By PETER DOUGLAS
HAVE you ever wanted to have a holiday in an exotic tropical location or destination in Asia?
Well, you don’t need to get on a plane.
Blue Lotus Water Garden has its own little bit of the tropics in the Yarra Valley.
During summer, they open to the public for the annual Lotus Flower Season starting on Friday 27 December, and runs until the first Sunday in April.
This corresponds with the flowering of thousands of stunning lotus flowers and waterlily blooms.
The garden itself is spread over 50,000 square metres that includes 40 ornamental lagoons, ponds, two lakes, four fountains and thousands of tropical flowers.
Easy walking tracks provide access around the garden linked by oriental style arch bridges.
Large banana palms and reed covered huts complete the picture, giving you the feeling you’re in Bali, not the Yarra Valley.
If you’re after an affordable place to take the kids over summer, the Blue Lotus Water Garden is a great place.
They have plenty of picnic/barbecue facilities and don’t charge for children under 16.
Activities for the youngsters include a new fairy garden (complete with a real fairy telling stories on weekends) plus plenty of natural wonders for the kids to explore.
A children’s face-painting artist will also be onsite most weekends and public holidays.
Feature attractions include the amazing Giant Amazon Lily.
Last year, owner Geoff Cochrane grew a lily pad that measured 1.7m across, which was the largest lily pad ever grown in Australia!
His grandchildren are pictured here floating on the giant lily for the media last year.
Facilities at the garden include a kiosk and ice cream hut, large park barbecues, amenities, a large retail plant nursery and garden shops.
The Blue Lotus Water Garden is located on the Warburton Highway at Yarra Junction.
It’s open every day from 10am to 5pm during the summer months.
Garden tickets cost: Adults $16 and Seniors $13.
Kids are free.
