Western Australia’s Wildflower Holiday Guide Launched

Western Australia’s annual wildflower season is about to spring into life – and to help tourists make the most out of it, Tourism WA has launched its Wildflower Holiday Guide.

The Guide outlines the best places to view wildflowers, as well as information about self drive routes and tours.

There are up to 12,000 species of wildflowers found within Western Australia and many are unique to the state.

The wildflower season ranks as one of Western Australia's most fascinating and precious natural treasures.

Rains and sunshine greatly influence the timing of the wildflower season, causing it to span several months and regions.

Wildflowers begin to bloom in northern regions in June or July, while the season extends to November in the south.

Species found in the north are also vastly different to those found in the south where warmer conditions produce a new collage of colour.

The northern areas are home to a range of coastal and inland wildflowers, but they are perhaps best known for the everlastings.

Fields of these lollipop-shaped flowers in yellow, pink and white are often found along road verges. The 186,000ha Kalbarri National Park teams with wildflowers and visitors can expect to see kangaroo paws, Banksias, eucalypts and Grevilleas.

The town of Kalbarri sits on the banks of the 80km Murchison River which carves through the rugged gorges of the National Park and provides excellent bushwalks and scenic lookouts.

Further north is the pristine Shark Bay World Heritage Area and the Cape Range National Park.

As well as the friendly dolphins of Monkey Mia, visitors can also see a large variety of wildflowers, such as wattles, Hakea, Dampiera, purple peas and Shark Bay daisies.

Inland from Exmouth and the pristine Ningaloo Reef are the awesome gorges of Karijini National Park.

Wildflowers such as yellow native hibiscus, bluebells, sticky cassia and native fuschias dot this area.

Wildflowers are also found in the inland Goldfields area with everlastings, Acacia, Hakea and Sturt’s desert pea, common.

A wide range of rare and unique flora can be found in the southern regions.

Dainty flowers such as orchids, milkmaids, honeypots, free kangaroo paws and mountain bells give colour to the green fields.

An incredible 150 different species of orchids are found in the south and a great variety is seen nestled among the tall timber forests around Pemberton and Manjimup.

The region is also home to around 80 species of carnivorous plants such as the Albany pitcher plant and mistletoes including the bright orange Western Australian Christmas tree.

While a trip into regional areas is a great way of experiencing Western Australia’s wildflower season, visitors need only go as far as Kings Park in Perth during September to view a wide selection.

The annual Kings Park Wildflower Festival celebrates the beauty and diversity of the state’s wildflowers.

The Park’s 400-hectare Botanic Garden has more than 1,700 native species and more are grown in display glasshouses and an endangered flora garden

Late winter and spring are the perfect times to experience Western Australia’s wildflowers.

Whether you want to explore in your own vehicle, or join a guided tour, the Western Australian Visitor Centre can help you get the most out of your wildflower experience.

For a copy of the Wildflower Holiday Guide contact the Western Australian Visitor Centre on 1800 812 802 or down load it from the web site at:

http://www.westernaustralia.com/en/Brochures/Wildflower+Holiday+Guide.htm