TOURS ATTRACTIONS DON VALLEY

The Blue Lotus Water Garden has grown to cover over 14 acres featuring thousands of exotic lotus flowers and waterlilies all set amongst hundreds of banana palms and other beautiful plants. New in 2014: see the world's big three waterlilies. For the first time in Australia they have growing all three species of giant water lily: Victoria Amazonica, Victoria Cruziana and the Euryale ferox. They hope one of the plants will break the Australian record this year and produce a leaf (lily pad) over one and a half meters across in length. New in 2014: Little Yarra River Trail. They have built a new walk along the banks of the Little Yarra River where visitors can see rainforest plants, huge 100 feet tall river gums and amazing tree ferns. Visitors will also have a chance to catch a glimpse of their resident platypus, or maybe a koala. Bird watchers will see many of Australia's iconic native birds such as cockatoos, kookaburras, rosellas, parrots, hawks and maybe the huge Wedge-tailed Eagle. Features include two main lakes, one with ten islands connected by twelve bridges, including three arched bridges, plus dozens of small ponds all full with thousands of flowers and other exotic water plants. Also see the 2,000 year old Japanese Lotus and the Charles Winch waterlily enclosure containing the largest tropical waterlilies in the world. There are wheelchair and walker friendly paths, shaded areas with sheltered seating for 400 people, 100 seat Café Lotus, large retail nursery, gift shops, picnic and barbecue areas, clean toilets and water stations, friendly staff with expert advice, large car park with plenty of bus parking.

Rayner's Stonefruit Orchard currently grow over 300 varieties of fruit and is less than one hours drive from the city centre, located in Melbourne's food bowl, the Yarra Valley. Visit this real working farm to discover life on the land and delight in picking your own fruit and discover the different varieties and fantastic flavours of real tree ripened fruit. Take a guided orchard tractor fruit tasting tour with farmer Len Rayner and compare the fantastic flavours of about 12 varieties of fresh tree ripened fruit. If you wish to pick your own fruit have a drive of the Cherry picker, and tour the state of the art packing shed. The Peach Cafe and shop is open 9am to 5pm, seven days per week throughout the year from July 2013, except for Christmas Day. Tractor fruit tasting tours are available from December to April 9am to 4pm, seven days per week, Tractor Farm Discovery Tours run from May to November, fruit is now available to taste on tours right through the year. They welcome groups and buses and have year round tour and meal deal specials in the cafe for groups of 10 or more, come taste our freshly baked scones and farm-style pies and quiches! Please visit the website for more information.

Set in the peaceful high country east of Warburton, lies the popular Upper Yarra Reservoir Park - the upper most point of the Yarra River accessible to the public. The carefully maintained gardens and picnicgrounds, encompassed by eucalypt bushland and spectacular scenery, makes visiting Upper Yarra Reservoir Park a memorable experience. Follow the beautiful Fern Gully self-guided trail as it loops through tall eucalypt forest with a dense sheltered ferny understorey. Enjoy breathtaking views of the reservoir and the surrounding catchment from the lookouts. Take a stroll along the Brimbonga Walking Track to the viewing platform and watch water flow through the reservoir's outlet basin as it begins its journey to Melbourne. Before you go Conditions can change in parks for many reasons. For the latest information on changes to local conditions, please visit the relevant park page on the Parks Victoria website. Be bushfire ready in the great outdoors. Refer to the Bushfire Safety section on the Parks Victoria website for tips on how to stay safe.