Take a Road Trip Along the Wildflower Trails of Western Australia

Wildflowers in The Golden Outback in Western Australia

The ‘Golden Outback’ is often cited as the jewel in the crown when it comes to wildflowers in Western Australia. In fact, this is the most famous region in the world for wildflowers and consists of Goldfields-Esperance, Wheatbelt and the infamous Nullabor Plain. These flowers are impossible to miss toward the end of winter and bring a certain softness to the rugged landscapes. From large rock formations and rolling desert to jagged cliffs and endless beaches, the variety of landscapes is equally impressive at every turn. As for the name, ‘Golden Outback’ is a reference to the gold mining that went on here and all the above make this one of the most interesting regions in Australia to drive, hike, camp and explore.

Wildflower season takes place between July and November. During this time, you will see purple, yellow and pink everlastings next to shining orchids and the infamous wreath flower. Wildflowers are said to vastly outnumber the locals and the hidden reserves and groves make it an exciting place to explore. But every year is different in terms of these numbers.

It’s true; every year is different because the number of wildflowers in Western Australia will depend on the amount of rainfall. However, places like the Goldfields and Gascoyne-Murchison always put on a remarkable display. After a winter of heavy rains, you can expect to see more wildflowers than usual, and you can check how things are looking by getting in touch with the various visitor centres. You might also follow the ‘Golden Outback’ account on social media or perhaps download the Wildflower App which provides up to date reports by people who have recently visited the area. Now, let’s get a bit more specific:

The Best Place to See Wildflowers in the Gascoyne-Murchison

The Gascoyne-Murchison is where the wildflowers show up first and this usually starts in July. Wildflowers bloom for several months and ‘move south’ with the sun toward the end of season. You should see everything from native cornflower and golden billy buttons to acacias, everlastings and mulla mulla. While drier areas in the Gascoyne-Murchison might look a little sparse, you should find a beautiful array of colours with a little exploration in the region. Also, this is a quieter than other areas in the Golden Outback which means you can often enjoy the stunning landscapes and iconic sunsets without another person in sight.

Let’s look at some of the best spots to see these wildflowers in Gascoyne-Murchison:

Mount Augustus – Mount Augustus is over two times bigger than Uluru and stands tall above thousands of wildflowers which makes this a very spectacular spot to see wildflowers.

The Kennedy Range – Located approximately halfway between Carnavon and Mount Augustus, the Kennedy Range is also full of colourful wildflowers, gorges and waterfalls.

Cue & Mt Magnet – You should see a plethora of everlastings and other wildflowers around this charming town.

Paynes Find – This area was a busy hub for the gold-mining days and the roads in Paynes Find  – the gateway to the Murchison – are covered with wattles and everlastings.

Gascoyne Junction – Bilung Pool is a beautiful spot to visit and the walking trails next to Gascoyne River are accompanied by many colourful species of wildflowers. 

Yalgo – This historic town is a great place to see orchids, everlastings and wreath flowers.

Melangata, Nalbarra and Woolen – These three stations never fail to disappoint with wildflower enthusiasts who come in search of the many endemic species of wildflower.

The Best Places to See Wildflowers in the Wheatbelt

August onward is the best time to see wildflowers in the Wheatbelt as macrocarpa, orchid, banksia, boronia, fringed flies and thousands more species blanket the landscapes. Wildflowers even thrive during the driest years in the Wheatbelt and the orchids in particular seem to dominate the region. The Northwestern Wheatbelt in particular has carpets of wreath flowers and everlastings and these wildflowers extends all the way to the coastline through parks including Coorow, Mingenew and Coalseam Conservation Area.

The Wheatbelt is also a fascinating area because it features immense granite rocks and salt lakes in between many charming monastic towns. Once again, it is this history which really sets the Golden Outback apart and ensures visitors have plenty more reasons to visit this spectacular pocket of Western Australia. Here’s a quick rundown of some specific places in the Wheatbelt that you should add to your road trip in search of wildflowers:

Let’s take a closer look at some of the best spots to see wildflowers in the Wheatbelt:

Mellenbye Station – You will find a wreath flower patch and Mellenbye Station and self-drives to choose from which feature many thousands of wildflower species.

Morawa – You should see many foxgloves, everlastings and other wildflowers around Morawa and Koolanooka Springs. Both Bilya Rock and War Rock are also great spots to drink in the scenery and see the colourful landscapes for which the Wheatbelt is so famous.

Perenjori – Karara Rangeland and Camel Soak require a 4×4 drive to access, but these areas are carpeted by wreath flowers and other types of wildflowers.

Wubin – The wildflowers at Jibberding, Petrudor and Mia Moon are incredibly beautiful and if you have a 4WD, a trip to Buntine Rock will give you some truly spectacular views.

Dalwallinu – Best known for the Wattle Weekend Festival, Dalwallinu is often called ‘the Gateway to Wildflower Country’ such is the extent of wattle and wildflowers in the area.

Wongan Hills – Wongan Hills is home to the Reynoldson Reserve Festival and over 1,000+ species of wildflower which makes it a must-visit hotspot for wildflowers in the Wheatbelt.

The Best Places to See Wildflowers in the Northeast Wheatbelt

Pioneers Way and the Wheatbelt Way are located just north of Perth, and both present an exciting road trip with lakes, hills, desert and huge rock formations. These landscapes come into full colour at the end of winter due to the stunning variety of flora and wildflowers.

Let’s look at some of the must-see spots along this route:

Beacon – Situated on the edge of the Wheatbelt, Billi-burning Rock is a haven for wildflowers and features unrivalled views of Karoun Hill Reserve. There is also an excellent guided wildflower tour which takes place every Monday, so make sure to plan accordingly!

Bencubbin – Marshall Rock is another stunning vantage point to take in the scenery. Surrounded by spider orchids and yellow everlastings, the views stretch out for miles from Marshall Rock and out across some of the most beautiful farmland in Western Australia.

Dowerin – Minnivale and Namelcatchem Reserve have an abundance of wildflowers in season and the same is true at Tin Dog Creek Reserve.

Koorda – Koorda Native Flora Reserve is probably best known for the Koorda Rose and verticordia which seem to bloom at every turn. Newcalbeon Rocks and Mollerin Reserve are also worth a visit and many visitors even camp out on the rocks and beneath the stars at night.

Wyalkatchem – The Wyalkatchem Reserve is teeming not only with field upon field of everlastings but also fauna, too. Korrelocking Reserve is another spot to drink in the scenery and where wildflowers are plentiful when spring is in the air.

Trayning – Although best known for insect-eating plants, Billycatting Reserve a great spot to see wildflowers and just north of Bencubbin Road is usually overflowing with orchids.

Nungarin – You can often smell the native vanilla bush around Nungarin. Mangowine Homestead is also a charming spot that you should make time to visit and both Eaglestone Rock and Danberrin Hill offer excellent views of the surrounding landscapes and flora.

Westonia – You will see orchids everywhere at Boodalin Soak or Sandford Rocks and everlastings galore at Elachbutting. What’s more, there is a Wildflower Heritage Walk in Westonia and a beautiful woodland that helps showcase a variety of wildflower species.

Mukinbudin – On the way from Mukinbudin and Bonnie Rock, you will find a plethora of wildflowers and pink tea tree and eromophilia are most common near Beringbooding Rock.

The Best Place to See Wildflowers in the Central & Eastern Wheatbelt

You can see wildflowers along the roadside all the way along the Great Eastern Highway which loosely follows the ‘Golden Pipeline’ from Mundaring to Kalgoorlie. Theres are also spectacular reserves filled with fauna and the following is a list of some of the best:

Cunderdin Hill – This is simply one of the best places to see white and yellow everlastings and Bulgin Rock Reserve is another spot which is worth a visit.

Tammin – Yorkrakine Rock in Tammin is home to many species of endemic flora and Charles Gardner Reserve features a granite outcrop surrounded by wildflowers.

Merriden Peak is covered in orchids, sundews and other wildflowers and the area is known for a rich history when it comes to the indigenous people.

Kellerberrin Hill – Another excellent vantage point to view the wildflowers around town can be found at Kellerberrin Hill and Durokoppin Reserve is another great spot for wildflowers.

Southern Cross – Yilgarn Wildflower Drive in Southern Cross features a number of reserves with beautiful flora and wildflowers. For instance, Boorabin National Park and Yellowdine Nature Reserve have some of the most colourful landscapes in Western Australia.

The Best Places to See Wildflowers in the Eastern Wheatbelt

The Eastern Wheatbelt is very different from every other part of the region. In fact, the landscapes and climate changes throughout the region and the variety of wildflowers is also different. Let’s look at some of the best parts of the Eastern Wheatbelt for wildflowers:

Bruce Rock – The Jura Wildflower Drive is worth a visit and Bruce Rock Reserve is overflowing with colour. Kokerbin and Kwolyin are also popular with wildflower enthusiasts for good reason.

Narembeen – Verticordia, drosera and boronia are plentiful in the reserves at Narembeen which go by the names Hidden Hollow, Twine Reserve and Anderson Rock Reserves.

Corrigin – Corrigin Wildflower Drive and Corrigin Wildflower Reserve have lots of wildflowers which include phebalium, green-shelled orchids and custard grevillea.

Kondinin – Bendering and North Kalgarin Reserves are known for having beautiful phebalium and acacias, while Yeerakine Rock is a great spot to see wildflowers.

Wave Rock & Hyden – Wave Rock is a stunning location with scarlet bottlebrush, wattle and grevillea in every direction but Hyden is another area where the wildflowers are in bloom.

Kulin – North Jitarning Reserve and Hopkins Nature Reserve have lots of wildflowers and the macrocarpa walk is one of the most colourful places to take a stroll in the Eastern Wheatbelt.

Lake Grace – The Kwongan Heathland walk and the Jam Patch nature reserve are great for spotting wildflowers and you will find a huge variety of orchids at Lake Grace.

The Best Places to See Wildflowers in the Southern Wheatbelt

The Southern Wheatbelt is located to the southeast of Perth and places like Williams Reserve and Dryandra Woodland make this one of the best parts of Western Australia to see wildflowers. With the Southern Wheatbelt being situated so close to the city, this region is ideal for taking a road trip from Perth to see the colours in bloom during the springtime.

Let’s look at some of the highlights of the Southern Wheatbelt:

Dryandra Woodland – It’s possible to stay overnight at Dryandra Woodland and take a guided wildlife tour after dark. This area is also known for having a huge variety of wildflower species and beautiful colours that light up the Dryandra Woodland.

Narrogin – Yilliminning Rock, Foxes Lair and Highbury Nature Reserve in Narrogin is where you can see an abundance of orchids, everlastings and kwongan flowers in the springtime.

Williams – Located next to the Albany Highway, the Williams Nature Reserve a great place to stop on your way down south and it never disappoints when it comes to wildflowers.

The Best Place to See Wildflowers in the Goldfields

The Goldfields is a popular area to see eremophilas, everlastings, sturt peas, mulla mullas and lots more wildflowers. While these wildflowers can be plentiful one year but a little sparse the next, a trip to the Goldfields is not just about the flora as you will also encounter ghost towns from the gold-rush era and many fascinating stories behind the landscapes.

Coolgardie – You will find many beautiful parks filled with wildflowers enroute to Coolgardie including Karalee Rock, Boorabine NP and Yellowdine Nature Reserve. Hop bushes, bush tomatoes, eremophilas and mullas mullas in particular are found in abundance.

Kalgoorlie-Boulder – Karlkurla Park features jam wattle, lemon-flowered gum, cassia and eremophilas at every turn which make this park one of the best places in the Goldfields to see wildflowers.

Lake Ballard – You should run into lots of wattles, bush flowers, native cornflowers and everlastings at Lake Ballard which is one of the most popular places to see wildflowers in the Golden Outback. Menzies Cemetery is another haven for wildflowers and both Niagara Dam and Goongarrie are surrounded by colourful species.

Leonora – You can expect to see smoke bush, billybuttons and everlastings and many more species on the Leonora Loop Trails which is another must-see for wildlfowers in the Goldfields.

The Best Place for Wildflowers in the Nullabor, Esperance & Fitzgerald Coast

The wave of wildflowers in Western Australia moves south in the springtime which means they make their way to the coast by late August/early September. This is the time when the parks are at their most colourful and you will see wildflowers in every direction. More specifically, you can expect to see everything from acacia, orchids and wattles to cauliflower hakea, redcaps and the pink-flowered silver tea tree. There are also two wildflower festivals in September (Ravensthorpe Wildflower Show & Esperance Wildflower Festival) and this is also the best time to go whale-watching in Esperance.

Esperance – The Dempster Head Walk Trail and Woody Lake Nature Reserve are great places to start when it comes to seeing wildflowers in Esperance. However, you should also make time for Helms Arboretum, Lake Moningup and the Great Ocean Drive where the hundreds of wildflower species never fail to disappoint.

Cape Le Grand National Park – Although probably best known for the kangaroos at Lucky Bay, Cape Le Grand is filled with wedding brush, banksia and leptospermum sericeum. There is also an epic view from Frenchmans Peak for those who are willing to make the climb.

Ravensthorpe – The qualup bell flower and oversized banksia really stand out in Ravensthorpe and there is also a Wildflower Show & Spring Festival in September.

Fitzgerald Coast – The stunning rugged coastline at Fitzgerald River National Park is well-known as one of the one of the best places to see wildflowers in Western Australia. In fact, there are more than 1,500 different species of wildflower in the nearby mountains and the ocean backdrop make for some truly awe-inspiring scenery along the Fitzgerald Coast.