Goodbye winter, hello wildflowers! Escape the cold with a Coral Coast wildflower road trip
From late July to early October, the rugged landscapes of WA’s Coral Coast become a technicolour floral wonderland – with thousands of unique species of wildflowers, half of which can only be found in the region.
And with the first blooms spotted bursting from their buds from Kalbarri to Carnarvon, Western Australia’s 2024 wildflower season has officially kicked off!
We’re ditching the grey skies and city pavement for red dirt and stunning blooms – hitting the road and heading on some wonderful wildflower road trips.
11 Day Ultimate Wildflower Trail
This epic 11-day adventure will have you exploring the Coral Coast from top to bottom, showcasing the region’s spectacular, changing landscape and varied blooms.
Spanning from Perth all the way to Exmouth, you’ll travel through changing landscapes, fields of everlastings, hunt down rare orchids and pass by lavender and pink-hued Mulla Mulla. Make sure to allow extra time to appreciate the underwater blooms of Ningaloo reef’s technicolour coral, and maybe a restorative soak in the Peron Homestead’s natural artesian spa.
6 Day Coastal Charm Wildflower Trail
Sun, sand and spectacular blooms! This six-day trail spans from Perth through Cervantes, Dongara, Kalbarri, Geraldton and Mullewa, focusing on the pristine coastline along the Indian Ocean Drive.
Along with a wealth of coastal stops perfect for a refreshingly salty dip, this trail is perfect for wildflower appreciators who don’t mind swapping their wheels for a pair of hiking boots, with heaps of scenic wildflower trails to explore on foot.
5 Day Mid-West Gascoyne Trail
This five-day trail hits some of the Coral Coast’s most iconic landmarks – making its first stop at Geraldton, the vibrant hub of the region. From there, you’ll head into the vast expanse of Kalbarri National Park: a mind-boggling 180,000 hectares, from breathtaking coastal cliffs to vast sand plains and dramatic gorges on the Murchison River, and one of WA’s most impressive wildflower hotspots.
Venturing further north, you’ll then stop in at Shark Bay and Monkey Mia – home to the Coral Coast’s famously friendly dolphins! Then put aside plenty of time to explore the breathtaking expanse of the Francois Peron National Park – if you’ve got a 4WD, head into the northern portion of the park to enjoy the vibrant purple of Dampiera, Shark Bay daisy and purple peas, as well as the golden glow of wattle.
4 Day Wildflower Country Long Weekend
As vast as WA’s wildflower territory is, it doesn’t have to be a huge undertaking to appreciate its beauty – in fact, a long weekend is enough time to take in some of the Coral Coast’s most beloved and vibrant wildflower hotspots! Like your first stop of this four day itinerary in Mingenew, the heart of wildflower country, followed by a stop in at Coalseam Conservation Park to see carpets of spectacular everlastings, then Mullewa for its impressive and rare Wreath Leschenaultia. Your final day will be dedicated to Lesueur National Park: home to over 820 species of flora, it’s one of the most diverse locations for wildflowers in WA!
3 Day Everlastings Trail
While there’s hundreds and hundreds of breathtaking wildflower species along the Coral Coast, the sight of fields of endless everlastings contrasted with vibrant red dirt is practically synonymous with WA wildflower season.
This three to four day trail will have you heading to charming inland towns like Coorow, home to not just everlastings but petite Pink Fairy orchids, or to Carnamah – surrounded by fields of everlastings, it’s also the only place to find the endangered Carnamah Bell. As well as passing through favourite wildflower destinations Coalseam Conservation Park and Mullewa (known for those iconic wreath flowers), your final stop will be in Kalbarri – stop in at Northampton’s Elephant Lookout to spy wild orchids, or trek along the wildflower-lined trails of the Kalbarri National Park’s dramatic coastal cliffs.
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And remember:
Wildflowers are heavily dependent on weather conditions and rainfall and can vary seasonally. Before heading out we highly recommend you contact the relevant Visitor Centres on your journey.
Finally, it’s important to keep memories only as photos on your phone! Picking of wildflowers is illegal and can attract a $2,000 fine.
Head to the Australia’s Coral Coast website for more spectacular wildflower itineraries through our north west.
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This article is sponsored by Australia’s Coral Coast and endorsed by us. Please see our Editorial Policy for more info.