Top 10 wildflower hotspots

The 2,000-hectare Ludlow Tuart Forest National Park is the largest remaining area of pure tuart forest in the world. A number of beautiful scenic drives provide outstanding views of spectacular grey-trunked tuart trees. Orchids feature prominently in the flora list in springtime. A short interpretive walk site has been developed off Higgins Road in the Shire of Capel.

See: Tuart Trees, yellow flowering Hibbertia, Hardenbergia, Cape Spider orchid.

Getting there: Located 15km east of Busselton with easy access via Tuart Drive off Bussell Highway.

This stunning reserve contains at least 326 species of native flowering plants. The four kilometre walk trail is a wildflower hotspot that provides access through all parts of the reserve where you’ll see orchids, rare Verticordia and great Nuytsia displays in December. The reserve has a small interpretive shelter with information on the reserve, where brochures of the walk trail are available.

See: Spider, Donkey, Enamel, Jug, Rattle Beak, Pink Fairy, White Bunny, Hare, Flying Duck and Blue Lady orchids, Verticordias, Swan River Myrtle, Trigger Plants, Coral Vine, Grass Trees.

Getting there: Located 12km south of Busselton, travel west along Busselton Bypass and turn left onto Queen Elizabeth Avenue. Continue to the carpark on the corner of Doyle Road, some 7km south of the Bypass.

Whicher Range is a doorway to some of the best wildflowers, and if you don’t park and walk through the bush on the side of the road, you’ll likely miss the thousands of colourful but small flowering plants that characterise this special part of Busselton.

Getting there: Located 20km south of Busselton, Vasse Highway offers the easiest access to this biodiverse area but many minor roads will also provide access to different parts of the Whicher Range.

Squeezed between the ocean and the Vasse Wonnerup Wetlands, this is a great area for spotting both coastal wildflowers and waterbirds. The wetlands, listed as ‘Wetlands of International Importance’ by the Ramsar Convention, have recorded more than 30,000 birds of 80 species in springtime, many of them rare.

See: Caladenia procera (Carbunup King Spider Orchid), Rattle Beak, Enamel, Coastal, Flying Duck, King-in-his-Carriage, Donkey and Jug Orchids. Kangaroo Paws, Hibbertia (Buttercups), Blue Grass Lily.

Getting there: Located 7km east of Busselton, travel towards Peel Terrace and onto Layman Road. Access is off Layman Road in the Wonnerup area on the east side of Port Geographe.

Beautiful views over Dunsborough, Busselton and the Indian Ocean will reward you for climbing to the top of Big Rock. Located on the Leeuwin Naturaliste Ridge, the Reserve represents a rich diversity of vegetation, with rocky valleys and sandy rises. The steep slopes have also allowed the formation of two main streams flowing through.

See: Chapman’s Spider orchid, Cowslip Orchid, Common Donkey Orchid, Purple Enamel Orchid, Forest Mantis.

Getting there: Located roughly 30km west of Busselton and only 3km west from Dunsborough, take Caves Road to Dunsborough and then to Quedjinup. Turn left onto Yungurra Drive, then right onto Jones Road and right onto Big Rock Place.

Meelup Regional Park covers an impressive 11.5 kilometres of coastline from Dunsborough to Bunker Bay. The coastline here faces north-east, which means that it is sheltered enough for tall trees and dense vegetation to grow down to the water’s edge. The park encompasses whale-watching-lookouts and some of the best beaches in Western Australia.

See: A wildflower hotspot with several varieties of Spider, Mustard, Jug, Donkey and possibly the rare Dunsborough orchid. Pea Bushes, Acacias (Wattles), Hakeas, Hibertia (Buttercup).

Getting there: Located 31km west of Busselton and 7km north of Dunsborough, take Cape Naturaliste Road from the centre of Dunsborough, and turn right down Meelup Beach Road after around 5 minutes. Turn right at Meelup Beach where car parking is available. Walk on the coastal track east towards Castle Rock, or west to Eagle Bay.

The Cape Naturaliste area comes alive with carpets of coastal wildflowers during spring. The easy-to-follow walk trails around the Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse and provides spectacular viewing of wildflowers and coastal scenery, including seals and whales in season. The Cape to Cape Track begins at the lighthouse and includes a wheelchair-accessible-track down to Sugarloaf Rock.

See: Dunsborough and Spider Orchid, Naturaliste Nancy, One-sided Bottle Brush.

Getting there: Located roughly 40km west of Busselton, once arriving in Dunsborough, take the beautiful 15km drive going north along Cape Naturaliste Road. 15-20 minutes brings you to Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse, where car parking is available.

A visit to Margaret River wouldn’t be complete without exploring the township’s easily accessible, pleasant walking trails. The trails here are rich in history, and include the Margaret River Heritage Trails, Wadandi Track and the Carters Road Walk Trails. Don’t forget the longer walk from Rotary Park to Ten Mile Brook Dam.

See: Hovea, Hibbertia, Wattle, yellow peas, Flying Duck Orchid, King-in-his Carriage and Rattle Beaks.

Getting there: The start of each walking trail is located within 2km north of Margaret River’s town centre. Stop in at the Margaret River Visitor Centre and the team will point you in the right direction.

Journey through the majestic Boranup Karri Forest to see the slender, pale-barked beauties towering above your head, and wildflowers around your feet. We recommend taking the scenic detour via Boranup Drive (unsealed). While here, take time to explore the caves which lie beneath the Leeuwin Naturaliste Ridge.

See: Deep Blue Karri Hovea, trailing Clematis, yellow Cone bush and Patersonia, Forest Mantis, Cowslip, Common Donkey and pink Fairy Orchids.

Getting there: Located 20km south of Margaret River, travel along Caves Road, which provides easy access to the forest. A visit to Mammoth Cave includes a scenic forest walk, and the cave guides will be happy to offer some tips on where to keep your eyes peeled.

Take in the spectacular coastal scenery at Cape Leeuwin, where the Southern and Indian Oceans meet to crash fiercely against the cape. Combine your wildflower walk with a visit to Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse and the nearby town of Augusta.

See: Augusta Bee, Funnel Web Spider and Vanilla Orchids, Wisteria, Clematis, Coastal Pimelea and Fan flowers.

Get there: Located 10km south from Augusta via Blackwood Avenue, eventually becoming Leeuwin Road. Parking is available at Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse.

• Get off the beaten track with Margaret River Exposed, a tour which offers access to all the national parks in the South West and secluded spots rich in wildlife and wildflowers. Complementary photography tuition is included.
• Enjoy a stretch of the Cape to Cape Track with Cape to Cape Explorer Tours’ Full Day Guided Hike. Learn the fascinating properties of the surrounding wildflowers, bush plants and geology of the area.
• Margaret River Discovery Co. offers the region’s only 4WD guided wildflower tour, followed by a wine-tasting-experience in a vineyard surrounded by wildflowers.
• Wander through stands of endemic orchids on the South West Eco Discoveries spring tour. Visit spectacular lookouts and iconic hotspots in the Dunsborough area.
• Discover wildflowers in style with Walk into Luxury, a complete luxury walking experience that showcases the best of the Cape to Cape track alongside the region’s fine wine, gourmet produce and luxury accommodation.
• Visit Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse and its surrounding walk trails for the chance to see wildflowers in bloom on the cape as well as whales frolicking in the waters below. Truly a sight to behold!