Do you know your orchids from your everlastings? Your wattles from your Mulla Mulla? Did you know that 60% of Western Australia’s wildflowers aren’t found anywhere else in the world?
Now’s the perfect time to get outdoors and explore WA’s spectacular array of wildflowers (more than 12,000 species!) with the kids. There’s adventure potential for every type of family and you can find wildflowers anywhere from inner city parks to some of the state’s biggest and best National Parks.
Start in the City
An easy place to start your wildflower hunt in Perth is King’s Park and Botanic Garden, which bursts into colour in September for the Kings Park Festival (Sep. 1 – 30). Take a leisurely stroll through the wildflower garden which is home to native flora from every region of WA, making it the state’s biggest display of wildflowers. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch the Adorable Florables: King’s Park’s vibrant and beloved wildflower characters that will bring nature to life for kids and adults alike, as well as guided walks, poetry and shows.
Hit the Road
Australia’s Coral Coast is a wonderful resource for wildflower explorers, especially if you’re getting on the road for a self-drive tour. The site lists some of WA’s wildflower hotspots to get you started: Coalseam Conservation Park, Lesueur National Park, Kalbarri National Park, Shark Bay World Heritage Area, and Cape Range National Park. The Where to see wildflowers page is kept up-to-date with current wildflower info, and you can download a handy Wildflowers 2018 Map to get started.
The Tourism Western Australia Wildflower Guide 2018 sets out 12 different trails for self-driving wildflower adventures. The recommended itineraries in the downloadable pdf booklet are a great mix of wildflower viewing and other activities – visiting WA’s top attractions like Wave Rock, whale-watching, and cave-experiences to name a few – so the kids will be kept busy!
Grab a Guide
Want a break from driving? There are plenty of guided wildflower tours (walking or coach) in WA to suit all needs – from photographers and wildflower enthusiasts to general nature lovers. You’ll have the chance to learn more about wildflowers from local experts.
Take a Hike
Or you can go bush and take your family to WA’s world-class walk trail The Bibbulmun Track –walking a section with kids is a great way to encounter wildflowers and experience bushwalking at the same time. The Bibbulmun Track website has tips for walking with kids, and a variety of events for all ages and fitness levels including the Wildflower Wander hike and Bibbulmun Blossom walk. A guide detailing over 300 of the most common wildflowers found along the track is available and a handy companion (“Wildflowers of the Northern Bibbulmun Track and Jarrah Forests”).
Hit the Books
If you’re after a more scientific approach to wildflower viewing, check out FloraBase where you’ll find a searchable database of over 23,412 of Western Australia Flora, with detailed descriptive information.
Finally, a few quick tips to help protect the wildflowers for the future: please don’t pick wildflowers, and make sure to always observe signs and stick to marked tracks. Remember…
While you’re out and about hunting wildflowers, don’t forget to take a camera!
Want to head out caravanning this wildflower season? Click through to our post here for some inspiration.
We hope that’s enough to get you started on a wildflower adventure – have a bloomin’ good time this wildflower season!