8GreatEscapes - 8. Very Wild Flower Trail... : DriveWA

8. Very Wild Flower Trails - northbound to the flowers and sunshine.

8GreatEscapes » 8. Very Wild Flower Trail...

Western Australia is a world class wildflower destination and they are everywhere if only you do a bit of research on the Internet to discover which ones you want to see and when. You can go north, south, east and west - there are even some at Rotto - but Rottnest is probably not a self drive destination so not directly the subject of one of the 8greatescapes - although we dont believe that any visit to Perth or WA is complete without a trip to Rotto for a couple of days.

But back to the wildflowers - we recommend you do some serious research and look at:

http://www.wildflowerswa.com to get some ideas but our favourite is the Everlastings Trail and of course we put a bit of our own twist to it.

Of course when you look at this itinerary it has a lot of the Swans escape to Ningaloo about it and you should look at that itinerary perhaps to give you some ideas for your wildflower escape.

You drive into one of WA's most spectacular wildflower areas when you take a leisurely drive north. This is a wonderful opportunity to experience the Indian Ocean Drive that meanders up the coast from Perth to Cervantes, Jurien Bay and Leeman.

The other option is to travel via the inland Brand Highway route. The Everlastings Trail makes its way through areas ablaze with colour, often stretching lazily as far as the horizon. For many, this is the wildflower viewing they’ve always imagined.

Visitors travelling inland will marvel at the wide variety of everlastings in this region. The stirring sight of vast displays of massed radiant colour among trees and bushland is a common occurrence on this interesting journey. Wildflower lovers and keen photographers will go home with endless exquisite memories.

Everlastings Trail - Must do and see

Walk amongst The Pinnacles - limestone formations which reach up to 5 metres tall, in the Nambung National Park

Take a tour to see the sea lions at Fisherman’s Island, south of Green Head

Walk the Dongara-Denison Heritage Trail and the Irwin River Nature Trail

Visit the Fisherman’s Lookout at Port Denison or sweeping ocean views

Discover Mullewa’s giant, colourful murals which adorn the townsite

Explore the Morawa Museum with it’s old gaol and courthouse and a collection of windmills

Look out for a wide selection of native birds at Perenjori and have a relaxing picnic at the man-made lake

Take in the wildflower and farming views at Buntine Rocks, 16 kilometres north of Wubin

Take a New Norcia guided walking tour

Explore the Chittering Valley Wine trail, a 76 kilometre loop passing through Bindoon

this region.

The stirring sight of vast displays of massed radiant colour among trees and bushland is a common occurrence on this interesting journey.

Wildflower lovers and keen photographers will go home with endless exquisite memories.

1 Brand Highway and Indian Ocean Drive.

From Perth travel the Great Northern Highway and the Brand Highway.

Alternatively, drive through Banksia woodlands via Wanneroo/Lancelin Road, Military Road, Gingin Brook Road

Features: Drive under a canopy of large red gums along Dewar Road and see the

red and green kangaroo paw display at the Gingin Cemetery or enjoy a picnic among

paperbark trees at Granville Park by the Gingin Brook.

From October, see the unique golden bloom of the Western Australian Christmas Tree in Moore River National Park and stop for a picnic under flooded gums along the Moore River, at Regan’s Ford.

Everlastings Trail - Roadside Everlastings, near Three Springs

Walk amongst The Pinnacles – unique limestone formations rising up to 5m tall in Nambung National Park

If you enjopy wildlife as well as wildflowers it is a good idea to take a tour to see the sea lions at Fisherman’s Island, south of Green Head.

Walk the Dongara-Denison Heritage Trail and the Irwin River Nature Trail - Visit the Fisherman’s Lookout at Port Denison of sweeping ocean views

Discover Mullewa’s giant, colourful murals which adorn the townsite and explore the Morawa Museum with it’s old gaol and courthouse and a collection of windmills

Look out for a wide selection of native birds at Perenjori and have a relaxing picnic at the

man-made lake - Take in the wildflower and farming views at Buntine Rocks, 16km north of Wubin

Take a New Norcia guided walking tour and explore the Chittering Valley Wine trail, a 76km loop passing through Bindoon

Flora: Find open-branched Dryandra kippistiania under wandoo woodland at Red Gully.

2 Badgingarra National Park North on the Brand Highway

Features: Overlooking low undulating plains with scattered scrub, this park boasts extensive wildflowers in spring. Experience this wonderland on the interpretative 2km Badgingarra Nature Trail, located on the eastern side of the park. Pick up details at the Badgingarra Roadhouse.

Flora: Black and yellow kangaroo paws, purple starflower and mottlecah – the

largest Eucalypt flower. Travel west to Cervantes to join the Indian Ocean Drive or head north on the Brand Highway.

3 Leseur National Park

This 27,000ha park ranks as one of the important reserves for flora

conservation in WA with much of its exceptionally diverse flora found nowhere else in the world. Embark on a scenic drive or walk trail to Mount Lesueur to discover

the wildflowers and magnificent views. An 18km one way sealed loop road is accessible off Cockleshell Gully Road.

Flora: There are 11 regionally endemic plants. Look out for honey bush (Hakea), cork mallee,

the unusual propeller Banksia, large magenta starflower and the Lesueur Hakea.

4 Lake Indoon 10km west of the Brand Highway

Features: The reserve surrounding this popular freshwater lake features elegant Banksia with lime-yellow flowers. Wildflowers abound alongside the Brand Highway between Eneabba and Dongara. Guided wildflower walks leave from Western Flora Caravan Park, 22km north of Eneabba.

The well-known Banksia hookeriana from this area is exported worldwide.

Flora: Orange Banksias, umbrella and white plumed smokebushes, and red hairy

Lechenaultia around the Arrowsmith River.

Roadside wildflowers, Coalseam Conservation Park Pink Everlasting

5 Travel from Eneabba north towards Dongara, then east to Mingenew

Features: Located north west of Mingenew, from August to November, this reserve’s wildflower displays make for a colourful stopover.

Flora: Dense shrubland, softening in spring with the pretty pink and white flowers of Thryptomenes and Scholtzias.

6 Coalseam Conservation Park Between Mingenew and Mullewa

Features: This park’s acacia shrubland, with its sparse understorey, comes alive with

‘everlasting’ wildflowers after good winter rains. Named for the coal seams that can be

seen in the riverbed, marine fossils are exposed along the banks of the Irwin River.

Flora: Wildflowers of all varieties are in abundance, and wattle shrubs shade everlastings

that include the brilliant pink Schoenia.

7 Mullewa - Wubin Road

Travel from Mullewa to Tardun, Canna, Morawa, Perenjori to Wubin

Features: Drop into the Canna Landmark for local wildflower information.

Flora: Sprawling carpets of sensationally coloured everlastings continue to delight travellers along this route. Native foxglove proliferate beneath yellow wattles.

8 Victoria Plains

Features: Old Plains Road, from south of New Norcia to the north of Toodyay, has the

reputation as one of the most picturesque and pleasant rural drives in the state.

Flora: Many wildflowers can be seen, including blue Lechenaultia,grass trees and yellow Dryandra.

9 Bindoon

86km north of Perth on Great Northern Highway

Features: Bindoon, in the beautiful Chittering Valley, boasts an array of

beautiful wildflowers. There are tours, bush walking and arts and crafts.

View the rare and endangered sun star orchid (Thelymitra stellata) at the Chittering Wildflower Show.

Flora: Spider orchids, Lechenaultia, fringe lilies, kangaroo paws and Banksia.

Everlastings Trail Map Reference Points

1 Brand Highway and Indian Ocean Drive

2 Badgingarra National Park

3 Lesueur National Park

4 Lake Indoon

5 Depot Hill Reserve

6 Coalseam Conservation Park

7 Mullewa - Wubin Road

8 Victoria Plains

9 Bindoon

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8. Very Wild Flower Trails - northbound to the flowers and sunshine.

Everlastings Trail - Must do and see

1 Brand Highway and Indian Ocean Drive.

2 Badgingarra National Park North on the Brand Highway

3 Leseur National Park

4 Lake Indoon 10km west of the Brand Highway

5 Travel from Eneabba north towards Dongara, then east to Mingenew

6 Coalseam Conservation Park Between Mingenew and Mullewa

7 Mullewa - Wubin Road

8 Victoria Plains

9 Bindoon

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