Visitor Information
Tourism Western Australia is the official source of information. Its website, www.westernaustralia.com, provides a good overview, or the web pages of local tourism boards. A private company, Visit WA (www.visitwa.com.au), offers an online tour-planning service.
The Western Australian Visitor Centre in Perth, which dispenses information about the state and makes bookings. The Department of Environment & Conservation (www.dec.wa.gov.au) has information on the numerous national and marine parks.
Tiptoeing Through the wildflowers
Every year from August to mid-November, the southern half of Western Australia is blessed with a magnificent range of wildflowers. The drier, more northerly areas produce great carpets of white, yellow, pink, and red daisy-like everlastings, while the southern reaches have an incredible variety of individual flowering plants.
Wildflower shows and festivals in country towns throughout the state accompany the annual blossoming, and coach- and rail-tour companies carry enthusiasts from around the globe on wildflower tours. You can view the wildflowers on day trips from Perth or on longer jaunts of up to 5 days or so.
If time is short, you can go to Perth's Kings Park & Botanic Garden, which has a month-long Wildflower Festival every September.
The display of everlastings is not constant, but varies from year to year depending on winter rains. The Western Australian Visitor Centre can keep you up to speed on whatever spot is blooming brightest that week, and the staff can book you on one of the wildflower tours. Tourism WA produces a comprehensive Wildflower Holiday Guide that describes self-drive wildflower routes, accommodations and events en route, and wildflower tour operators. There's a dedicated wildflower website, www.wildflowerswa.com.
Interstate buses and trains, and the few local accommodations fill up fast in wildflower season, so book ahead.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
