The creek's original name was Kooyongkoot, from the Woiwurrung language of the indigenous Australian Wurundjeri-Baluk group,[1] which translates to 'haunt of the waterfowl'.

It then flows southwest through Box Hill South, Burwood, and Ashwood.

Approximately at its junction with Scotchmans Creek in Malvern East it turns northwest, then continues through Ashburton, Glen Iris, Malvern, and Kooyong, before finally flowing into the Yarra River in Hawthorn.

[4] Upstream to downstream:[4] The Gardiners Creek Trail, a shared use cycling and pedestrian track, follows the general course of Gardiners Creek from Box Hill's boundary with Blackburn to the Yarra River, where a bridge over the river links it to the Main Yarra Trail.

[4] The Monash Freeway/CityLink follow the Gardiners Creek valley from Malvern East to the Yarra River.