Perth Wildflower Trails

Mention wildflowers and most people think of Western Australia – and it’s no wonder. With up to 12,000 species found within its borders and many unique to the state, Western Australia’s wildflower season draws visitors from all over the world. And, the best bit is you don’t have to travel far from Perth city to enjoy all the delights wildflowers can offer.

Begin your journey in the heart of Perth at the much-loved Kings Park and Western Australian Botanic Garden, alive with colourful plant and bird life. Follow nature trails or relax in tranquil picnic surroundings as you savour Perth’s spectacular floral treasures. Make sure you have your camera for the Park’s natural vantage point offering sweeping views across the city and Swan River to the gently rising Darling Escarpment which frames Perth’s eastern horizons.

It’s a pleasant drive up the Sunset Coast, with its white beaches, to Yanchep. For snorkelling and pristine beaches, take a ferry day trip to the unique environment of Rottnest Island. Then a short journey east takes you into the forested hills of the Darling Range, known as the Perth Hills, where several national parks and reserves are situated among towering jarrah and marri trees.

En route take in the picturesque Swan Valley – Perth’s premier food and wine destination and Western Australia’s oldest wine region. In addition to award winning wines, the Swan Valley produces a wide range of delicious fresh produce and there are an endless number of breweries, distilleries, restaurants and art galleries for you to visit.

Around the Dwellingup and Serpentine areas follow bushland and forest walks to discover a myriad of orchid and wildflower species that thrive in the region. Cool and peaceful picnic areas along the way encourage you to take a break before marvelling at the rich natural environment and unique heritage of the region’s national parks.

Perth and Surrounds Wildflower Trails:-

Kings Park & Western Australian Botanic Garden
Yanchep National Park
Whiteman Park Recreation and Conservation Reserve
Noble Falls – Walyunga Drive
F.R. Berry Drive
John Forrest National Park
Perth Hills
Ellis Brook Valley & Sixty Foot Falls
Wireless Hill Park
Rottnest Island
Jarrahdale and the Serpentine National Park
Dwellingup and the Scarp Road Oakley Dam
Yalgorup National Park

When and where do the wildflowers bloom?

Most Western Australian wildflowers bloom in late winter or early spring, from July until September. Some species require more warmth for growth and therefore bloom in late spring during the months of October and November. Each of the wildflower trails below boast unique wildflower species due to variances in environmental elements such as soil type, local fauna, the broader plant system, geological structure and, most importantly, the weather.

Click here for a comprehensive Wildflower Directory

Kings Park & Western Australian Botanic Garden

Features: Kings Park is a wonderful starting point to familiarise yourself with Western Australia’s abundant and diverse flora. The park covers 400ha of natural bushland with lush parkland areas. The main entrance via Fraser Avenue is an enchanting drive through towering lemon-scented gum trees. Wildflowers abound and can be found within the Botanic Garden or in the bushland areas.

The Lotterywest Federation Walkway should not be missed with its enthralling tree top walk that provides picture-postcard views of the beautiful Swan River and the city skyline. The Pioneer Women’s Memorial Fountain is a great place for a picnic. There are several picnic areas scattered throughout the park, as well as free barbeques.

Flora: At the Botanic Garden, wildflower enthusiasts can see more than 1,700 native species of wildflowers in a 17ha area. There’s also an endangered flora garden, and no visit is complete without seeing the Acacia Steps, the Banksia Gardens and the Water Garden.

Yanchep National Park
51km north of Perth

Features: Known as Perth’s natural and cultural meeting place, Yanchep National Park offers daily tours of Crystal Cave, Aboriginal cultural experiences, boat tours on Lake Wagardu, a stunning array of spring wildflowers and cultivated native gardens.

Enjoy barbecue and picnic facilities, row boat hire, scenic walk trails, koalas, kangaroos and an abundance of other native animals and plants. Entry fee applies at Yanchep National Park.

Flora: Tuart trees, Banksia, one-sided bottlebrush ,yellow buttercups, blue flowering, Hardenbergia, parrotbush, honeymyrtle, grass trees and the Yanchep rose.

Whiteman Park Recreation and Conservation Reserve
18km north east of Perth

Features: Located just a short 25 minute drive from the centre of Perth, this reserve is picturesque bushland covering an area of more than 4200 hectares (over 10,000 acres) with nearly half of this classified as high value conservation bushland or wetland.

An extensive network of trails complete with interpretive notes enables those on foot or using pedal power to cruise the park. A wide range of activities are available such as playgrounds, sporting facilities, picnic shelters and BBQ facilities. Watch artisans at work or browse the variety of shops in the village or enjoy a train ride through native bush, over bridges and down to Mussel Pool.

Visit the Caversham Wildlife Park which is located within the reserve, to see and touch native animals such as Australian Koalas and Kangaroos in their natural habitat

Flora: Marri, jarrah, pricklybark and Banksia, together with Hibbertias and grass trees.

Noble Falls – Walyunga Drive (53km)

Travel the Perth - Toodyay Road. Turn left into O’Brien Road. Travel 16km to Walyunga Lookout

Features: Enjoy sweeping views from the lookout and a walk trail to the Avon River before continuing on Clenton and Berry Roads. Turn right at Toodyay Road to Noble Falls.

Flora: Discover 12 beautiful orchid species, as well as Hakeas, Grevilleas, Isopogons, Petrophiles, triggerplants, and Verticordias.

F.R. Berry Drive

Travel east along Toodyay Road for 38km towards Gidgegannup. Turn left into Reen Road, travel 8.5km to F.R. Berry Reserve, which is signposted on the left

Features: There are beautiful walk trails and picnic facilities, as well as granite outcrops and waterfalls which run in winter. To reach the Noble Falls Picnic Area, travel 5.5km and turn right into Berry Road, then right into Toodyay Road.

Flora: Discover several vegetation communities including wandoo, marri, jarrah and paperbark. Wattles, hibbertia, blue Lechenaultia, Melaleuca, Grevillea, Darwinia, Hovea, kangaroo paw and orchids are all common.

John Forrest National Park

Travel 28km east of Perth on the Great Eastern Highway

Features: Sweeping views across to the city can be enjoyed from an excellent lookout area, and you’ll be amazed at the wonderful mix of wildflowers in bloom all year round. The interestingly named twenty-eight parrots are regularly seen in the park. Visits to Hovea Falls, Rocky Pool and National Park Falls are recommended. This is the state’s oldest National Park.

Flora: Towering jarrah and marri dominate the upland areas, with flooded gums and paperbarks along Jane Brook. The understorey is a treasure trove of Banksia, wattle, Hakeas, Grevilleas, Dryandras, Pimelea, myrtles, triggerplants, kangaroo paws and blue Lechenaultia.

Perth Hills

The Darling Range – 30 minutes east of the city

Features: Forest areas with jarrah, marri, flooded gums and forest life abound in this popular region for nature lovers. The Perth Hills area incorporates five National Parks including John Forest National Park. Worthwhile places to visit include Lake Leschenaultia, Mundaring Weir, Kalamunda National Park and Lesmurdie Falls National Park. Walk and cycle trail maps are available from Mundaring Visitor Centre, and guided wildflower walks are conducted during September and October.

Flora: Discover a profusion of wildflowers such as grass trees, kangaroo paws, Hakeas, Grevilleas, wattles, orchids and peas.

Ellis Brook Valley & Sixty Foot Falls

Travel 17km south east of Perth on Tonkin Highway. Turn left into Gosnells Road East and follow signs to Ellis Brook Valley on Rushton Road

Features: Hidden Valley with four separate walk trails from wheelchair accessible to challenging. See a rich wildflower display with more than 550 nspecies of flowering plants, plus 116 bird species including the blue wren and wedge-tailed eagle. The Sixty Foot Falls are spectacular after winter rains and offer fantastic views of the city and coastal plain.

Flora: Each trail has a different experience and the heathland and wandoo woodland ecosystems create a striking palette of colour with mass displays of Verticordia, Lambertia, Nuytsia (Christmas tree) and orchids.

Wireless Hill Park

South of Perth, off the Canning Highway towards Fremantle

Features: This 40ha of natural bushland is full of wildflowers in spring. From here it’s a short drive down the Canning Highway to the historic and lively port city of Fremantle, with its distinctive architecture, markets, and vibrant café lifestyle.

Flora: Stroll among kangaroo paws, catspaws, Lechenaultia and grass trees.

Rottnest Island

A ferry trip from Perth, Fremantle or Hillarys Boat Harbour

Features: Rottnest, or Rotto to the locals, is 11km long and 4.5km wide and is home to the famous small marsupial the quokka, unique flora and some of the world’s finest beaches and bays, providing a spectacular venue for snorkelling, scuba diving, surfing and swimming. Many tours and activities operate throughout the day, or hire a bike and head off around the island. Rottnest Island is ideal for a day trip, or stay longer in a range of accommodation.

Flora: About 1,500 native species flourish on the island, including the Blue Rottnest daisy, Rottnest Island pine and Rottnest Island tea tree (Melaleuca).

Jarrahdale and the Serpentine National Park

South Western Highway

Features: Take a trip to the heritage listed town of Jarrahdale where you can enjoy the many walk and hike trails or join guided walks held on weekends. Continue to Serpentine Falls and Serpentine Dam through the Darling Range for spectacular scenery of jarrah forests and water features.

Flora: Wattle, kangaroo paws, Hakea, Hardenbergia, Chorizema, Verticordia and orchids.

Dwellingup and the Scarp Road Oakley Dam

Depart Jarrahdale along Kingsbury Road, rejoin South Western Highway to North Dandalup, left onto Del Park Road

Features: At Dwellingup visit the Forest Heritage Centre and its Australian School of Fine Wood. Contact the Dwellingup History and Visitor Information Centre for the best places to see beautiful wildflowers.

Flora: Blue squill, tiny star and donkey orchids, golden Dryandra, sea-urchin Hakeas, yellow and pink Verticordias, red bottlebrush and orange/lemon scented Darwinia.

Yalgorup National Park

Travel the Old Coast Road to Preston Beach Road

Features: Occupying a narrow strip of coastal land, this park protects 10 lakes, which harbour a large variety of bird life and amazing thrombilite living fossils. The park has several easy walks, and is known for its spectacular variety of vegetation and diverse geographical features, towering tuart trees, limestone ridges and wetlands. It is a paradise for birdlovers and wildflower enthusiasts alike.

Flora: Hibbertia, pink fairy orchids and cockies tongue.