Coming from SA I am assuming that we will be allowed to travel to WA in the next few months. I've always wanted to see some of the WA wildflower areas. Any suggestions or areas to visit are welcome. Happy to drive around and would also like to visit Lake Ballard.
The classic spring wildflower areas are to the north of Perth - the sandplains between Perth and Geraldton, and into the Murchison (Kalbarri NP) and east through Yalgoo, Mt Magnet and towards Sandstone. But the latter are less reliable than areas closer to the coast. It is highly dependent on goods rains.
If we get good rains that extend well inland, they can be unbelievably spectacular. I have my fingers crossed for those rains this year, given being stuck in Australia. But it is rare.
I happen to be a biological scientist and I know all of those areas extremely well from working and leisure travel throughout there. Early September is the best time for that area:
WA wildflower weekend
September is also the time for the Kings Park Festival:
Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority - Kings Park Festival.
That time is far too early for the wildflowers near the S coast. That's best in summer; see posts 2935, 2936:
The view from my "office"
So, if you want wildflowers in the mid-west and Murchison, and Lake Ballard, target late August/early September.
My son's current business location is not far from Lake Ballard. You have already seen my recent mini TR (
Briefly escaping the intra-state WA travel restrictions).
I've visited Lake Ballard before but it was after some rain and the surface was a bit muddy, so I wasn't able to do the full walking circuit (see post #23 here:
Way into the WA wilderness).
I had thought of going there on my trip a couple of weeks ago but got waylaid going to Kookynie and then running errands in Kal for the slave-driving boss.
Anyway, I definitely want to get back to Lake Ballard some time this year to do the full circuit of the sculptures. I also plan to do some travelling through the mid-west and Murchison areas to the west of there. So I was planning on doing that in about early September.
You don't need a 4WD drive to get to Lake Ballard - it's sealed all the way. But it's a long drive. I have in mind to do something like this in the spring:
A more robust off-road vehicle is advisable for the Mt Magnet-Sandstone-Lake Ballard section.
That plan could also include going a little further N along the coast to spectacular Hamelin Pool (famed for stromatolites) and Shark Bay.
Seeing that I can't go overseas this year, I'm planning on maxxing out travel in WA. And, I am completely flexible and I know the region like the back of my hand.
So, bottom line: if you want to get 'out there', you will pretty much need to be able to travel independently or with someone going there. The chances are very high that it would fit with something I want to do. Happy to have you join me.
An option I also think worth scoping is Casey Tours' wildflower tour offerings:
Wildflowers in Perth | Wildflowers Tours of Western Australia.
I have used Casey twice before (
Australia's longest shortcut,
A Kimberley kaleidoscope) and can highly recommend them.
I didn't look at those offerings (or others in their selection) in great detail, but it doesn't look like they do Lake Ballard.
Maybe you could mix a Casey tour with joining me for a run to Lake Ballard if that meant you could meet all your objectives.
That's a few ideas. I suggest you scope it all out and PM me and we can discuss.
