10 stunning wildflower day trips from Perth

By: Ysabel Tang

Western Australia's regional wildflower hotspots are spectacular. But they can be a trek. Luckily, a day is all you need to appreciate wildflowers a little closer to the city.

There are plenty of stunning self-drive wildflower day trips from Perth. Here’s ten of our favourites, all within 100km of Perth CBD.

1. Korung National Park, Canning Mills

Korung National Park (formerly known as Pickering Brook National Park) is a short drive from Perth and features an abundance of native wildflowers in spring. There are several walking trails in the area for all fitness levels.

Explore the Carmel Reserve Short Loop to take in the wildflowers on an easy walk. You’ll spot trigger plants, leafy sundew and leucopogon on this 2.6-km loop trail. The trail starts on Morton Road, opposite the Anembo Road intersection.

The Munda Biddi cycle trail also runs through the park for those who prefer to spot wildflowers at a faster pace.

To get your heart rate up, head to the Lion Lookout trail off Welshpool Road East. Your efforts on this challenging 4-km loop hike will be rewarded with sprays of wildflowers along the trail and a breathtaking view of Bickley Reservoir.

Image credit: Tourism Western Australia and @naturebynathan

2. Beelu National Park, Mundaring

Formerly known as Mundaring National Park, Beelu National Park is a sprawling woodland in the Perth Hills. You can admire wildflowers all over the park, with several trails and picnic spots in the area.

Pack a picnic basket and head out to Pimelea Mycumbene, Grevillea Mycumbene or the Dell. There are plenty of wildflowers to see at these scenic spots. You can also go bushwalking around the area to spy more wildflowers and burn off your lunch.

The Perth Hills Discovery Centre is another great stop while you’re in the area. Starting from the centre, you can hop on the Bibbulmun Track to appreciate the wildflowers of Beelu National Park. This 12.4-km return walk will lead you through jarrah and banksia forest along the side of Helena Valley. You’ll see Lake CY O’Connor, part of the historic Golden Pipeline and end up at Golden View Lookout for a spectacular view of Mundaring Weir.

3. Walyunga National Park, Bullsbrook

Just behind the Darling Scarp lies Walyunga National Park, an 1,800-hectare woodland in the Darling Range. The park is rich in Aboriginal heritage and natural beauty, and is home to kangaroos, birds, and other native wildlife.

The park is one of the largest known Aboriginal campsites around Perth, with archaeological evidence suggesting the site has been in use for more than 6,000 years. Wildflowers bloom along the easy 1.6-km return Aboriginal Heritage Trail, which follows the Avon River between Walyunga Pool and Boongarup Pool.

To explore deeper into the park, continue onto the Syd’s Rapids trail which extends a further 1.7-km (3.5-km return). The 11-km Echidna Trail is another popular route, which loops through the park and passes through marri and wandoo woodland.

All trails start at the Walyunga Pool car park.

4. Serpentine National Park, Serpentine

The spring wildflower displays of Serpentine National Park rival its more famous attraction, Serpentine Falls. This 4,300-hectare national park supports a diverse range of native flora and fauna and is a popular spot amongst wildflower enthusiasts.

The best time to visit is September when the hillsides burst with vibrant native blooms. However, a visit anywhere between August to November will still be rewarded with some great wildflower spotting.

There are several walk trails throughout the park of varying difficulty. Starting from the Serpentine Falls car park, take a 0.4-km walk on the Falls Walk Trail up to the Serpentine Falls viewing platform. From there you can access Kitty’s Gorge Trail and Baldwin’s Bluff Trail, two moderately challenging hikes that offer amazing wildflower experiences in spring.

5. Shire of Chittering

Each spring, Chittering explodes with wildflowers. Whether you’re keen for a walk or prefer to take in views from the comfort of your car, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the area's abundant flora.

On foot, the Djidi-Djidi Ridge Trail is a great way to start your wildflower adventure. This 1.5-km return walk heads up to a lookout for spectacular views of Chittering Valley. The trail is relatively easy, though it has some rough, steep, and slippery spots. On your way to the top, you’ll spot featherflower, native fuchsia, blue squill and many other native wildflowers.

There are also several wildflower self-drives in Chittering. Popular routes include Tourist Drive 359, which will take you through the Chittering Valley and back onto Great Northern Highway.

Image credit: Tourism Western Australia

6. Shire of Toodyay

Toodyay is renowned for its spring wildflowers, with roads well sign-posted so visitors can pull over and admire local blooms.

Dawn Atwell Nature Reserve is one of the best spots to enjoy wildflowers in Toodyay. Access to the reserve is via Julimar Road, where there’s parking and a picnic table.

The 85-hectare reserve supports and protects varied vegetation, from banksia woodland to jarrah, marri and powderbark wandoo. There are more than a hundred species of wildflowers recorded in the reserve, so wildflower enthusiasts will have plenty to see on the many trails in the area. While you wander, keep an eye out for the endangered star sun orchid.

There are several other nature reserves in Toodyay worth exploring. Be aware that most trails aren’t well marked, so be prepared with a map or GPS before you set off.

Image credit: Tourism Western Australia

7. Shire of York

The country town of York is a little over an hour out of Perth and well worth the trip for its many wildflower hotspots. There are several reserves in the area where wildflowers can be enjoyed on foot or from your car.

On arriving in York, head to the York Visitor Centre to pick up wildflower guides and maps. The shire also has a wildflower and bird spotting guide online, which includes a detailed map of the area and location of the reserves.

For professional wildflower hunters, wildflower sightings around York are available on the shire’s website. Here you can find out exactly what species are in bloom and where, based on recent sightings.

8. Ellis Brook Valley Reserve, Martin

Just 35 minutes from Perth, Ellis Brook Valley Reserve is one of the city’s best places to experience Western Australia’s famous spring wildflowers.

Home to more than 550 species of flowering plants, the reserve comes alive from late winter through spring, with orchids, kangaroo paws, everlastings, triggerplants and many other native blooms lining the walking trails.

The reserve features four walking trails catering to a range of fitness levels, including the popular Sixty Foot Falls Trail, which leads to a seasonal waterfall and panoramic views across the valley.

9. Hepburn Heights Conservation Area, Padbury

Hidden among the northern suburbs, Hepburn Heights Conservation Area is one of Perth’s best-kept wildflower secrets. The 22-hectare Bush Forever reserve protects a rare pocket of banksia woodland and comes alive each spring with hundreds of native wildflowers lining its walking trails.

More than 190 native plant species have been recorded here, including colourful orchids, yellow hibbertias, triggerplants, wattles and flowering banksias.

The reserve is also an important habitat for native birds, with Carnaby’s black cockatoos often seen feeding in the banksia trees during wildflower season.

10. Bungendore Park, Bedfordale

On the western edge of the Darling Scarp, Bungendore Park offers one of the most diverse wildflower displays within an easy drive of Perth.

Spanning almost 500 hectares, the reserve’s mix of jarrah-marri forest, wandoo woodland, granite outcrops and heath creates the perfect conditions for an incredible variety of native plants, with more than 350 species recorded.

Spring is the best time to visit, when the bush comes alive with orchids, hakeas, hibbertias, grevilleas and flowering gums. Keep an eye on the treetops too, as Carnaby’s, Baudin’s and Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoos are regularly spotted feeding and nesting throughout the park.