Best Places to See Wildflowers in Western Australia

Australia’s Coral Coast is one of the best regions to see wildflowers in Western Australia. Wildflower season usually begins around July, depending on rainfall and continues into October. These are the best spots to see wildflowers along the Coral Coast.

Cape Range National Park, Exmouth

Cape Range National Park covers over 50,000 hectares of land and has an abundance of flowering plants. The diversity of tropical and desert regions within the park results in a wide array of wildflowers. You’ll spot vivid red Sturt’s desert pea, purple mulla mullas and other endemic species such as the Cape Rage grevillea and kurrajong. The hiking trails at Mandu Mandu Gorge, Charles Knife Canyon and Yardie Creek provide excellent wildflower viewing opportunities. More information on local flora and fauna can be found at the Milyering Visitors Centre.

Shark Bay

The Shark Bay World Heritage area is renowned for its diverse range of wildlife and flora. Endemic to the region are the colourful Shark Bay daisies. This bright flower can be found all over the region, particularly along Stella Rowley Drive and in Francois Peron National Park. Other wildflowers seen in the region are the Tamala Rose, dune wattle and even everlastings around Hamelin Pool. A high-clearance 4WD is required to explore Francois Peron National Park, or join a guided tour.

Kalbarri

Wildflowers begin to bloom in abundance in Kalbarri National Park from late July. Keep an eye out for pops of colour when visiting the lookouts like Nature’s Window and Z-Bend Gorge within the park. Closer to town, the Bigurda Trail coastal cliff walk offers scenic lookouts and wildflower spotting opportunities along the way. Stop by the Kalbarri Visitors Centre for a local wildflower guide to help identify the over 1000 species of wildflowers found in Kalbarri.

Lesueur National Park, Jurien Bay

Lesueur National Park near Jurien Bay is a hub for flora and fauna, thought to be home at least 10 percent of Western Australia’s flora species. The park is also home to a variety of native orchids, and in spring several types of kangaroo paws blanket the park. Take the one-way scenic drive trail loop or explore the park on foot with a bush walk through the 3.5km Lesueur trail.

Mid West Wildflower Country

One of the best places to see spectacular fields of wildflowers is at Coalseam Conversation Park, 90-minutes inland from Geraldton. Coalseam Conversation Park is a biodiversity hotspot, best known for the carpets of everlastings that blanket the park in wildflower season. Generally, August is the best time to visit to see the fields of yellow pom poms, along with pink and white everlastings and native orchids.

The surrounding inland farming towns of Carnamah, Coorow, Dalwallinu, Mullewa, Moora, Morowa, Mingenew, Perenjori and Three Springs make up the ‘Wildflower Country’ collective. Along with stunning displays of wildflowers, there is much history and heritage to discover in these small towns.

East of Mullewa awaits the peculiar and rare wreath flower (Wreath Leschenaultia), growing unassumingly on the side of the road near Pindar. Lookout for the signs that direct you to park about 8km in along the unsealed Pindar-Beringarra Road.

Tips for Visiting the Wildflowers

To ensure enjoyment of the wildflowers for years to come, remember to follow the ‘Leave No Trace’ principles when visiting wildflower hotspots. Picking wildflowers is illegal, and fines apply. Take nothing but photos and stick to the paths to avoid trampling the wildflowers.

The local Visitors Centres and Tourist Information Centres are a wealth of knowledge, so drop-in or call ahead before visiting closer to your trip. Otherwise, consider joining a wildflower tour to take the leg work out of planning your wildflower trip. It is recommended to plan your wildflower trip in advance, as accommodation and campsites can be limited during this busy period in the region. Check out some suggested wildflower itineraries along the Coral Coast to help plan your next trip.