Seven Day Northern Wildflower Tour

Departure 16 September 2024

Monday 16 sept

Pickup 7.30am

Day 1 – Perth, Moora, Cervantes

Today’s highlights seeing masses of eye popping brilliant blue
Leschenaultia biloba, orchids, pink Isopogon in the Bindoon region. Later head
up the Midlands Rd to Moora for Lunch at local stylish Jeanne d'Moore Café

The Jeanne d'Moore Cafe in Moora hand makes the best French-inspired
delicacies that country Western Australia has to offer.

Visit Phoebe Reserve in the Badgingarra area and walk on the historic
trails to discover changing flora diversity and stories for stockman passing
through from the coast to inland.

Late this afternoon we visit the Pinnacles for a
photographers delight to take photos in the late afternoon light.

Perth Western Australia Pinnacles resemble an ancient ruin, the
Pinnacles Desert contains thousands of limestone pillars formed over 3 million
years ago.

Cervantes our overnight stay.

Accommodation: Cervantes Edge Resort

 LD

Day 2 – Hi Vallee Farm, Lesueur, Dongara

Tuesday 17

An early breakfast today we visit Don and Joy Williams of Hi Vallee Farm
at Badgingarra near Mount Lesueur and Eneabba.

Don and Joy run wildflower tours on their very rich and diverse private
national park for over 20 years. On their working sheep and grain property, we
visit pristine native vegetation with four declared rare and 38 priority plant
species, wildflowers, birds, and fauna.

Don and Joy have a Greening Australia award for saving this valuable
heritage and recently won the W.A Wildflower Society award for their efforts in
promoting wild flowers in the Lesueur area and Western Australia.

“Hi –Vallee” with some of the most diverse and varied plant species in
the world has been described by Dr Stephen Hopper Director of Kew Gardens
Surrey UK, as the most valuable native bushland in private ownership.

On the track with Don to show you their amazing and unique remnant Kwongan
heathland.

After lunch and many photos and stories of the flora, we visit a major
hotspot Lesueur National Park for another treat of flora. 

Later this afternoon we follow the coast up to Dongara our overnight
stay taking in delightful scenic bays.

Accommodation: Dongara Hotel Motel

BLD

Day 3 – Coalseam, Mullewa, Hutt Lagoon, Kalbarri

Wednesday 18

Today we will see what most people think of when they think Western
Australia Wildflowers, delicate expanses of pink, yellow and white everlasting
daisies in the Coalseam Conservation Reserve and along isolated roads.

At Pindar browse along the road verge to marvel at the iconic
Lechenaultia macrantha common name wreath Lechenaultia, an absolute must see.

At Mullewa visit Helen Ansell Studio Gallery. Helen made her mark on the
international art stage, all the way from her art gallery nestled in Mullewa, a
small town in Western Australia. Growing up in Ululla, a remote aboriginal
community in central Western Australia, Wiluna area. Helen's connection to the
indigenous and regional community of central WA and the wild desert landscape
is vividly reflected in her artwork.

Helen captures the spirit of Australian art through her vibrant
paintings.

After lunch tour to Northampton, one of the oldest settlements outside
Perth today, classified by the National Trust as a Historic Town.

Visit Hutt Lagoon a vivid pink Salt Lake where beta-carotene is
harvested for commercial use. A fascinating sight.

drive further up the coast, and visit coastal gorge Pot Alley.

Kalbarri nestled at the Murchison River mouth and surrounded by stunning
coastline, soaring river gorges and protected bays.

Kalbarri is our two-night stay.

Did we say casual dining? Yes! And this is a Kalbarri visit must do.
This evening, enjoy casual Aussie dinning of local seafood.

Finlay’s Kalbarri is an open-air restaurant located in the heart of
Kalbarri. The restaurant is located off-the-beaten track, a couple blocks away
from the beach. You are invited to enjoy a meal using fresh ingredients
including local seafood, beers from the in-house craft brewery and quirky
atmosphere.

Accommodation: Kalbarri Edge Resort

BLD

Day 4 – Kalbarri Wilderness Cruise, Kalbarri
National Park,

Thursday 19

This morning board the Princess Kalbarri Wilderness Cruises with Skipper
Grant to experience the mouth of the Murchison River Eco System

 The cruise follows the channel up
the river with full commentary along the way, there is no rush and there’s a
lot to see.



The lower reaches of the Murchison River are home to a number of species of
birdlife including Ospreys, Kites, Pelicans, Egrets, Australian Shell Ducks,
Black Swans and our local White Breasted Sea Eagles.

As well as Emus, Kangaroos and wild Goats are often seen on the
riverbanks.

The river at times can be 40mm deep with mullet jumping, small fish and crabs.



The Murchison River is a very vital ecosystem and what we see on each cruise is
always different.



At the turn around point sometimes there is time to pull up to the shore and
take a stroll along the riverbank, then on the return journey plenty of time to
relax, take photos and enjoy.

The cruise comes to and end at the Murchison River Mouth, one of WA’s most
treacherous.

It’s impressive to watch the water move through channel and boats come and go.

This afternoon we visit the Kalbarri National Park for spectacular views
of the Murchison River Gorges. Experience new Skywalk which over hangs the
Murchison River gorges 100 metres above the riverbed. Awesome views of the
Murchison River wending its way out to the coast at Kalbarri.

Kalbarri National Park is highly regarded for its extraordinary seasonal
flowers which can start in July and continue to flower late October with pops
of colour from local Verticordias and many other local species.

Accommodation: Kalbarri Edge Resort

BLD

Day 5 – Kalbarri, Geraldton

Friday 20

This morning we head east through Kalbarri National Park visit Hawks Head
Lookout and Ross Graham lookout to view more of the Murchison River and
wildflowers.

Closer to Geraldton visit Mills Point Lookout that offers spectacular
views across the Chapman Valley to the east and Geraldton to the west.

We visit HMAS Sydney Memorial; the beautifully designed memorial
features a silver dome of 645 seagulls to represent the loss of HMAS Sydney
sailors.

Visit St Francis Xavier Cathedral built in stages from 1914 to its
eventual opening in 1938. The Byzantine style architecture is one of Monsignor
John Hawes’ greatest masterpieces.

Explore the Yamaji Art Centre which is Aboriginal owned and operated and
provides professional services to support and develop Aboriginal artists living
in the Lower Murchison region of Yamaji Country.

Accommodation:  The Gerald Apartments

BLD

Day 6 –
Geraldton, Dalwallinu

Saturday 21

This morning visit Depot Hill Reserve a delightful walk with everlasting
daisies and orchids. On either side of a
meandering pathway offers unparalleled access and viewing of a rich, rare, and
colourful assortment of wildflower species. Discover one of Western Australia’s
true wildflower hotspots.

Visit Three Springs to see stunning the Rose Mallee (Eucalyptus
rhodantha)

And take in the 360 panoramic view at the Talc Mine Lookout, Western
Australia’s first talc mine. Talc is mined by open cut method and exported for
use in paper, paint, and ceramic industries.

Three Springs talc is also processed in WA for cosmetics, agriculture,
and carving blocks. The mine is the largest Talc Mine in the southern
hemisphere and the second largest in the world with an annual production
exceeding 100,000 tonnes.

Carnamah Shire is one of the richest areas in the state for flowering
plants and explodes into colour during the annual wildflower season from around
August to October. This afternoon we look at the rare Darwinia
polychroma also known as Harlequin Bell a dainty maroon flower.

The town is also becoming better known for Astro Tourism as a great
place to see the Milky Way due to little light pollution.

Walk from the centre of town up to the scenic Lakes Lookout (found 1km
out of town on Carnamah-Eneabba Road) where you can peer out over the Yarra
Yara Lake System. Depending on the season you might see salty pink lakes in
summer, to the deep blue lakes in winter. 

Carnamah locals have brought the townsite to life with the creation of
three giant wall murals. 'Drovers Rest' is on the local Hardware Store, 'Sale
Oh' is found at the Landmark building and ' Macphersons View' is on the Council
administration building.



Historic buildings include: the post office, St Andrews Church, designed by
Monsignor John Hawes, and the Uniting Church. Macpherson Homestead was built in
1869 and once served as a post office and wayfarers' rest home.

Dalwallinu is famous for having the largest variety of wattles (acacias)
found anywhere in the world. Within 100km of Dalwallinu there are 195
varieties. Dalwallinu is known as a “Place of Wheat, Wattles and Wildflowers.

Overnight stay is at Dalwallinu and offers walk trails for those who are
interested in evening or early morning walks.

Accommodation:  Wheatlands Motel

BLD

Day 7 – Wongan Hills, Perth

Sunday 22

This morning visit Wongan Hills, The Hills has the largest single area
of natural vegetation remaining in the Northern Wheatbelt. Wongan Hills’ flora
is extremely diverse with more than 250 species of flowering plants.

There are five species of gazette rare flora in the Wongan Hills Nature
Reserve, and numerous species of priority flora. We will visit one sight that
has the rare Wongan Cactus – Daviesia Euphorbioides, explore the local orchids
and look around the area. And visit Mt Obrien for expansive panoramic vistas of
the region.

Lunch today at New Norcia. Look around this unique Monastery Town before
heading back to Perth.

We will have you back into Perth 5pm.