Kalgoorlie is famed for its stunning desert wildflowers that bloom in abundance from July to October. Here, you can find the blood-red Sturt’s desert pea, pretty pink and white Everlasting flowers, and countless more rare flowers. Two of the best places to see wildflowers in the Kalgoorlie area are the Karlkurla Bushland Park and the Goldfields Wildflower Trail. Both areas are easy to reach and have a lot to enjoy.
Walk among the wildflower trails at Karlkurla Bushland Park
The Karlkurla Bushland Park is only a seven minute drive from the Plaza Hotel in Kalgoorlie. This area covers over 22 hectares of regrowth bushland, full of walking tracks that let you come face-to-face with some of our favourite wildflowers.
There are various walking tracks around here, full of a diverse array of animals and wildflowers that you can learn about. And when you feel like taking a break, you can find one of the many picnic areas and enjoy a nice lunch or make use of the barbecues available.
The bushland in this park continues to regenerate and grow over time. If you want to help contribute to the regeneration project in the area, you can grab some Karlkurla seeds from the tourist centre and distribute them across the assigned areas.
Check out the wildflowers at the Goldfields Wildflower Trail
The Goldfields Wildflower Trail gives you the opportunity to take a weeklong road trip experience that explores various spots around the goldfields. Across this journey, you’ll get to see the technicolour splendour of various wildflowers blooming as well as great cultural experiences in the area.
Along the trail, you can stop by the town of Merredin, which is a farming community with an excellent selection of sweet-smelling wildflowers. You can enjoy their gorgeous colours and amazing smells all across the roadsides in Merredin as well as the surrounding nature reserves.
Another great spot on this trail, just south of Kalgoorlie, is the Great Western Woodlands, which supports 20 percent of Australia’s plant species, including a diverse array of wildflowers. There are plenty of trails you can stroll along, as well as salt lakes and rocky outcrops, all full of wildlife and beautiful flowers.
A lesser known hotspot for wildflowers is the Niagara Dam, right near the historic ghost town of Kookynie. Here you can check out native birds, local pubs, and explore nearby attractions as you appreciate flowers all around the area.
Looking for more things to see in the Goldfields area while you’re here? Check out our Perth to Kalgoorlie road trip guide for other famous attractions and places to stop.
What to know before you go
The peak of the wildflower season in Western Australia runs from July to October, from the middle of winter to the middle of spring. This time of year is the best for letting the red dirt of Kalgoorlie come alive.
While this is generally the time when you can expect to see the most wildflowers, they don’t follow a set schedule. Some years they may bloom earlier or later depending on the weather and climate patterns at the time. That’s why it’s important to plan accordingly and give yourself the necessary leeway to adjust your itinerary.
While wildflower season isn’t during Kalgoorlie’s hottest months, the outback sun can still get quite hot, so it’s worth bringing the right gear to beat the heat. You should bring sun protection in the form of sunscreen and a hat as well as plenty of water if you’re going to be spending a lot of time outside.
Additionally, it’s illegal to pick wildflowers in the parks around Kalgoorlie. So if you’re looking to capture the magic of the wildflowers in the area and commemorate the experience, you should bring a camera.
While the wildflowers in Kalgoorlie are stunning, there are plenty of other sights to see when you’re visiting Kalgoorlie. You can check out the Super Pit, one of Australia’s largest open-cut gold mines, and marvel at the sheer scale of the site. Alternatively, you have the opportunity to go fossicking for gold and see how you would have fared during the gold rush. Plus, if you’re interested in learning more about the history of the area, you can learn all about Kalgoorlie’s past by heading to the Museum of the Goldfields.
Not sure where to head next? Just speak with one of our friendly staff—we’re here to help.