Every spring, Western Australia’s wildflowers put on an epic display that dazzles visitors across the Golden Outback - though each year is a little different.
While Western Australia usually plays host to one of the best wildflower seasons in the world, there are a lot of factors that go into making a good wildflower season in WA - from the temperature to the rain, whether it was an early or late autumn or winter, and a whole bunch of other things. Yet, though some seasons are amazing, and others are not quite so epic, each has its own charms, and given that the region is so big, chances are that somewhere in the Golden Outback there are incredible wildflowers just waiting for you to visit them.
Throughout the upcoming season, we will collate the best information that we have, bringing you insight from all across the Golden Outback. We know where to start looking for flowers and all the secret wildflower hotspots where they bloom year on year on year, so check back for wildflower updates throughout spring.
Wildflowers in the Golden Outback
You can also check out our other wildflower pages where you can learn all about wildflower season in Western Australia all year-round:
• Outback Wildflowers gives you a great overview of what to expect, month by month
• Where to See Wildflowers delves in deep about the best places to see wildflowers in the Golden Outback.
• Outback Wildflower Trails has all your wildflower road trip and tour itineraries and info
• Wildflowers of the Outback is where you can discover more about the Golden Outback’s most popular native wildflowers
WA’s Wildflower Tracker
Another great way to keep track of how the wildflower season is progressing is by downloading Western Australia Visitor Centre’s Wildflower Tracker app - a crowd-sourced map-based wildflower report that gives you flower news and updates from across the state, so you can plan your trip accordingly.
Follow AGO on social media for the latest updates
You can also follow Australia’s Golden Outback on Facebook and Instagram for information on the upcoming season’s progress.
When to see Wildflowers in 2022?
Depending on how winter progresses, we can expect to start seeing wildflowers popping up out of the rust-red ground in the Gascoyne-Murchison towards late July. The best time for seeing wildflowers up here is between August and early September, but they can be a little fickle if it isn’t a wet enough winter - as can the flowers in the Goldfields, which are usually in full bloom by mid-August and continue through until October.
The best places to see wildflowers in the Golden Outback tend to be the Wheatbelt and around Esperance and Fitzgerald River, where winters are usually a little wetter. Wildflower Country in the Wheatbelt usually blooms with the canola, around mid-August to September and extends into October, while the Southern Outback Coast is in its prime from September to late Oct/early Nov.
Predictions for the 2022 Wildflower Season in WA
Autumn is off to a slightly late start, but we’ve had a few wet days so we’re feeling hopeful and have our fingers crossed for another bumper season like 2021!
Wildflower Report - November 2022
By November, WA’s wildflower season is usually starting to wind down, but you might still be able to catch the last glimpses of colour down around Esperance and the Fitzgerald Coast before summer truly starts to set in.
Still, we can’t complain too much - we do love our sunny summer days AND there’s still plenty to look forward to, like WA’s native Christmas Trees, which bring a touch of festive cheer to the Golden Outback, even after the wildflowers have long faded. And even then, there’s always next year… Fingers crossed it’ll be another good’un!
Wildflower Report - October 2022
In a typical year, October is the southern outback’s time to step into the spotlight. Up north in the Gascoyne-Murchison the blaze of glory is starting to look a little less glorious, while the Goldfields is looking decidedly more lacklustre.
Still, it isn’t all doom and gloom, the carpets of everlastings may be over for another season, but the orchids and verticordia are still out in the Wheatbelt, with Wongan Hill’s Reynoldson Reserve Festival Weekend to look forward to (dates tbc - it can sometimes be pushed to November, depending on the season).
The wildflowers in the Wheatbelt are usually still pretty good in October too - especially down south - so it’s the perfect time to get out and do a wildflower road trip. Check out the 7-10 day Esperance Wildflower Explorer, where you can hit all the wildflower hotspots in one fell swoop before the end of wildflower season 2022.
Kukerin - October 2022
A variety of plants and colours have been found around Duggan in Kukerin. Varieties include Grevillia, Leptospermum and Calothammus.
Wildflower Report - September 2022
September is usually the best month to see wildflowers in WA, when almost all the state is in bloom simultaneously! It’s prime time for wildflower road trips across the Golden Outback, where you can see the carpets of everlastings, wreath flowers and verticordia in the Wheatbelt - while the famous canola flowers paint the hills yellow.
September also plays host to Wattle Week Festival, Dalwallinu, when the streets come alive in bright and beautiful wattle. While down on the south coast, wildflower season is welcomed in with the Esperance Wildflower Festival and the Ravensthorpe Wildflower Show & Spring Festival (all dates yet to be confirmed).
Dalwallinu - September 2022
A range of wildflowers are popping up all around the Shire of Dalwallinu. Click here for the full report.
Menzies - September 2022
Lots of roadside and bushland colour.
Merredin - September 2022
The Merredin Wildflower Drive is brimming with colour including everlastings, ant orchids, blue pincushions and donkey orchids.
Morawa - September 2022
Roadside colour includes wattle, hakea, grevillia, hibbertia, damperia and thryptomene.
Perenjori - September 2022
While the orchids are starting to decline, many other wildflower varieties can be found throughout the area at Back Bowgada Road, Carrawidge Reserve, Caron Dam, Camel Soak and Dam Reserve. Call into the Perenjori Visitor Centre for more detailed information.
Upper Gascoyne - September 2022
Mt Augustus has a beautiful display of mulla mulla as well as banksias and other wildflower varieties
The Kennedy Ranges are filled with colourful flowers throughout. Precautions must be taken if travelling the Kennedy Loop Track, as the 270kms is 4WD only and takes at least two days.
Wongan Hills - September 2022
Flat Rocks Cadoux has a showing of a variety of orchids near the Gnamma hole. Call into Cadoux Traders for more information as well as a coffee or food.
Yalgoo - September 2022
Plenty of roadside everlastings. Find further information at the Yalgoo Caravan Park or Shire of Yalgoo.
Wildflower Report - August 2022
August is usually the best time to see wildflowers in the Gascoyne-Murchison and the beginning of the season in the Goldfields and the Wheatbelt. By the end of August, you can also start to see wildflowers around Perth, so this is a good way to gauge what’s growing out there in the rest of the West too!
One of the best places to see wildflowers in WA is Wildflower Country north of Perth, so keep an eye on predictions up there and from the Visitors Centres around Mingenew and Coalseam Conservation Park, which are filled with carpets of flowers on a good year.
Dalwallinu - August 2022
A range of wildflowers are popping up all around the Shire of Dalwallinu. Click here for the full report.
Morawa - August 2022
The Koolanooka Dam Reserve is on show now with Wiry Everlastings, Spider Orchid and Goodenia.
Spider orchids, a massive patch of donkey orchids, Fringe lillies, Melaleucas and more at Pintharuka West Nature Reserve.
Quairading - August 2022
Found just outside of the Quairading townsite, these wildflowers are simply stunning. Photos by Abi Lee.
Wheatbelt Way - August 2022
Wildflowers can be found all over the Wheatbelt Way, throughout Dowerin, Koorda, Beacon, Westonia, Nungarin, Wyalkatchem, Bencubbin, Mukinbudin and Trayning. For a comprehensive guide please click here. There also a lot of canola flowering within the region - but please remember not to enter a farmer's paddocks.
Wongan Hills - August 2022
Flowering at Christmas Rock, Mt O'Brien, and Railway Dam: Spider Orchids, Ant/Clown Orchids, Blue Beard/Blue Fairy Orchids, Lemon Scented Sun Orchids, Little Laughing Leek Orchids, various Wattles, Yellow Verticordia, One Sided Bottlebrush plus more. Photos by Mel Godfrey.
Lucinda's Everlastings at the Railway Barracks are in full bloom and looking amazing.
Wildflower Report - July 2022
This is usually when we would start to see the first signs of the early wildflowers creeping up in the Gascoyne-Murchison, so we’re keeping our eyes out and doing rain dances across the state to help coax them out.
Mellenbye Station - July 2022
Early rain has seen the everlastings and wreath flowers bloom early across the station.
Morawa - July 2022
Spider orchids, pink candy orchids, blue fairy orchids and a donkey orchid flowering on the Canna Dam orchid walk trail and other places around the Shire of Morawa
Wooleen Station - July 2022
Wongan Hills - July 2022
The Wongan Wildflower Walk is very pretty at the moment with lots still to flower. Pink Pokers are everywhere near Rogers Reserve on the Piawanning/Waddington Road. There are plenty of Jug Orchids and Donkey Orchids in the carpark at Mt Matilda. Christmas Rock Walk will be looking good in a few weeks but it is still a great walk regardless of whether the flowers are out or not.
Wildflower events you might be interested in
Follow the links below to learn more.
Join a Wildflower Tour
While most of the best places to see wildflowers in WA are only accessible by car, if you don’t feel like going solo, you can also join a wildflower tour, with plenty of options available from day trips to week-long adventures.
Follow the links below to learn more.
Wildflowers of the Golden Outback
Western Australia is renowned for its wonderful array of flora with over 12,000 species. Learn more about the types of flora you'll encounter this wildflower season
Follow the video links below to view more.
Western Australia's Wildflower Country
Experience the raw natural beauty, discover a rich pioneering history and enjoy the slower pace of life that Western Australia's Wildflower Country has to offer.
Follow the video links below and discover the amazing attractions of Western Australia's Wildflower Country.