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 )

 

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.

We are currently touring the wildflower area. Lots around Mullewa but exploring further in the next few days

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

This is our experience a few years back on our blog

http://mikenshez.blogspot.com.au/search/label/Wildflowers

Vic41 wrote:

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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!

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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.