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Sabrina Hahn reveals the best spots to enjoy Western Australia’s wildflowers this spring

Headshot of Jade Jurewicz
Jade JurewiczThe West Australian
Explore the State to enjoy what wildflowers are on offer, including the Royal Hakea.
Camera IconExplore the State to enjoy what wildflowers are on offer, including the Royal Hakea. Credit: Sabrina Hahn

From August to November Western Australia is alive with wildflowers, as every part of the State has its own distinctive species that can be found nowhere else in the world.

The diversity of flora is astonishing, with many wildflowers unique to a particular soil type, climate, or topography.

WA is a big State and there are many places to wander, from Esperance to the Coral Coast and inland to the Wheatbelt and Goldfields. Drive-yourself tours are hugely popular and give people the option of immersing themselves in the country and camping out a few nights under the stars.

The South West is probably the most visited area for wildflower tours, particularly for orchid hunters.

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The Golden Outback, Wheatbelt Way and Coral Coast self-drive wildflower tours give visitors the opportunity to experience being in the bush and the vastness of the landscape. There are helpful maps and information on where to stay on the wildflower trail websites. It pays to book ahead, as accommodation and camping sites may be limited in some areas.

The Nannup Flower and Garden Festival kicked off on August 12 with a variety of guest speakers, workshops, cooking demonstrations and tours over a three-week period.

Ravensthorpe Wildflower Festival is celebrating its 40th anniversary until September 25 with a cracker list of events and more than 600 wildflower species on display. Scheduled to run over 13 days, visitors have the chance to guided by experts through the magnificent landscapes and flora in the Ravensthorpe shire which includes the Fitzgerald River National Park. Four-wheel-drive tag-along tours, guided walks through the Fitzgerald River National Park with the ranger, art workshops and photographic exhibitions, geological tours and much more will be on offer.

The Esperance Wildflower Festival is another not-to-miss festival running from September 20 to 24 featuring a display of 500 local species, Noongar plants and culture sessions, art competitions and displays, and guest speakers.

Katanning Bloom Festival runs from September 17 to October 16 and focuses on the wildflower tapestries and town cultures that make up this amazingly diverse region. Each year the Bloom Festival consists of a whole month of activities across 21 towns. The festival encompasses more than 30 events and displays, catering for an estimated 15,000 visitors, a mix of locals, and visitors from around the country who come to enjoy what nature and our passionate communities have to offer.

Tip

Check the websites for each region to see what’s flowering where and book into workshops and tours early to ensure a place.

3 jobs to do

1. Select summer and autumn flowering bulbs, plant into improved soil with slow-release fertiliser and mark the spot so you don’t forget and plant over them.

2. Japanese flowering quince shrubs are in flower now and can be grown from hardwood cuttings. They come in red, pink, and white.

3. Wattles are a fast-growing space filler and attract pollinators. Most of the WA species are small and hardy. There are many to choose from for winter/spring colour.

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