Stirling Range National Park - Wildflowers galore

Beginning each spring in Western Australia's far north, a fabulous carpet of wildflowers unrolls, including types found nowhere else on earth. July to October is peak flowering season.

The display owes much to Western Australia's geography. Separated from other parts of the world by ocean to the west and desert to the east, the south-west region of the state nurtured a widely diverse flora, retaining primitive forms and evolving new ones. Some 8,000 species have been identified, with new ones being discovered each year.

Variation in soil types and weather patterns throughout Western Australia mean the types of flowers vary enormously. Visitors enjoy a truly wondrous sight when the fields of everlastings burst forth north of Perth. During spring flowering season, you can chose between tours from Perth guided by experts, or hire a car and see the flowers yourself.

Individual travellers can take the coast road to Kalbarri National Park, 560 kilometres north of Perth, heading through heath and woodlands and passing several national parks with refreshing walks and wildflower displays.

The spectacular deep river gorges and dry sand plains of the Kalbarri National Park nurture an estimated 300 species of flowering plants, most in full bloom from July.

Return to Perth along the inland road via Mullewa and Wubin for spectacular displays of native foxgloves, blue leschenaultia, purple fire bush, and masses of yellow and white everlastings, plus, in season, flowering wattles.