Spend a day wandering among the wildflowers
Japan has its cherry blossoms, Amsterdam flourishes with tulips, and Provence, France lights up with lavender fields. Here in Western Australia, we’re famously known as wildflower country. And rightly so.
WA has the most wildflowers in the world – over 12,000 species, with almost two thirds unique to WA, and there’s lots of ground to cover. What you see can vary each year depending on the weather, and given our bumper winter rains, this wildflower season could be one of the best yet!
The best time to explore this natural phenomenon

Wildflower season in WA begins around August and goes right through until October or early November.
The mid-west towns of Moora, Morawa, Mullewa, Mingenew, Perenjori and Wubin are regarded as the heart of wildflower country, but what you might not know is just a short drive from Perth is where you’ll find some hidden and colourful wildflower hotspots blanketing the Peel region.
Right now is when the Peel region starts to bloom. As a biodiversity hotspot, you can expect to see a vivid display of colourful species including a wide variety of acacia and native orchids. And you don’t need to be a nature expert to appreciate how spectacular it all is.
Where to spend a day wandering the wildflowers

While you can see WA’s wildflowers come alive with colour almost anywhere you go – roadside kerbs, bush trails, driving past paddocks and coastal dunes, the best way to get up close to nature is on a walking trail. And if a day trip is on the cards, the national parks surrounding Mandurah is your best starting point. They’re easily accessible – no equipment or 4WD access required, just a good pair of sneakers, a map, camera, plenty of water and snacks and you’re good to go!
You can explore on your own, or take it all in with an expert guide on a Salt and Eco Bush wildflower tour, with half-day or full-day tours available.
If you decide to go it alone, below you’ll find a few locations we’ve curated from our friends at RAC Travel. But if you want to know where the current wildflower hot spots are, we recommend downloading the wildflower tracker app when it becomes available – very soon we’re told! Sign up to find out when it’s released, but in the meantime, you can also check out the 2020 wildflower sightings as a rough guide.
Before you head off, we also recommend stopping by one of the nearby visitor centres for tips on which areas are in full bloom.
Mandurah and the Peel region is a Biodiversity Hotspot with an abundance of species to discover.
Book a tour with Salt & Bush Eco Tours. This is literally your golden opportunity to immerse yourself in nature because owner and tour guide Jamie van Jones won GOLD at the national Top Tour Guide Awards and was named ‘Australia’s best tour guide’. Salt & Bush Eco Tours will share their favourite wildflower locations and explain the ecology, geology and factors that make this place so unique.
The Estuary Walk
Where: Len Howard Conservation Park, Len Howard Drive, Erskine, Mandurah
Distance: 6km
Walking duration: 2 hours
How to get there
Follow the Old Coast Road 5km south from Mandurah to Erskine. Turn left into Wattleglen Avenue, then right down Silverton Crescent until you’ll reach Len Howard, Conservation Park.
Wildflower species to look out for
Native wisteria, cowslip orchids, blue lace flowers, white myrtle sprawled amongst larger wattles, tuarts and paperbarks. The shores are likely to be lined with banksias, flaxes and rushes.
Beacham Reserve Walk
Where: Wanjeep Street, Coodanup, Mandurah
Distance: 2km
Walking duration: 1 hour
How to get there
This triangular park in Mandurah has paths around the outside and one running straight through the middle. Exit off Mandurah Road onto Coodanup Drive, then take a right onto Wanjeep Street until you reach Beacham Reserve.
Wildflower species to look out for
Bee orchids, spider orchids, donkey orchids and green hood orchids, banksias, wattles, native wisteria and buttercups.
Island Point Walk
Where: Island Point Nature Reserve, Southern Estuary Road, Herron
Distance: 4km
Walking duration: 2 hours
How to get there
Take the Southern Estuary Road and exit on Island Point Road. The tracks at Island Point Nature Reserve are designed for easy walking at any level.
Wildflower species to look out for
Spider orchids, enamel orchids, cowslip orchids, banksias, native buttercups and wisteria. The best time for viewing is late September – October.
Harvey River Walk Trail
Where: Corner Forrest Highway and Dorsett Road, Waroona
Distance: 2km return
Duration: 1 hour
How to get there
Exit Forrest Highway onto the Dorsett Road turnoff, where you’ll find the John Tognela rest stop. While it looks like a fenced-off area, the gate provides access to the trail.
Wildflower species to look out for
Cowslip orchids, spider orchids, wattles and Swan River myrtle. Keep your eyes peeled; you may even spot some fauna!
Serpentine National Park Wildlflower Trail
Where: 100 Falls Road, Serpentine
The Serpentine National Park is located 38kms north east of Mandurah. The park protects nearly 4300ha of land which is home to a diverse range of vegetation and wildlife. The park is particularly spectacular during spring when the wildflowers are in bloom. Follow the Serpentine River where you’ll see Wattle, Kangaroo Paws, Hakea, Hardenbergia, Chorizema, Verticordia and Orchids.
Heathland Walk Trail
Where: Yalgorup National Park, Lake Preston, off Preston Beach Road, Old Coast Rod, Preston Beach
Duration: 1 -2 hours (1.5 kms)
Be amazed by excellent displays of plants of the coastal heathland. Templetonia, purple tassels, native buttercups, catspaws, melaleucas, grevilleas and banksias.
Lakeside Loop Walk Trail
Where: Mt John Rd, Heron
This 2-hour walk explores the Lake Clifton area. An easy five kilometre loop walk runs parallel to the eastern shore of Lake Clifton. The vegetation consists of paperbarks, melaleucas, peppermint trees, tuarts and honeysuckle. The largest community of living Thrombolites can be seen at the start of the walk, from a boardwalk over Lake Clifton.
Lane Poole Reserve Dwellingup
Where: Located seven kilometres south of Dwellingup
Lane Poole has four trails which allow you to explore more than 500 species of wildflowers. This spectacular conservation area has an old growth forest of Jarrah and Marri as well as Wandoo Woodlands. The bushland in this area is abundant with wildflowers in Spring.
The Bibbulmun Track passes through the reserve with shorter trails available including King Jarrah, Island Pool and Nanga Brook trails. Don’t forget to explore the Interpretive Centre in Dwellingup to learn more about forest resources, animals, wildflowers and walk trails.
Wildflower season. It’s just another way you can be relaxed by nature in Mandurah. We’ll see you soon!
