For a strictly limited season you can view the world’s largest collection of wildflowers each spring in the Wheatbelt Way.
1. How is the wildflower season shaping up in the Wheatbelt Way?
This year the wildflowers are out now and there is plenty to see right now! Carpets of pink and white everlastings can be found across the Wheatbelt Way as well as a wide variety of orchids and many trees and shrubs coming alive and colorful in bloom. BUT…..This weeks (9th September 2019) forecast hot weather of over 30 degree temperatures will see many of the everlastings and orchids wilt and wither away fast.
Spider Orchids
2. What is the best time to come?
Late July – the end of October. Early in the wildflower season around the end of July, if you go fossicking you can find the winter orchids emerging at the base of granite outcrops and then as the weather warms up in August and September the bush will begin to bloom. The time to visit is right now!
Grevillea trachytheca (Vanilla Bush)
3. Where are the best spots in the Wheatbelt Way to see wildflowers?
The Wheatbelt Way region has many spots to find and enjoy wildflowers. Some key sites can be found along the Wheatbelt Way Self Drive Trail and include:
- Dowerin – Minnivale Town site Reserve;
- Wyalkatchem – Yorkrakine Rock and Korrelocking Reserve;
- Koorda – Mollerin Rock;
12 August Update: Debbie Depaizzi posted the images belows of carpets of white everlastings north of Koorda on the Bonnie Rock-Burakin Road.
- Bencubbin – Marshall Rock;
- Beacon – Billiburning Reserve and Datjoin Rock;
5 August Update – north of Beacon around Lake Moore and north on the Mouroubra Road initial scatterings of White Everlastings are starting to flower in areas of bushland.
12 August Update – Orchids are out at Datjoin Rock, local enthusiast Ursina Gringer has found Spiders, Fairy Orchids, Pink Candy Orchids and Sugar Orchids have been sighted here.
15 August Update – other sites around Beacon to see wildflowers from Dulcie at the Beacon Central Visitor Centre.
- At CLEARY ROCKS & TANKS going towards Paynes Find there are the Ribbon Pea flowers getting ready to bloom with the white and pink everlastings.
- Clafferty’s Soak no access for caravans but small vans cars can park up and people can take a walk along the path, follow path and have a great natures walk looking out for wild orchids, pink and white daisy everlastings and cream white pompom everlastings.
- Christie’s Tank ,access for 4×4 drive and caravan parking or resting spots, take a walk on the wild side of Beacon go through the gates or follow the pipe line and you will find beautiful formations of granite rocks creating an encatchment for rain also the very creative wall built many years ago still stands today doing a great job catching rain water follow this wall and a great walk around the encatchment is to be enjoyed. Wild flowers such as wild orchids , everlastings and great collection off trees and shrubs to be admired.
- Yellari Reserve, great drive and very caravan friendly picnic spot, bird watching for the patient, bush turkey and red breasted robin have said to have been spotted in this area. Beds of white everlastings is so beautiful swaying in the breeze, great photographs can be taken. Two great Ganama holes are there which is very interesting to watch with tadpoles having a lazy swim.
26 August Update – Beacon Guided Bus Tours – Every Tuesday during September and 1st October 2019. View the wildflowers, do some bird watching and enjoy a BBQ lunch. $40 per person, Book now at Try Booking here!
- Mukinbudin – Weira Reserve;
- Westonia – Sandford Rock;
6 August Update – The spider orchid, white & blue fairy orchid, donkey orchid and even hooded orchids have been spotted, just outside the entrance to the Caravan Park, along Wolfram street towards the cemetery. Follow the Woodlands & Wildflowers heritage walk to find a variety of orchids and everlastings. 14km from town find at Sandford Rocks (on Boodarockin Rd) Spider, Ant, Hooded, White/Blue Fairy, Donkey Orchids and Everlastings. At Boodalin Soak (off Stoneman Rd) on Entry has Spider, Ant Orchids.
- Nungarin – Talgomine Reserve;
14 August Update – The Nungarin Shire and Community Resource Centre have a local map pin pointing where current wildflowers can be seen.
- Trayning – Billyacatting Hill Nature Reserve.
26 August Update – When heading to Billyacatting Reserve, go via Kidd Road and Yarragin Rock to view the spectacular carpets of pink everlastings scattered across the landscape just as you turn off the Kununoppin-Mukinbudin Road. Please be mindful that these are located on private property and show your respect by viewing only from the roadside. Please do not enter onto private property.
The best way to ensure that you do go to the best spots when you are in the region is to call into the local Visitor Information and Community Resources Centres in each of the towns. Here locals will have the current local knowledge to tell you where to go as well as maps and brochures on how to find the best wildflowers that day/week. Some of the Community Resource Centres even have local herbariums on display for you to look at and help identify plants. Though out September the Dowerin Community Resource Centre will be hosting guided Wildflower Walks at Minnivale – keep an eye out for these events.
4. What sort of flowers will people see when they visit?
It would be impractical to write a total list of plants that will be flowering in the region as it would be far too long! The Wheatbelt Way is located within one of Australia’s 15 biodiversity hotspots and contains many of Western Australia’s threatened and endangered flora and fauna. Some Orchid (Caladenia sp) and Wattle (Acacia) flower as early as April and May. In normal seasons with good opening rains set the district up for a brilliant display of wildflowers including masses of white, pink and yellow Everlastings (Rhodanthe sp and Waitzia sp), up to 20 varieties of orchids and many bigger trees (Eucalyptus sp) and shrubs such as Wattles, Melaleuca, Hakea, Grevillea, and climbing clematis vines. Acacias and Allocasurinas are a feature around the granite rocks. Calothamnus quadrifidus provides a great display of red one-sided flowers and as does Leptospermum erubescens with its show of pink and white. If you keep your eyes open you may see the upside down pea bush with red flowers or the critically endangered Wyalkatchem Foxglove. Even if at first you think that the wildflowers are not prolific when you come to an area, get out of the car, have a fossick around and you will be surprised with what you will find.
Please Note: During wildflower season which typically runs from mid/late July to October, the wildflower information is regularly updated on our website so be sure to check back regularly or call one of our visitor information centres for current local information.
This page was last updated on 9 September 2019.
Wildflowers are seasonal and exact varieties are dependent on prevailing weather and climatic conditions.
