Vancouver Island
South Africa
Spring Flowers of the Southwest
Isolated for eons by desert and ocean, the state of Western Australia is home to one of the most diverse floras in the world with over 12,500 plant species.
The arid interior stands in stark contrast to a magnificently scenic coast. Both contain a huge variety of spectacular endemic flowering plants. Over 80% of the woody plants that make up the woodlands, shrublands, heaths and (very!) tall forests are found nowhere else – truly remarkable. Roads through the coastal shrublands snake through veritable botanic gardens ablaze with colour in the southern Spring. This is fantastic orchid country with abundant Common Donkey and Spider Orchids as well as butter-yellow Cowslip Orchids and pretty Pink Fairies. We’ll see the dainty Sugar Candy Orchid, bizarre Zebra Orchid, weird Bearded Bird Orchid and elegant Coastal Donkey Orchid. You can let your imagination run wild imagining exactly what the Flying Duck Orchid is going to look like!
Passing through the amazing landscapes of the Desert Pinnacles we’ll reach the Kalbarri National Park where a huge variety of wildflowers clothe the plains surrounding the Murchison River gorges. Both the sand plains and the coastal cliffs abound in magnificent displays of river gums, gold and orange Banksias, Grevilleas, Kangaroo Paws, Featherflowers, Starflowers, and Smokebushes. Inland the ecology of the arid-lands will be an intriguing sub-plot as the Resurrection Plant and the well-named, extraordinary, Wreath Flower illustrate their solutions to the vicissitudes of such climatic rigour. Some of the region’s most beautiful flowers are found here, the elegant pyramids of the Pink Fountain, Slender Banksias and the various Tamala Roses among them.
In the beautiful Fitzgerald River National Park and the dramatic Stirling Range we’ll find world-renowned plants such as Royal Hakea, Pincushion Hakea, Four-winged Mallee, Barrens Regelia, Qualup Bell and the fantastic Scarlet Banksia. Blue Fairy-Wrens will make a colourful diversion from more orchids such as Fringed Mantis, Wispy Spider, Silky Blue, and the gorgeous Sun Orchid. Though the focus will be on the amazing flora we’ll see plenty of birds such as Kookaburras, Honeyeaters, Wattlebirds and of course many colourful Parrots too. We’ll see various Marsupials including the Western Grey Kangaroo, Southern Right Whales off Point Anne, and perhaps enjoy a tipple or two in one of the southwest’s famous vineyards!
Dates and Prices
2nd September - 21st September 2024 (20 days)
* doesn't apply if you're willing to share and a room-mate can be arranged
Flowers. Also Birds, Mammals and Ecology of the varied Habitats.
One leader for a group of up to 9, two leaders up to the maximum group size of 15.
All flights. All accommodation, transport and meals in Australia. Services of your leaders. Please note: drinks, tips, and items of a personal nature, including insurance, are not included.
Flower and bird checklists are available.
We will be using a good standard of accommodation throughout this tour with small country hotels throughout and all rooms have en suite facilities.
Quite easy, no more than three or four miles in any one day, usually in easily accessible areas, though occasionally on rougher ground.
UK direct return flights are from London Heathrow to Perth. Indirect routes are available from Heathrow and from regional UK Airports. If you are willing to take the indirect flights from Heathrow with Emirates via Dubai then there is a reduction available on the London to London price of £300 per person. Other indirect routes from UK regional airports may or may not have a discount available. Please contact us for details.
Mostly warm, clear and sunny in the day with temperatures in the range 16°C-25ºC. Very occasional rain.
Contact us to check if there is availability for the number of places you require. Click on the ‘Book this Tour’ button on this page to be taken to the online booking form or contact us and we will send one to you which you can complete and send back to us. You will receive confirmation of your place, and then a detailed information pack will be dispatched to you about twelve weeks before departure. This will contain up-to-date health information.
