As “the best wildflower show in a decade” continues to wow visitors to Western Australia, it seems now is the time for the Wheatbelt to bloom.
A huge array of wildflowers have been spotted in the last week, including the super-rare wreath flower near Pindar in the northern Wheatbelt. The Everlastings are usually at the top of people’s wish list when it comes to wildflower spotting, but the wreath flower comes in at a close second.
The wreath flower, or Leschenaultia macrantha is a WA treasure, laid out in exquisite rings, often laid neatly over the gravelled surface of the roadside. Each one is made up of dozens of flowers with frilled petals of red, white and pink. It’s such an unusual sight to see these amazing displays seemingly in the middle of the roadside.
Wreath flowers have been spotted 12km north of Pindar, although the locals there say there are lots of plants too, so in another week or so (early-mid September) there should be a quite spectacular display.
The Wheatbelt Way is also bursting with colour and life, from Dowerin and Koorda, through to Mukinbudin and Westonia. At Tin Dog Creek Reserve, many species including Mulla Mulla, Acacia, wattle, Banded green hood Orchids, Hibbertia, Damperia and Fringed Lily have been spotted. Mukinbudin to Bonnie Rock is also a great place to see a variety wattle, senna, hakea, quandongs and some purple dampiera.
On and around the rocks at Wattoning, we have seen Beringbooding and Weira, purple calytrix, yellow hibbertia and red flowering kunzea. If you head to Beringbooding Rock, which is about 70km north east of Mukinbudin, you will be rewarded with the pink tea tree, Acacia’s, Grevillea’s Hakea’s, Calothamnus, Eromophila, Cassia, Quandongs, Sandalwood and the native orchids all in flower. There are a number of self drive trails on the Wheatbelt Way, so there’s sure to be one that suits you.
Further south, near Bruce Rock in the Wheatbelt, there are even more rare and spectacular species on show. Around the Bruce Rock Reserve, local tour guide Kylie Whitehead from Kilbarelli Tours, has seen donkey orchids, spider orchids, bacon and egg plants, sundews and red bonnets popping up to greet the Spring sunshine.
Kylie said: “The season is just beginning but we’re already spoilt for choice here in the Wheatbelt. If you haven’t seen the wildflowers before THIS is the year to come and explore. You won’t be disappointed. Just driving round the reserve I’ve seen mallee gums flowering, star-leafed Grevillea, Pink Pokers, and purple Mirabilia. I predict in about 3-6 weeks’ time you will be able to see Native Foxgloves, Flame Grevillea, Yellow Logania and Everlastings.”
Bruce Rock is on the Pathways to Wave Rock trail and also takes in other places like Narembeen, Kulin, Lake Grace, Wave Rock and Corrigin. These areas are famous for their orchids, and we’ve been told that Narembeen is currently teaming with them! In the last week we’ve seen Snail Orchids, Spider Orchids, Donkey Orchids, Sugar Orchids and Clown Orchids! These have been spotted on the Narembeen-Corrigin Road and also along the railway line on the Kondinin Road. Pink Everlastings are starting to flower and bushes along the roadsides are coming into bloom, it’s expected they will be at their best in a couple of weeks’ time.
How to do it
We have heaps of self-drive itineraries for the entire Wheatbelt region. Pindar and Mullewa are about a 5 hour drive from Perth, so the perfect place for a weekend or week-long road trip. If you’ve got a weekend to fill, the Pathways to Wave Rock is a great road trip and takes in Bruce Rock. If you fancy heading out for a day from Perth, try the closer Wheatbelt towns like Dowerin or Merredin.
We regularly update our website with LIVE sightings across our entire region, from the, Wheatbelt, Gascoyne Murchison, Goldfields and right down to Esperance and the Fitzgerald Coast, so keep an eye out for the latest news and before packing up the car for your wildflower adventure. You can also find amazing Wheatbelt Wildflower updates on the Central Wheatbelt website.
If you’re planning a trip into WA this Spring, be sure to download the wildflower guide and incorporate a little bit of flower spotting into your journey!
We are also running our wildflower photography competition this Spring! So, if you do snap any beautiful wildflowers, be sure to upload them to our website to be in with a chance of winning $500!