Wildflower Trails in WA to Explore This Spring
With wildflower season just around the corner, we can’t think of any better way to earn some brownie points with the missus than with a spectacular wildflower scenic drive through some of Western Australia’s most beautiful regions.
Of course, the kids can tag along too. I can still remember wildflower season at Araluen Botanic Gardens, but exploring fields and fields of colour in a 4×4? Now that’s an adventure.
Start your spring season with a bang, here are 4 Wildflower Drives to explore.
Everlasting Wildflower Trail
| Distance | 990 kilometres, allow three to five days. |
|---|---|
| Locations | Coorow, Eneabba, Mullewa, Mingenew and New Norcia. |
| Wildflower species | Pink, yellow and white everlastings, pink and blue fairy orchids, fringe lillies, clown orchids, dryandras, wreath flowers and more. |
| Where to stay | Around Dongara-Port Denison, Geraldton and Kalbarr |
You might want to free up a couple of days to do this trail, approximately 3 days to be exact. This trail is split into 3 separate days to give you ample time to visit and explore one of WA’s most scenic wildflower drives.
Day 1:
It starts in Mingenew and Three Springs, here you will see an abundance of unique wreath flowers, the name says it all — flowers in the shape of a wreath. As you head further north towards Mingenew and Mullewa, make sure you stop by Coalseam Conservation Park — this is a MUST DO, as it is the hot spot filled with hundreds of stunning white, pink and yellow everlastings.
Plenty of walking trails for you to get out, stretch your legs and explore the Everlasting Cultural Trails in Mullewa, which are filled with blooming fauna, including the ‘bacon and egg flower’ (orange daviesia). If you head east of Mullewa you’ll enter Pindar and Canna, where wreath flowers can be found along the roadside and fields of orchids and everlastings in full bloom.
Day 2:
On day two you’ll be heading over to Chapman River Regional Park in Geraldton, which is home to plenty of wildflowers, birds and reptiles. You can opt to take a guided tour of the area to really immerse yourself in nature. If you keep heading north towards Kalbarri, make sure to stop by Northampton’s Elephant Lookout for a breathtaking view of wild orchids at Oakabella homestead.
Day 3:
Finally, headover to Kalbarri National Park and bear witness to stunning views off the coastal cliffs, deep river gorges, and over 800 species of native flora. PS: you may want to bring your hayfever tablets for this one.
The Pinnacles and Cervantes
Where to stay: Cervantes, Jurien Bay, Green Head
Trip length: 1 to 2 days
Perth to Cervantes can either be done in a single day or two if you’d like to give yourself some more time to soak in mother nature and less time rushing.
Day 1:
This self-guided wildflower tour takes you through Badgingarra National Park where you’ll see vast areas filled with fauna such as heath, acacia, myrtle, banksias and casuarinas. If you’re keen to spend a night in the Cervantes, make sure to head over to the Pinnacles Desert to see the world-renowned limestone spires — we hear the view is majestic at sunset.
Day 2:
Make your way to Lesueur National Park to see one of WA’s most diverse and richest floral areas that are home to 820 species of fauna. Opt to get out and stretch your legs on one of the trails or simply drive along the highway to see banksias, starflowers, smoke bush, hakea, grevilleas and leschenaultias.
Carnamah-Eneabba Wildflower Drive
Where to stay: Carnamah Caravan Park
Trip length: 1 to 2 days
Carnamah-Eneabba Wildflower drive is approximately 300kms north of Perth, this is why we suggested two days, unless you don’t mind the three-hour drive there and back in one day. As one of the largest and most spectacular wildflower displays in all of Western Australia, it’s arguably one of WA’s most scenic drives.
It is home to over 180 species of fauna and can be completed from the comfort of your 4×4 as it is a self-drive track. Give yourself about one and a half hours to really enjoy what this drive has to offer and to appreciate the beauty of a natural floral exhibition.
Coorow Wildflower Drive
Where to stay: Green Head, Leeman
Trip length: 1 to 2 days
Coorow Wildflower Drive is about 3 hours drive north of Perth and is known for its 3 wildflower drives: Coorow Farm, Green Head Road and Latham Road, which all feature an abundance of wildflowers and wildlife which can be seen from the comfort of your 4×4.
However, we do recommend getting out and exploring some of the native bushland trails to get up close and personal with nature. Wildflowers in this area include Banksia, Scarlet Featherflower, Yellow Verticordia, WA Christmas TRee, Smoke Bush, Kangaroo Paw, Orchids, Everlastings and Blue Lechenaultia.
Tips for four-wheel driving in wildflower season
- Take nothing but photos — picking wildflowers is illegal and may result in a $2000 fine.
- Respect private property and don’t trespass.
- Protect canola crops and prevent the spread of disease by staying out of canola fields.
- Make sure your 4×4 is ready with our essential checklist
- Have you got all the essential 4×4 accessories for a safe journey?
Have a look at what is currently blooming with this wildflower tracker.