Western Australia's Best Wildflowers
Australia’s Coral Coast is one of the best regions to see wildflowers in Western Australia.
Wildflower season typically begins around July and continues into October, with the timing and intensity of displays influenced by seasonal rainfall.
From the Ningaloo Coast to the Pinnacles, these are some of the best places to experience the Coral Coast in bloom. For the latest flowering hotspots, bloom reports and seasonal updates, visit our Wildflower Watch page, which is updated regularly throughout the season.
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 Range 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.
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
Lesueur National Park near Jurien Bay is a hub for flora and fauna, thought to be home to 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 loop, or explore the park on foot with a bush walk along the 3.5km Lesueur trail - one of the few trails available in the National Park.
Mid-West Wildflower Country
One of the best places to see spectacular fields of wildflowers is at Coalseam Conservation 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 our Wildflower Country. Along with stunning displays of wildflowers, there is much history and heritage to discover in these small towns.
East of Mullewa, the peculiar and rare wreath flower (Wreath Leschenaultia) grows unassumingly along the side of the road near Pindar. Look out for the signs that direct you to park about 8km in along the unsealed Pindar-Beringarra Road.
Tips for Visiting the Wildflowers
To ensure the 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 your visit. Otherwise, consider joining a wildflower tour to take the legwork 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.
Download our Wildflower Guide
This guide will provide all of the information you need to know for planning your next wildflower adventure along the Coral Coast
