Not too far from Melbourne, you’ll discover a magical garden bursting with beautiful flowers and calm lakes. Spanning over 14 acres, Blue Lotus Water Garden contains over 40 different ponds, lakes and water features. Here, you’ll find the biggest display of lotus and waterlily flowers in the Southern Hemisphere. Wander through the scenic trails, and feel blown away by the vast array of water flowers, exotic blooms and unique plant displays. Blue Lotus Water Garden will reopen to the public on Tuesday December 26, and run until April 14.
Blue Lotus Water Garden
Wander the gardens and explore dreamy lakes, vibrant floral colours, exotic plants, waterfalls, fountains and more. This year, nature has been kind to the garden, resulting in their best display of lotus and waterlily flowers for years. The weather has been ideal for plant growth, leading to thousands more flower buds than last year.
New to the garden this year is a 50 metre artificial creek, tumbling through a new garden of rainforest plants and ferns. You’ll also find new artistic sculptures and water features around the gardens.
You’re welcome to pack a picnic or use the barbeque areas, or pop into the café or ice cream kiosk. This season, the team from 3 Sugars Café in Warburton is serving up house-made meals, snacks and drinks at the garden’s café. The café is outdoors, and set along the edge of the waterlily pond, so you can take in splendid views of the flowers.
This year, there are two different floral seasons for you to discover.
Lotus Flower Season
When: December 26 to April 1
During this time, you’ll see their spectacular display of lotus flowers. Explore Monet’s Lake, the largest lake in the garden, and see 70 varieties of waterlily flowers. Marvel at their prized collection of Claude Monet’s original waterlilies, straight from his garden in Giverny, France.
Walk down the middle of the lake by crossing a series of bridges, including their iconic red arched bridge. After that, follow a sandy pathway and have a picnic nearby.
On Lotus Lake, you’ll discover over ten thousand blooms on display. Some of these blossoms are as large as a dinner plate. Some of the flowers can stand up to 2 metres above the water, and reach 40 cm in diameter. Flowers grow across the whole surface of the lake, so that everywhere you look, you’ll see brightly-coloured blooms. Discover the Golden Lotus exhibit, and see one of the largest lotus flowers on the planet with over 80 petals.
Then, journey along Lotus Wetlands and lose yourself in their forest of flowers. Some of these flowers grow about 1.5 metres tall! Within Lotus Wetlands, you’ll find bogs and ponds filled with native wildlife, as well as other beautiful flowers such as petunias, sunflowers and hibiscus.
Golden Garden Season
When: April 2 to 14
During April, you’ll lose yourself in a kaleidoscope of colour. Autumn flowers such as bougainvillea, sunflowers and salvias enter their prime. On top of that, native Australian waterlilies and lotus flowers are also at their best during this period. Find them on display in Kakadu Lagoon.
There’s also the Giants of the Amazon exhibit, which features one of the largest species of waterlily known to mankind. The Giant Amazon Waterlily, or Victoria Cruziana, can grow lily pads that reach 1.5 to 2 metres in diameter.
There’s also plenty of fun for the kids, with a Fairy Garden filled with whimsical cubby houses, a rainbow slide, giant flowers and mushrooms, a fairy village, flower boats and more. Go on an adventure along the Dragon Trail, and weave your way through ponds, fields and tropical gardens.