WHERE THE WILD FLOWERS ARE
Western Australia bursts into a kaleidoscope of colour each year as more than 12,000 species of wildflowers bloom across the state. The diverse landscapes – from coastlines to deserts – transform into a paradise of rare, resilient blooms.
WORDS Fleur Bainger
Nowhere else in the world holds as big a collection of wildflowers as Western Australia. Every year, over 12,000 species ignite the vast, rugged landscapes – painting deserts, bushlands and coastlines in a symphony of colour. These blooms aren’t just beautiful, they’re survivors.
With some 60 per cent of them found nowhere else on the planet, they have evolved to thrive in harsh conditions. Take the trigger plant, a delicate flower with a hidden petal-arm, poised like a coiled spring to fling insects into pollen – a ninja move for cross-fertilisation. Or the spider orchid, cunningly disguised as a wasp, luring its unwitting partners to assist in pollination.
Western Australia’s annual bloom-fest unfurls from the sun-scorched Pilbara (Gutharraguda) in late May, seeping across the Ningaloo Coast and Shark Bay World Heritage Areas. It rolls, like a slow breaking wave, towards the state’s southern reaches, leaving behind carpets of colour. Some flowers, flamboyant and bright, demand attention, while others, small and secretive, reveal their beauty only to those who wander off the beaten track.
CORAL COAST
North of Perth (Boorloo), the Coral Coast unfolds into a panorama where the land meets the sea, stretching out under an endless sky. Here, the rugged coastline and expansive dunes create the perfect backdrop for the explosion of colour, as vibrant wildflowers blanket the ground.
Reams of yellow, pink and white everlastings flow like a river around wattle shrub in Coalseam Conservation Park (Yamaji land). A meandering 4.5-hour drive north of the capital, the park combines riverbank cliffs with marine fossils and some 250 million years of geological history. Some of the most intriguing wildflowers in this area are the rare orchids and the highly prized wreath Leschenaultia flower. It blooms between August and October and is often spotted on roadsides in Pindar and Mullewa townships.
two-hour journey south, the Pinnacles Desert reveals limestone spires that stand like sentinels, but in the surrounding bush you’ll find parrot bush, wattles, white clematis and cockies tongues. Take the short drive inland to Lesueur National Park (Amangu land), a biodiversity hotspot containing about 10 per cent of Western Australia’s known florae. About 900 wildflower species can be found within this 27,000-hectare nature zone, many of them endangered. Stop often on the 18-kilometre loop drive and search for wonders such as blue tinsel lily, magenta starflowers, propeller banksia and prickly Moses, then head to the summit of Mount Lesueur on the 4-kilometre loop Lesueur Trail, peeking through grass trees to spot intricate species below.
“The region transforms into a
painter’s palette of wildflowers...”
SOUTHWEST
The south-western landscapes of Western Australia are a vivid tapestry of ancient forests, rolling vineyards, and dramatic coastlines that meet the Indian Ocean. Here, towering karri trees reach for the sky, and rugged cliffs give way to secluded beaches, while the bush bursts with life during wildflower season.
The region transforms into a painter’s palette of wildflowers from August to November, peaking in October. Orchids, kangaroo paws and sundews twinkle from the bush floor, edging the hiking trails and roadsides of the famed Margaret River region (Wooditup, Wadandi Boodja country), which is about a three-hour drive from Perth.
The Cape to Cape Track, which cuts through Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park for some 125 kilometres, becomes a fragrant wilderness walk.Inhale the heady scents of one-sided bottlebrush, spot the clusters of starry white clematis and keep your eyes peeled for the elegant spider orchid and quirky forest mantis – flowers that resemble their namesakes. One of the most incredible sections is between Smiths Beach and Injidup Beach; Injidup comes from a Nyoongar word for the red pea flower.
The pale-barked giants of Boranup Forest shelter rare orchids, while outside the striking Mammoth and Lake caves, sunlit trails encircling Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse reveal colourful carpets of wildflowers.
Drive through Ludlow Tuart Forest National Park to find orchids, yellow flowering Hibbertia and Hardenbergia. A walk trail through Ambergate Reserve reveals 326 species of native flowering plants, from rare verticordia to trigger plants and the orange blooms of native Christmas trees.
GREAT SOUTHERN REGION
The Great Southern encompasses unspoiled coastlines and charming seaside towns, transitioning into vast agricultural landscapes and national parks that shelter some of the rarest flora and fauna on the planet.
About a 4.5-hour drive southeast of Perth is Western Australia’s only significant mountain range and a hotspot for rare orchids. There are more than 100 species in Stirling Range National Park and a great place to find them is along the wildflower walk at Mt Trio Bush Camp. The privately protected nature track is home to dragon orchids, prisoner orchids (they’re stripy) and fringed mantis orchids, hidden beyond pink everlastings. About 35 minutes away, the 4.7-kilometre-long return Castle Rock Trail in Porongurup National Park (Borongur) is scented by candlestick banksias, scarlet flame peas and native wisteria. Agile hikers should take the 6-metre ladder to the winding Granite Skywalk.
In Albany, a trail unveils sculpted rock formations of The Gap and Natural Bridge, flanked by clusters of pimelea rosea, sapphire fan flowers and sticky tailflowers, creating a spectacle that speaks to the resilience and beauty of nature.
THE DETAILS
TOUR
To witness some of Western Australia’s wildflowers in full bloom, join the 16-day Western Wildflowers Discovery tour with Outback Spirit. The tour is like a greatest-hits list of WA wonders, where you’ll see wildflowers, and enjoy some of WA’s incredible experiences like the Kalgoorlie Super Pit, a Margaret River winery lunch and the otherworldly Pinnacles in Nambung National Park.