Best advice I can give is to check your regional town Tourist Info Centre and also the Info Centres in the towns you visit as they have the latest updates on where the best displays are located in the district (eg; Wreath Flowers etc).
Cupie said
05:14 PM Aug 14, 2014
When we started down the West Coast we didn't give the wildflowers a thought but just happened to be there at the right time.
Wow! how wrong we had been.
They were amazing.
After a bit I was getting into trouble by just pulling up at random & walking a hundred meters into the bush and taking pics of all the flowers that I could find within a meter or so of where I was standing.
Or even lying down in the dirt or short grass on the side of the road snapping the underside of tiny orchids or the like.
I can certainly recommend timing your trip to co-inside with the progressive blooming of the WA wildflowers.
barrie said
06:19 PM Aug 14, 2014
Did the wildflowers last year truely amazing and the wreath flowers were splendid along the highway
EllenajoeL said
08:26 PM Aug 14, 2014
the WA wildflowers (esp. in the SW corner) are not only inspirational, they are truly unique.
IMHO, anyone with even a remote interest in Aust flora/nature should consider timing their travels accordingly.
(and thank you for the reminder, Vic41 )
Vic41 said
08:36 PM Aug 14, 2014
These were a couple of pic's of the Wreath flower taken about 2 years ago near Canna (mid west)...
Well barrie, I have been told they are even better this year :) Been a good season for them. Last time I saw the Wreath Flowers was about 15 years ago, but I've been elsewhere since. ( Nah, not in jail LOL). Searching the memory. Around Three Springs I've seen great swathes of Everlastings, beautiful clumps of Donkey Orchids tucked under a bush at the side of the road, Kangaroo Paw and lots of other native shrubs and plants.
Farther up the coast and inland there are some great places to see. At the moment they will be at their best.
Getting into September they are probably fading a bit, depends on how much rain we get in over the next few weeks. The Kalbarri road from the highway used to have lots of Kangaroo Paw, Smokebush, Geraldton Wax etc. right into October, but not been up that way for a while. In August '92, (another good year) I did a run up the Murchison. (It was my area looking after the water supply for the Murchison towns from Geraldton, up as far as Wiluna, Sandstone, Kalbarri and down as far as 3 Springs). Took 3 hours of video on a Panasonic camera I had "borrowed" from the office. Unfortunately over the years it has been lost). I had a few panoramas taken from the top of the work van. Everlastings as far as the eye could see. I was heading back to Scotland in September for my one and only visit in 33 years. My family loved the video :). They liked the shots through the windscreen at 110km/hr. Asked who was driving "Me" , who was filming "Me" LOL. Funnily enough, I got the same questions from my engineer and he got the same answers. Reckoned he didn't want to know any more :)
The road from Northampton to Horrocks Beach and all the way through the National Park to Kalbarri is now bitumen all the way, unlike when I first travelled it, was a pretty rough track. Nice drive and there are Caravan parks at Horrocks, Port Gregory and Kalbarri. .
The park at Horrocks has just changed hands, but the new owner is the one that owns this park, if he has a manager like this one, you'll find it very friendly and welcoming. BTW, if the owner is there, you'll never pick him, works with the guys, wears the old shirt, shorts and floppy hat :)
The park at Northampton is good too, stayed there a couple of years ago with some friends, good facilities and friendly staff.
Fishing is good at Horrocks off the beach, but only at the dark of the moon, when it rises, pack up. Nice big Whiting.
kiwijims said
01:55 AM Aug 15, 2014
"QUESTION" Is there anyone on the road at the present time who have seen the wildflowers in bloom ?
If so. We would like to know where you have seen them at their best, either North or South in W.A.
Thanks. K.J.
Rockster said
09:03 AM Aug 15, 2014
We are currently touring the wildflower area. Lots around Mullewa but exploring further in the next few days
Vic41 said
09:05 AM Aug 15, 2014
Rockster wrote:
We are currently touring the wildflower area. Lots around Mullewa but exploring further in the next few days
Hi Rockster, can you keep us all posted please, some of our GN's from over east heading south now in WA would find it interesting also, thanks
Mullewa Tourist Bureau (like most of the towns south of that general area) always have good info on the latest wildflower sightings including the Wreath Flowers.....
-- Edited by Vic41 on Friday 15th of August 2014 09:08:57 AM
kiwijims said
03:11 PM Aug 15, 2014
Coalseam National Park is a great spot for Wildflowers,
We were there about 4 years ago in the old classic caravan we had at the time,
you can camp there but I think the fees have risen a bit since we visited, $8.00 pp pn. there is a gas bbq with shelter there, but very little else
It can get pretty busy around Morawa in the Wildflower season. were last in line here at the information Centre.
K.J.
-- Edited by kiwijims on Friday 15th of August 2014 03:14:21 PM
Just an update on the wild flowers in the last couple of days. A lot can be seen around along the road south of Murchison towards Mullewa (dirt road). Probably the best we have seen is on road from Mullewa towards Canna. At Canna dam you can find a few orchids if you look hard and a good display of wreath flowers on the Morowa Yalgoo road 5 kms north of the Gutha East road junction.
-- Edited by Rockster on Saturday 16th of August 2014 03:53:36 PM
Vic41 said
04:33 PM Aug 16, 2014
Thanks Rockster, I travelled the dirt road between Mullewa via Murchison to Gascoyne Junction in May this year.
It was pretty good then with a couple of shallow river crossings, although very dusty.
How is the road at the moment?
Mike C said
04:52 PM Aug 16, 2014
This is our experience a few years back on our blog
Fantastic wildflower shots Mike, is one or two of them what they call the Kalbarri Rose (or similar name) ?
I'll bet you find the motorhome a luxury after the camper trailer!
Mike C said
07:34 AM Aug 17, 2014
Vic41 wrote:
Fantastic wildflower shots Mike, is one or two of them what they call the Kalbarri Rose (or similar name) ?
I'll bet you find the motorhome a luxury after the camper trailer!
Hi Vic
I have no idea what their names are :)
There is certainly a lot more room in the MH and a few extras like heating and Aircon.. loved that camper tho
Rockster said
09:24 AM Aug 17, 2014
Hi Vic41. The Murchison road was pretty good although dusty as you said. We however turned off onto the Coolcalalaya road to the NW coastal highway. That was good for the first half but the second half was pretty rough with a van in tow!!
Vic41 said
10:38 AM Aug 17, 2014
There were a couple of caravans at Murchison Settlement that didn't look like off roaders when I was there Rockster, not sure if I would like to take mine in there, I only had a 2WD Imax which handled it ok but really a 4WD would have been more suited especially if there had been heavy rains etc.
A couple of GN's were working at Murchison Settlement as caretakers for the museum recently, see this link;
I only stayed one night but in retrospect wish I had stayed a bit longer.
Rockster said
08:52 AM Aug 18, 2014
Quick update - wow!!!! Approx 1000 Wreath plants in a couple hundred meter stretch 5kms off the Great Northern Highway on the road through to Perenjori. An amazing sight!!!! Combined with them is a large amount of other flowering plants in various stages of flowering.
-- Edited by Rockster on Monday 18th of August 2014 11:14:15 AM
Here are a couple of links to WA Wildflower Season, there is some variation between north and south WA and also recent rains etc, see;
http://www.australiasgoldenoutback.com/outback-australia-drive-routes/Outback_wildflower_trails
http://www.australiascoralcoast.com/attractions-events/wildflowers-on-the-coral-coast/where-to-see-wildflowers
http://rac.com.au/travel/member-weekend-events/wa-great-drives/wa-wildflowers?_afr.ts=1407982457527
Best advice I can give is to check your regional town Tourist Info Centre and also the Info Centres in the towns you visit as they have the latest updates on where the best displays are located in the district (eg; Wreath Flowers etc).
When we started down the West Coast we didn't give the wildflowers a thought but just happened to be there at the right time.
Wow! how wrong we had been.
They were amazing.
After a bit I was getting into trouble by just pulling up at random & walking a hundred meters into the bush and taking pics of all the flowers that I could find within a meter or so of where I was standing.
Or even lying down in the dirt or short grass on the side of the road snapping the underside of tiny orchids or the like.
I can certainly recommend timing your trip to co-inside with the progressive blooming of the WA wildflowers.
the WA wildflowers (esp. in the SW corner) are not only inspirational, they are truly unique.
IMHO, anyone with even a remote interest in Aust flora/nature should consider timing their travels accordingly.
(and thank you for the reminder, Vic41 )
These were a couple of pic's of the Wreath flower taken about 2 years ago near Canna (mid west)...
Farther up the coast and inland there are some great places to see. At the moment they will be at their best.
Getting into September they are probably fading a bit, depends on how much rain we get in over the next few weeks. The Kalbarri road from the highway used to have lots of Kangaroo Paw, Smokebush, Geraldton Wax etc. right into October, but not been up that way for a while. In August '92, (another good year) I did a run up the Murchison. (It was my area looking after the water supply for the Murchison towns from Geraldton, up as far as Wiluna, Sandstone, Kalbarri and down as far as 3 Springs). Took 3 hours of video on a Panasonic camera I had "borrowed" from the office. Unfortunately over the years it has been lost). I had a few panoramas taken from the top of the work van. Everlastings as far as the eye could see. I was heading back to Scotland in September for my one and only visit in 33 years. My family loved the video :). They liked the shots through the windscreen at 110km/hr. Asked who was driving "Me" , who was filming "Me" LOL. Funnily enough, I got the same questions from my engineer and he got the same answers. Reckoned he didn't want to know any more :)
The road from Northampton to Horrocks Beach and all the way through the National Park to Kalbarri is now bitumen all the way, unlike when I first travelled it, was a pretty rough track. Nice drive and there are Caravan parks at Horrocks, Port Gregory and Kalbarri. .
The park at Horrocks has just changed hands, but the new owner is the one that owns this park, if he has a manager like this one, you'll find it very friendly and welcoming. BTW, if the owner is there, you'll never pick him, works with the guys, wears the old shirt, shorts and floppy hat :)
The park at Northampton is good too, stayed there a couple of years ago with some friends, good facilities and friendly staff.
Fishing is good at Horrocks off the beach, but only at the dark of the moon, when it rises, pack up. Nice big Whiting.
"QUESTION" Is there anyone on the road at the present time who have seen the wildflowers in bloom ?
If so. We would like to know where you have seen them at their best, either North or South in W.A.
Thanks. K.J.
We are currently touring the wildflower area. Lots around Mullewa but exploring further in the next few days
Hi Rockster, can you keep us all posted please, some of our GN's from over east heading south now in WA would find it interesting also, thanks
Mullewa Tourist Bureau (like most of the towns south of that general area) always have good info on the latest wildflower sightings including the Wreath Flowers.....
-- Edited by Vic41 on Friday 15th of August 2014 09:08:57 AM
Coalseam National Park is a great spot for Wildflowers,
We were there about 4 years ago in the old classic caravan we had at the time,
you can camp there but I think the fees have risen a bit since we visited, $8.00 pp pn. there is a gas bbq with shelter there, but very little else
It can get pretty busy around Morawa in the Wildflower season. were last in line here at the information Centre.
K.J.
-- Edited by kiwijims on Friday 15th of August 2014 03:14:21 PM
A few more in the general area;
Just an update on the wild flowers in the last couple of days. A lot can be seen around along the road south of Murchison towards Mullewa (dirt road). Probably the best we have seen is on road from Mullewa towards Canna. At Canna dam you can find a few orchids if you look hard and a good display of wreath flowers on the Morowa Yalgoo road 5 kms north of the Gutha East road junction.
-- Edited by Rockster on Saturday 16th of August 2014 03:53:36 PM
Thanks Rockster, I travelled the dirt road between Mullewa via Murchison to Gascoyne Junction in May this year.
It was pretty good then with a couple of shallow river crossings, although very dusty.
How is the road at the moment?
This is our experience a few years back on our blog
http://mikenshez.blogspot.com.au/search/label/Wildflowers
Fantastic wildflower shots Mike, is one or two of them what they call the Kalbarri Rose (or similar name) ?
I'll bet you find the motorhome a luxury after the camper trailer!
Hi Vic
I have no idea what their names are :)
There is certainly a lot more room in the MH and a few extras like heating and Aircon.. loved that camper tho
There were a couple of caravans at Murchison Settlement that didn't look like off roaders when I was there Rockster, not sure if I would like to take mine in there, I only had a 2WD Imax which handled it ok but really a 4WD would have been more suited especially if there had been heavy rains etc.
A couple of GN's were working at Murchison Settlement as caretakers for the museum recently, see this link;
http://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t57610466/murchison-oasis-caravan-park-between-mullewa-gascoyne-juncti/
I only stayed one night but in retrospect wish I had stayed a bit longer.
-- Edited by Rockster on Monday 18th of August 2014 11:14:15 AM