Wildflower hotspots 2008
This year is set to be a bumper wildflower season due to a mixture of natural bush fires and a good rainfall.
The following are testimonials from locals in the know as to where and what are the key 'Wildflower Hotspots' on Australia's Coral Coast this season.
Please note, this page is regularly updated with current wildflower information from the region.
The Pinnacles
On the way into the Pinnacles of Nambung National Park is a beautiful spectacle with masses of yellow, low growing wattle shrub as far as the eye can see.
Sally Palmer, Massayo Smith, Nicole Haug and Holly Tate
WA Visitor Centre Staff & Australia's Coral Coast Staff
19 of August 2008
Tour with: Turqouise Coast Enviro Tours
The carpets of wattle above that were seen on the Pinnacles Drive and the coastal areas were mostly "Prickly Moses" and the majority of this has now finished flowering. However, their place has been taken by several other species of Acacia and things are still very "golden around here. Interspersed amongst the wattles on the road verge to the Pinnacles there is a lot of blue "fan flower" that gives some lovely contrasts. Along the same road there are some very nice displays of the pink/white "Rose Banjine" and the fruits of the "Quondong" are now starting to ripen. The brilliant red fruits amongst the light green leaves makes for a great photo.
Further inland, a lot of what you could see in August has now finished although we are now seeing lots of "Purple Enamel Orchids" in selected areas. It might be possible to find the occasional Spider or Donkey orchid but unlikely. There should be several of the "Sun Orchids" flowering now.
There is also a lot of blue "Leschenaultia" and "Hovea" out and these, as well as a few other species, are easily seen from the road. However, as always, it is best to get out, get down and get amongst it all if you want to see the real gems.
Mike Newton - Turquoise Coast Enviro Tours
22 September 2008
Green Head and Leeman
The Wildflowers along the coast near Green Head and Leeman are still great, either sides of the road also Mt. Leseur. The Inland has great Everlastings still around Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, along the side of the road, under trees and around the scrub, most paddocks are sown withn wheat! It is all at it's peak now at this end of the Coral Coast.
Belinda Mc Donald
Maccas Mooring B&B - Tel: 99531 481
15 September 2008
Eneabba Road
The following flowers can be seen growing along the roadside a short walk into the bush:
- Granny’s bonnet
- Golden conostylis
- Pea flower
- Sundew
- Buttercup
- Claw flower
- Hakea
- Acorn banksia
- Menzies banksia
Sally Palmer, Massayo Smith, Nicole Haug and Holly Tate
WA Visitor Centre Staff & Australia's Coral Coast Staff
19 of August 2008
Tour with: Turqouise Coast Enviro Tours
Bee Keeper's Nature Reserve
Accessed only by 4WD you will spot wildflowers throughout the resesrve including:
- Lobelia
- Green Spider Orchid
- Sundew
- Parrot bush
- Flag flower
- Thryptomene
- Kangaroo paw and cats paw
- Smoke bush
- Scarlet feather flower
There are many hives located here, owned by Perth honey producers, so be careful of bees in the area.
Sally Palmer, Massayo Smith, Nicole Haug and Holly Tate
WA Visitor Centre Staff & Australia's Coral Coast Staff
19 of August 2008
Tour with: Turqouise Coast Enviro Tours
Stockyard Gully National Park
Cockleshell Gully Road leads you to the Stockyard Gully Reserve 20Km inland of Leeman. Accessible by four wheel drive only, be sure to take your torches and explore the fascinating, ancient below-ground river system of the Stockyard Gully Caves. Also found in Stockyard Gully Reserve are the following wildflowers:
- Flag flower
- Lobelia
- Grevillea
- Cockies tongues
- Arrowsmith spider orchid
- Sand plain Cyprus and Zenia (cycads)
Sally Palmer, Massayo Smith, Nicole Haug and Holly Tate
WA Visitor Centre Staff & Australia's Coral Coast Staff
19 of August 2008
Tour with: Turqouise Coast Enviro Tours
Lesueur National Park
The park is one of the most important areas of wildflower conservation in the state and home to 900 species of native flora. There are spectacular views from the elevated land down towards the Indian Ocean and out as far as Green Head, with low scrub on the hill’s and larger trees in the valleys including river gum, mallee, eucalyptus, red gum and coastal blackbutt. Some fauna can be seen from the road, but generally walking a short distance from the vehicle will be advised (2WD). Well worth a visit!
The best time to visit the park is in September but there is something in flower all year round, during August these include:
- Hovea
- Cocky’s tongue
- Murchison darwinia
- Kangaroo paws
- Buttercups
- Synaphia
- Claw flower
- Leucopogon
- Pimelea
- Sundew
- Spider orchid and red spider orchid
- Lesueur southern cross (declared rare fauna)
- Green hood orchid
- Milkmaids
- Hakea
- Running postman
- Blue beard orchid
- Stockhausia
- Parakeelya
- Stirlingia
- Lobelia
- Scarlet feather flower
- Dryandra
- Winterbell
- Wattle
- Smoke bush
- Surry and rice
- Native foxglove
- Blue tinsel lily
- Pincushion isopogon
- Star flower
- Astroloma
- Pea flowers
- Propeller banksia
- Large numbers of grass trees
Sally Palmer, Massayo Smith, Nicole Haug and Holly Tate
WA Visitor Centre Staff & Australia's Coral Coast Staff
19 of August 2008
Tour with: Turqouise Coast Enviro Tours
Mingenew
- Mingenew Hill – green orchids
- Nanekine Road – pink everlastings, yellow pom poms and green orchids
- Coalseam Road – blue enamel orchid, pink everlastings, thryptomene and yellow pom poms.
Sally Palmer, Massayo Smith, Nicole Haug and Holly Tate
WA Visitor Centre Staff & Australia's Coral Coast Staff
19 of August 2008
Tour with: Turqouise Coast Enviro Tours
Coalseam Conservation Park
Located 29 km out from Mingenew, and well worth a visit, you can camp here also. There are many varieties of wildflowers here but the large areas of yellow pom pom everlastings are eyecatching, with a some pink everlastings also.
Sally Palmer, Massayo Smith, Nicole Haug and Holly Tate
WA Visitor Centre Staff & Australia's Coral Coast Staff
19 of August 2008
Tour with: Turqouise Coast Enviro Tours
Eneabba
The best rain has fallen in this area for 6 years so the response of the wildflowers is nothing less than amazing! The Orchids have had the best reaction so far, 2 species have flowered already and finished, flowering now are the Donkey Orchids in numbers never seen before, the size of the flowers and plants, to say the least are large! Bluebeard Orchids are also in good numbers. Lots of Green Hood Orchids can also be found. Many other Orchids are in bud, so in the coming weeks it will be really good for Orchid hunters.
The following is a list of plants that are flowering now around the Eneabba area, with a lot more to come over the next four months:
- Drosera Insect Eaters
- Cats Paws
- Red and Green Kangaroo Paws
- Smoke Bush
- Banksias
- Hakeas
- Grevilleas
- Blue Squill Lilly
- Yellow Guinea Flowers
- Wax Flowers
- Thryptomene
- Scholtzia
- She Oaks
- Many different Pea Flowers
- Wattles in many shapes colours and sizes
- Conostylis – Cotton Heads
- Lechenaultias
And many more amazing and colourful wildflowers
Allan & Lorraine Tinker
Western Flora Caravan Park
Website: members.westnet.com.au/westernflora.tinker/
Located: Brand Hwy 22km North of Eneabba on the Northern Heathlands
01st of August 2008
Dongara (inland areas)
Beautiful swathes of yellow and white Pom Pom's, white Splendid and pink everlastings, Billy Buttons and White Mulla Mulla flowering through the bush from Morawa to Yalgoo, particularly good near Barong Station and Wuraga.
Lovely displays of wreath flowers on the side of the road 10kms north of Pindar.
Hilary Colero - Rockpool Beach House Dongara
15 September 2008
Geraldton
Some beautifull wildflower display were seem on the weekend. The pink everlastings seen from the road north of 80km north of Geraldton on N W Coastal Hwy, making Geraldton the perfect place to base a stay in the region for the wildflower season.
Flowers were sighted around Riverside Sanctuary: Posy Everlasting, Yellow Everlasting, Four O'clocks, Yellow Everlasting Daisy with Swan River Daisy. Everlastings were also sighted near the remains of the Galena Lead Minel.
Renee Carrington-Twiss - Intown Apartments, Geraldton
06th of August 2008
Kalbarri
Most annuals are blooming now - dominant show of white everlastings and pom-poms, various other annuals including pink and yellow everlastings, purple swan river daisies, yellow cornflowers and pink parakeelya. Perenials flowering include:
- Acacias
- Hakeas
- Cassias
- Grevilleas
- Sand Plain Heath
Fleur Grieve- Riverside Sanctuary
07th of August 2008
After some great rainfalls (8 inches, or 200 mils so far) we are experiencing one of the best seasons in quite some time here at the Kalbarri Wildflower Centre.
Calitrix (pink Starflower), Thryptomene (pink and purple myrtle) and Sholtzia uberiflora (showy Sholtzias) are in full bloom, Wattle and Vanillabush are not far behind… And then there are our Orchids- another week or so and they will put on the most amazing show!
Our front garden is a sea of colour and our 1.8 kilometre trail is nature at its best- untouched and unbelievable! Most of our flowers are labelled for easy identification!
To suit the enthusiast or the amateur…
Tim & Julia Woodcock – Kalbarri Wildflower Centre
2nd of July 2008
Summer rain and reasonable winter rain should bring flowers to the shrublands of the Northern Sandplains in spring and early summer.
Annual everlastings should be good in August in the north of the Mid West. Keen observers should be well rewarded.
Bob Porter- Riverside Sanctuary
2nd of July 2008
Exmouth
One of our crew went on a tour with Ningaloo Safari Tours and discovered there are plenty of magnificent wildflowers currently flowering in Cape Range National Park.
Victoria Casey - Three Island marine Charters, Exmouth
28th of July 2008
Driving along the North West Coast Highway from Canarvon to Exmouth many flowers were sighted on either side of the road: Mulla Mulla and Sturts Desert Peas were sighted and various Wattle.
Jackie Tapper - Ningaloo Lodge Exmouth
21st of July 2008