Winter brings memories of drab, dull, and bleak views. However, this is not the case in Western Australia. Here, winter breaks all stereotypes. From June until September, over 12,000 wildflower species bloom across the state. Discover how winter in Western Australia is outrageously unique from anywhere else.
You can start trekking the trail to Ningaloo Reef, where you can go swimming with whale sharks and go snorkeling to see tropical fish and coral. Take pictures of these colorful flowers for permanent mementos in Kalbarri National Park, near Geraldton, or in Kings Park in Perth. Discover the charm of the waves, caves, and wineries of Margaret River. Have a leisurely walk with them through karri forests on the Bibbulmun Track or marvel at their diversity from Albany. Engage yourself in refreshing wildflower day walks, participate in longer tours or have fun with the locals celebrating the blooms at any of the many festivals.
If you’re in for some action, go four-wheel driving from Broome to the Pilbara, where flowers are put on spectacular displays in June. Just after the initial tropical rains, native hibiscus, bluebells, sticky cassia, mulla mulla and native fuchsia start springing forth from the dusty red soil. Go camping in national parks such as Karijini, where you will discover rock fig, lemongrass and silver cadjeput under the waterfalls and beside the cool, deep rock pools.
Over 630 species of wildflowers bloom across Cape Range starting July. You can go bushwalking, rock climbing, and four-wheel driving in Cape Range National Park, where ancient red gorges join daisy-dotted dunes and clear, blue seas. During winter, the temperatures here average 25 degrees and in July, you can still go swimming with huge whale sharks in Ningaloo Reef. After you’ve had your fill of wildflower views, you can go snorkeling from the beach to Ningaloo’s hyper-colored coral and try to catch some game from Coral Bay.
In August, the best place to head first is Kalbarri National Park. During this time, the banksias, grevilleas, kangaroo paws and red-blossomed eucalypts are on display. One can go bushwalking, rock climbing or canoeing while admiring these flowers. Peek through the red rock frame of Nature’s Window as you go along your way.
In early September, the sleepy state’s south-west wakes up with grand, Picasso-style strokes. Enjoy the month-long wildflower festival in Perth’s Kings Park, where almost 1,700 native species spring to life. From here, go to Margaret River, where wineries are complimented by crashing waves, underground caves, and majestic jarrah, marri and karri forests. Engage in a tour or bushwalk where you can spot purple tassles, fan-flowers and flame peas. Halfway through this month, you will be able to admire the rare and delicate orchids at the Margaret River-Augusta Orchid Show.
Wildflowers extend their charm to south along the coast, where at many places the South West Drive and Bibbulmun Track intersect. Journey through karri forests and be surprised with pink boronias and yellow buttercups from Pemberton. You can gape in awe at this marvelous carpet of flowers after climbing the skyscraping Gloucester Tree with metal spikes. From Albany, you can indulge in a wildflower walk around the granite domes of Porongurup National Park and drop by Fitzgerald River National Park, which houses over 1,800 species of flowering plants. Feast your eyes on coastal wildflowers scattered across the granite peaks and heathlands of Cape Le Grand National Park, near Esperance. If you are an indoor person, take pictures of the display of more than 400 wildflower species at the Esperance Wildflower Festival in September.
Your winter does not have to be a blue one. You can choose to immerse yourself in the exploding wildflower trails of Western Australia and make your winter a rainbow-colored one.
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