hero media

This is how to plan a WA wildflower road trip, according to experts

Australian Traveller Australian Traveller
Professional photographers and road-trip enthusiasts Charlotte and James Maddock give Australian Traveller their top tips for experiencing WA’s wildflower season at its best.

Every spring, Western Australia erupts with colour, fragrance and, of course, adventure. Wildflowers bloom in the thousands and a good old-fashioned road trip beckons. We’re no stranger to a road trip, having explored all corners of our great state by road over the last decade – from crossing the never-ending Nullarbor in the south to traversing the iconic Gibb River Road in the north. But wildflowers offer something different, something unique: unexpected joy in the most unsuspecting of places.

We’ve always found ‘the journey is the destination’ to be somewhat of a cliché – quietly wondering where these people are travelling to if it’s not the ultimate highlight of the trip. But a wildflower road trip opened our eyes, and not just figuratively. Everywhere you look is like a painting, and we constantly fight the urge to pull over time and time again. Our trusty kombi is the perfect companion – slow, steady and always up for an adventure.

Where should people start?

woman looking out of van window at the wildflowers, WA
Cruising the back roads of Morawa as Western Australia’s landscape explodes with colour. (Image: Charlotte & James Maddock)

The ideal starting place is WA’s aptly coined ‘Wildflower Country’ – designated as the nine local government areas from Moora to Mullewa. The whole region is bursting with thousands of species of wildflowers, including the iconic and resilient wreath flower. Coalseam Conservation Park is also a must-see; the whole area covered with carpets of flowers and designated walking trails to take you up close and personal.

a woman walking along Coalseam Conservation Park
Walking trails at Coalseam Conservation Park slice through nature’s colourful display. (Image: Charlotte & James Maddock)

From here, we ditch the bitumen and embrace the adventure, following unassuming dirt roads into the heart of Western Australia’s outback. North of Pindar lies the most exquisite display of wreath flowers you will find anywhere in the world. They sit, totally unassuming, crowding the roadside far from civilisation.

carpets of pink everlastings at Eaglestone Rock, WA wildflower season
Eaglestone Rock provides the perfect backdrop to carpets of pink everlastings. (Image: Charlotte & James Maddock)

It becomes a ritual to stop at each country town, and not just for their bakeries. The wildflower enthusiasts in the visitor centres know all the best spots and gleam with pride when giving you a mud map, photocopied and annotated with nothing but love. This information is essential for those hunting the more elusive wildflowers, such as the donkey orchids or spider orchids.

a couple having a picnic at Irwin Lookout, WA
Picnic dreams from Irwin Lookout while surrounded by a rainbow of blooms. (Image: Charlotte & James Maddock)

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

AI Prompt

Where can people stay?

a van parked in a field of wildflowers in WA
The vibrant colours of wildflowers contrast with the red earth of WA’s outback. (Image: Charlotte & James Maddock)

Personally, we are drawn further east to WA’s Wheatbelt where the crowds get smaller, the distances longer and granite outcrops scatter the landscape. The water runoff from dramatic rock formations causes wildflowers to grow in abundance and provides the perfect backdrop for photos. The local shires here also allow free camping, so we can snap away at dusk and dawn. Our favourite spots are Eaglestone Rock in Nungarin, Datjoin Rock in Beacon and Elachbutting Rock in the Shire of Westonia.

Charlotte & James Maddock at Beringbooding Rock, WA wildflower season
Add Beringbooding Rock to your wildflower itinerary. (Image: Charlotte & James Maddock)

Evenings at these campsites are the highlight of our road trip, as we capture the wildflowers among the setting sun before lighting a campfire for the evening. Is there a better feeling than sharing stories by the fire in the middle of the outback with just the sounds of the bush and billions of stars twinkling above? We don’t think so.

driving through Mullewa’s wildflower country
Drive through Mullewa’s wildflower country when it is awash with colour. (Image: Charlotte & James Maddock)

Our road trip mantra has always been to leave no trace, but it’s even more vital in wildflower season. We watch our every step, sticking to existing paths and taking only photos (lots and lots of them). It’s on us – all of us – to leave this colourful painting exactly as nature intended it.

campfire at Datjoin Rock
Evenings around the campfire at Datjoin Rock, one of many free campsites in the Golden Outback. (Image: Charlotte & James Maddock)

Top tips from the experts:

  1. The season typically starts late July in the Gascoyne region, with the blooms moving southwards through the Wheatbelt in late August/early September, and then through to the South West in late September/early October.
  2. The visitor centres (there’s usually one in every town) have the best handle on what’s blooming and where the hotspots are. They often compile and release weekly reports on their websites.
  3. Embrace the power of social media. Thousands of enthusiasts share their experiences and photos to dedicated wildflower Facebook groups. These posts can provide live reports on bloom activity.
  4. Be careful when pulling over to the side of the road, especially on highways.
  5. Pack antihistamines, which are useful on windy days.
  6. Please tread carefully, follow existing paths and do not pick the wildflowers.
Charlotte & James Maddock enjoying the wildflower season in WA
Wildflowers grow in abundance in the ‘Wildflower Country’. (Image: Charlotte & James Maddock)

For more WA road-trip adventures, follow @cjmaddock on Instagram

Want to see more stories from Australian Traveller in your Google search results?

  1. Click here to set Australian Traveller as a preferred source.
  2. Tick the box next to "Australian Traveller". That's it.
Australian Traveller

Australian Traveller

View profile and articles
This WA town’s most endangered local is Australia’s new Big Thing
WA

This WA town’s most endangered local is Australia’s new Big Thing

Meet one of our latest Big Things – with an even bigger purpose.

Read more
Hiking on Rottnest Island in spring
Rottnest Island

WA’s best-kept travel secret is visiting this summer hotspot in spring

Everyone knows Rottnest Island in summer, but almost nobody knows Rottnest Island in spring.

Read more
WA’s newest Trail Town is home to 100km of forest tracks 
South West WA

WA’s newest Trail Town is home to 100km of forest tracks 

Offering world-class walking and cycling trails through native forest, plus a brand-new MTB park, Nannup has been named WA’s third official Trail Town.

Read more
Veranda Suite on Seabourn Pursuit from the Kimberley Coast
Kimberley

This Kimberley expedition cruises to disappearing reefs, ancient rock art and waterfalls

Exploring the Kimberley coast onboard Seabourn Pursuit from Darwin to Broome lets you witness the region’s most hard-to-reach marvels, then return to your floating luxury retreat.

Read more
hero media

Australia’s second-oldest wine region is also one of its best, but you may not have heard of it

(Image: Tourism Western Australia)

    Kate Bettes Kate Bettes
    Continue
    A 25-minute drive from Perth is all you need to be amongst generations of grape growers. 

    You might not know Swan Valley, but the vines here twist through almost 200 years of history. Today, plump grapes are still plucked, pressed by juice-stained hands and fermented into wine – a journey led by the same families who will pour it into your glass. And with that first taste, you’ve unknowingly become part of a generations-old tradition. 

    So, sit back and take a sip of a crisp white under that sun-speckled pergola and listen to the warbling of magpies – here’s what makes the Swan Valley so special. 

    Western Australia’s oldest wine region 

    Mandoon Estate bathed in the warm glow of sunset.
    Sip your way through Swan Valley’s rich wine heritage. (Image: Tourism WA)

    In 1829, the very year Europeans settled in Perth, the first vines were planted in the Swan Valley. Later, Croatian and Italian migrants blended their southern European winemaking traditions into the local viticulture, a combination that works so well in the Mediterranean climate here. 

    The result today is crisp, tropical Verdelho, dark, fruity Shiraz and plenty of Chenin Blanc – a third of the country’s Chenin Blanc is crushed here. 

    So where to start uncorking? Mandoon Estate has an Aboriginal art gallery and a sculpture trail, where you can taste an Indigenous food platter of smoked crocodile and emu sausages. 

    For a taste of the valley’s Italian heritage, head to Pinelli Estate Winery. Or, for something indulgent – and a little unusual, considering the inland location – RiverBank Estate Winery serves lobster straight from tanks, paired with that Chenin Blanc. 

    If you prefer something stronger in your glass, Talijancich Wines knows a thing or two about fortified drops: try its aged tawny, Muscat and liqueur Verdelho. 

    Sensational dining 

    A beautifully presented dish paired with champagne.
    Pair great food with a scenic winery setting. (Image: Tourism Caversham)

    The Swan Valley follows that great Australian wine-country tradition, with everything from unfussily fantastic pub meals and beer gardens to unexpected fine dining at cellar doors. 

    Start at Edgecombe Winery, which does brunch as well as drops. Their brioche French toast with raspberry and rhubarb coulis, poached pear and roasted pistachios will taste best when you’re perched at a table outside. Don’t forget to explore their orchard and wetland afterwards. 

    Pick up a box of freshly baked macarons from Maison Saint-Honoré (bien sûr) before heading to Valley Social for a North American barbecue-inspired feed. Chow down on beef brisket burnt ends and wash them down with a hemp-infused craft beer. 

    Baskerville Tavern is brewing beer again in the former Feral Brewpub. Order their Monday special – a classic chicken parmi – and try Slumdog Brewing’s regular range, including a tart blueberry sour made with fresh and freeze-dried berries. In winter, it’s time for their seasonal seven-malt stout, with notes of dark chocolate, coffee and caramel. 

    An unbeatable visitor’s centre

    In Guildford is the Swan Valley Visitor Centre in a restored 1866 courthouse. Its award-winning staff know everything about anything happening in the Swan Valley. Pick their brains (and pick up a free map) before setting off. But, check out the centre’s Welcome to Country mural by local Whadjuk artist Chloe Caylon first. 

    Scenic drives 

    Use that handy Visitor Centre map to get a bit of everything on the Swan Valley’s 32-kilometre scenic loop, which connects over 150 attractions. Think roadside produce stalls, art galleries and historic buildings. Just remember to organise that designated driver if you’re extra keen on the vineyard stops. 

    Other drops 

    If the thought of wine makes your temples pulse, there are plenty of other tipples to tickle your fancy. Txoko Brewing in Baskerville takes its name from a Basque gathering place for cooking, drinking and socialising. Work through its rotating beers and plates of Spanish croquettes and sardines, then settle on the grass while the kids let off steam in the playground. 

    AmberChes Spirits Distillery uses locally sourced botanicals and fruit to make saltbush gin, lemon myrtle gin and Gincello, a twist on limoncello. Try its award-winning sloe gin, which was named Australia’s best at the 2025 Gin Guide Awards. Better yet, have a go at making your own in a hands-on gin-blending and distilling class among the vines. 

    Historic architecture and an arts scene 

    Traditional art celebrating First Nations culture.
    Explore the stories behind the Swan Valley. (Image: Tourism WA)

    Next: Guildford. It is one of WA’s earliest colonial settlements – but the history here goes back much further. The Whadjuk Noongar people are the land’s Traditional Custodians, whose Dreaming tells of the Wagyl serpent creating the gum tree-lined Swan River. Today, Guildford’s original town layout remains largely unchanged. Follow one of four heritage walks past 19th-century buildings, galleries and James Street’s antique shops. 

    Take home pantry staples 

    The display counter at Margaret River Chocolate Company.
    Treat yourself to a chocolate-filled detour. (Image: Tourism WA)

    Sometimes the little stops are just as good as the big hitters. Pull over at Margaret River Chocolate Company for free tastings of white, milk and dark chocolate. Then stop by Harvey Cheese Swan Valley for Lemon Myrtle Ash Brie or St Duke’s Red. End at The House of Honey, where you can sample local honey and get buzzy on honey ice cream pancakes. 

    Nature and wildlife 

    A close-up of a koala in its natural habitat.
    Add a little wildlife adventure. (Image: Tourism WA)

    If the kids have had enough of winery lawns, save the bottles for later and head to Caversham Wildlife Park. Here, you can hand-feed kangaroos and meet koalas and wombats. Catch working sheepdogs and sheep-shearing demonstrations at the Farm Show. Elsewhere in Whiteman Park, hop aboard a vintage train or tram, or cool off in the splash pool. 

    Finish at Bells Rapids, where fuchsia grevillea, crimson bottlebrush and yellow wattles bloom each spring. 

    Start planning your culinary escape at swanvalley.com.au.