The fabulous Blue Lotus Water Garden is set to open its doors on Boxing Day, and there's no better place for a family outing. Having visited personally on Labour Day Weekend and Easter ; if you've never been, it will take your breath away. I have it on good authority there are lots more flowers this year, looking even more amazing than the year before. Honestly, the first time I visited, my eyes literally popped out of my head. Who knew such an oasis existed just an hour and a half away from the city! If you live Dandenong way, it's just an hour's drive. Forget the Boxing Day madness and head to 2628 Warburton Hwy, Yarra Junction instead, and immerse yourself in the idyllic surrounds of this Lotus Farm. The weather forecast is looking good for it too. Grab your tickets here . Booking online is best to avoid disappointment, as counter sales can sell out at busy times, and you wouldn't want to travel all the way there and not get in. Children 0-15yrs free, as are Companion Card holders. Adults $25.40 and Senior/Pensioner $22.85.
This is a working lotus farm that goes about its business seasonally outside of opening season, which is from 26 Dec 2023 to 14 Apr 2024. Lotus Flower Season runs from '26 Dec 2023 to 1 Apr 2024'; and it's the best time to see a magnificent display of lotus flowers. You'll find the world's most extensive collection and varieties that produce millions of huge flowers over this period. The highlights to check out includes 'Lotus Lake' and 'Lotus Wetlands' which is a virtual sea of flowers every which way you look. 'April 2-14' is known as the 'Golden Garden Season', when thousands of perennial autumn flowers such as begonias, bougainvillea, sunflowers, hibiscus, impatiens, salvias and petunias presents the farm with a kaleidoscope of colour. One of the highlights during this season is a fine display of Native Australian waterlilies, and the world's biggest waterlily species, the Giant Amazon Waterlilies - see last image. Check out the video below which explains the difference between a waterlily and a lotus.
Getting back to the Giant Amazon Waterlily, the Victoria Cruziana is the variety grown at the lotus farm, and it produces very large lily pads that reach 1.5-2 metres in diameter. The leaves have higher sides and are covered in razor sharp spines on the underside and along the stalks. The flowers produced are also very large and grow up to 30cm in diameter. The Water Gardens are hoping to break its record of the summer of 2015 when it produced the largest lily pad ever seen in Australia at a whopping 1.75m in diameter.
Outside the lilies, the lotus, the natives and the perennials, there's lots to love about being at this Lotus Farm. There's a cafe on site, as well as takeaway food options, a playground for the kids, a gift shop to take home a souvenir, a garden shop so you can take home and grow your own, lots of little gazebos on site to enjoy your own family picnic, and lots of areas to explore on this 14 acre tropical paradise. Enjoy walking the trails, bridges and boardwalks that puts you right in the midst of the blooms; just don't touch the giant water lilies. It's like being in wonderland with lots of photo opportunities, a number of water features, and playground equipment for the kids. The good part is, if your kids are aged 15 and younger, they go free, subject to T&Cs. Let's face it, that virtually covers every child in an age group willing to hang out with mum and dad all day.
If you feel like a complete break away from the kitchen, you don't even need to pack your own picnic. There are new operators at the kiosk with a great new lunch menu to sample. This is the sort of place you could spend hours at. Stay in touch via social media eg. Facebook , Instagram , website ; as during its opening season the lotus farm does operate a few other special events. They also have their own YouTube Channel . Pretty busy on weekends, be sure to get your tickets quick smart.