowers and plants to admire.

What I enjoyed

  • Quiet spaces to find calm
  • Stunning variety of lotus flowers and water lilies
  • Picnic spaces including BBQ areas
  • Range of areas to explore
  • Family friendly
  • White lotus flower about to open.

Picnic areas

Various picnic areas are scattered around the gardens with BBQs also available. You are welcome to bring your own food but alcohol is not permitted.

LEARN | Did you know that lotus and water lilies are different?  Water lily flowers sit on the water, while lotus flowers are above the water on a stem. Water lilies have a larger range of colours, while lotus flowers are only white, pink and yellow tones.

Lake with leaves in foreground, then a line of trees, and a mountain range in background.
purple water lily

Fairy Garden and Dragon Trail

Children can enjoy the play area and fairy garden with various activities running during the open season (check their Facebook page for details).  

The Dragon Trail is also fun with a feeling of adventure to find the red dragons.

Playground with colourful pipes around the outside that look like hula-hoops. Did you know a hula-hoop should reach your belly button when measured from the floor? That's the correct size.
Small cubby houses with slides for toddlers to enjoy
fairy garden at Blue Water Lotus Gardens
Sign next to a walkway saying "Dragon's Trail"
Pathway with red handrails to symbolise a dragons back.

Nursery and garden shop

The Blue Lotus Water Gardens also has a nursery and garden shop where you can buy lotus flowers or a garden treasure to take home.

TIP | The pre-cut lotus flowers are a lovely item to purchase and take home to enjoy.

Cost

Costs for visiting the gardens are listed on their website closer to the opening season. The approximate cost for adults is AUD $22 and children under 15 are free.

Note, you can visit the nursery and shop without purchasing a garden entry ticket.

EXPLORE | Victoria has a huge range of beautiful gardens including many in the Dandenong Ranges which is around 30minutes drive from Blue Lotus Water Gardens. Or drive a little further and visit the Australian themed Cranbourne Botanic Gardens (around 1 hour) or the majestic Tarra Bulga National Park (2 hours).

Pond with a metal lotus flower shaped sculpture in the middle of the pond. Small picnic shelters line the pond. There are several white lotus flowers in the foreground.
Along with the larger lakes, there are lovely garden spaces with ample places to sit and relax.

Getting there

Self drive

The gardens are located at 2628 Warburton Highway, Yarra Junction, Victoria Australia. Self-drive is the easiest way to get to the gardens.  

PLAN | Need car hire? Check out the deals at rentalcars.com.

Public Transport

If you need Public Transport from Melbourne then catch the train (Lilydale Line) from Flinders Street Station to Lilydale. Then catch the bus (683 Chirnside Park – Warburton) from Lilydale Station to Yarra Junction.  Hop off at the intersection on Riversdale Road and Warburton Highway and walk 5 minutes to the gardens.

The trip from Melbourne to the Blue Lotus Water Gardens on public transport will take approximately 2 hours, but allow extra depending on the train times.

Tours

Private tours can be arranged from Melbourne with various tour providers.

Looking for something more unique? Why not take a tour from Melbourne to the Dandenong’s in a classic ’56 Chevrolet . Now that is cruising in style!

How long to stay

Allow a minimum 1.5 hours to walk around the gardens.

soft peach coloured water lily
The water lilies put on a wonderful show!
Pink water lily nestled amongst green leaves. The centre of the lily is yellow. Strangely, the lily really looks like it is enjoying the sunshine as it appears to be reaching for the light with it's petals.
Take the time to admire all the different colours of flowers.

Tips for visiting

Here are a few tips for your visit to the Blue Lotus Water Gardens:

  • Check the opening hours as they are only open December to April
  • Bring sun protection as much of the gardens is exposed
  • Bring a picnic to really relax and enjoy the gardens
  • Dogs are not permitted (with the exception of service dogs)
  • Whilst most of the main walking tracks are accessible there are some sections that might require extra assistance.  Call the gardens first and speak with them if you have concerns about accessibility.
  • Check the times for face painting and fairy story time so you don’t miss out.
lotus seed pod before it has dried out.
Lotus seed pod before it has dried out.
Dried lotus seed pod. The pod is a light brown colour with oval shaped holes where the seeds were released. Green leaves fill the background.
Dried lotus seed pod.

When to visit

The gardens are only open December to April with opening and closing dates communicated on the website and social media.

I am someone that gets out in most weather conditions. However, I do suggest avoiding the Yarra Valley / Dandenong Ranges on really hot days when the fire risk is elevated, or if there are active fires in the area.

PLAN | The Blue Lotus Water Gardens are in the state of Victoria which has a varied climate. Read this post to see which time of year would suit you best.

Lake at Blue Lotus Water Gardens with floating leaves and trees along the edges. There is a hint of a mountain in the background.
The gardens are still lovely even if the flowers are not in full bloom.
Lake with a red bridge that is reflecting into the water.
Calm reflections and calm surroundings.

What to bring

Comfortable clothes, water bottle, sturdy shoes. Dress for the weather and go explore!

Bring what you need for a picnic. Small camping style stoves using butane are permitted, but you can’t bring your own BBQ.

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Where to stay

Excellent accommodation options can be found in nearby Yarra Junction, or you could extend your visit to stay around quaint villages such as Olinda or Sassafras which are only 30 minutes drive away.

Accommodation options are also detailed on the main Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges tourism website.

Explore more of the region

Where to eat

Enjoy the onsite café or bring your own picnic. Small camping style stoves using butane are permitted, but you can’t bring your own BBQ.

Alternatively, drive 2 minutes down the road to the delightful Gladysdale Bakehouse where you can get their famous pies or enjoy a cooked meal. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed!

More food options can be found in the main town area of the beautiful Yarra Junction. 

sandy walking track next to a lake containing lotus flower and lilies however there are no flowers visible as we arrived too late in the season.
The Blue Lotus Water Gardens is a beautiful location with mountain views in the background.
Lush green water plants and lily pads
Beautiful lush green lily pads and water plants.

Things to do nearby

Where to start! There is endless natural beauty in this region of Victoria which scenic driving routes, quaint towns, excellent food, stunning wineries and so much more!

Some ideas to get you started, with approximate driving times from the Blue Lotus Water Gardens in brackets, are:

The Blue Lotus Water Gardens website also has information on nearby attractions with a tourist map.

Is it worth visiting Blue Lotus Water Gardens?

Blue Lotus Water Gardens is worth visiting if you enjoy gardens and quiet spaces. The gardens are a place to relax and enjoy the tranquillity while surrounded by beautiful lotus and water lily flowers. Definitely keep an eye on their social media to see when the “peak” flowering is occurring.

A visit to the Blue Lotus Water Gardens makes a great family outing since there is something for everyone to enjoy!

If you want a garden with more of festival feel then I suggest Tesselaar Tulip Festival or KaBloom which are nearby.

Still undecided? Head to TripAdvisor to read more reviews.

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