Granite Loop Wildflower Trail

Escape to Perth’s Avon Valley, taking an easy one-hour drive from the city via Roe Highway and Toodyay Road to the historic town of Toodyay.

On its main street, you’ll see some of Western Australia's finest examples of 19th century heritage, offering glimpses of town life in the early convict era, including the Old Gaol and Museum.

Call into the Toodyay Visitor Centre for a wildflower map and further information about local parks, reserves, scenic drives passing stunning country gardens, rolling lavender fields, vineyards and olive groves.

Enjoy a tranquil picnic in Duidgee Park on the Avon River, or head up to Pelham Reserve for a walk in the York gum and jam tree woodland, and sensational views of the town.

Look out for everlastings, donkey and cowslip orchids, purple tassel, Hibbertia, kangaroo paw, triggerplant and wandoo trees.

Dine at Toodyay’s historic hotels and choose from charming bed and breakfasts, luxury romantic retreats or budget-friendly accommodation.

To the north-east of Wyalkatchem, on Tyler Road, the open woodland of Korrelocking Nature Reserve showcases some of the best salmon gums in the region.

View the Gnamma holes and follow the walk trail through York gums, Gimlet, pink everlastings and orchids including enamel, china, fairy, spider and donkey varieties.

Continue east through Trayning to Billycatting Rock and follow the interpretive woodland trail around the base of this fascinating granite rock admiring the numerous spring wildflowers, including orchids, Hibbertia and Kunzea. This is also a top spot for a picnic lunch.

Returning to Nungarin-Wyalkatchem Road, take Talgomine Reserve Road east from Nungarin to the mammoth granite outcrop of Talgomine Rock.

Once used as a turning point for airforce training flights during World War II, the surrounding fields are blanketed in pink and yellow everlastings after good winter rains.

Return to Nungarin for your overnight stay or take the 45-minute drive north to Mukinbudin.

A short drive west will bring you to Beringbooding Rock, where you can view a treasure trove of flora and a great engineering feat of the 1930s – one of the largest water tanks in the southern hemisphere.

Look out for the amazing balancing boulder, huge gnamma hole, Indigenous Kalamaia tribe paintings and blooms of pink tea tree, Eucalyptus orbifolia, Acacia, Grevillea, Hakea, Eremophila, quandongs, sandalwood, orchids, granite Kunzea and one-sided bottlebrush.

As you continue west to Beacon, through the Wheatbelt towns of Bonnie Rock and Wiaki, you may spot purple Cyanostegia augustifolia, yellow Glischocaryon, gimlet thicket, Pityrodia and dwarf grass trees, as well as kangaroos and bobtail skinks.

To the north of Beacon, Billiburning Rock is a must-see for birdwatchers. Wedge-tailed eagles, budgerigars, black cockatoos, purple-crowned lorikeets, Major Mitchells and mallee fowl are often sighted here.

Nearby, Karroun Hill Reserve is filled with one-sided bottlebrush, sun and yellow-spotted donkey orchids and pink and white everlastings after good winter rains.

Camp overnight at Karroun Hill Reserve, or return to Beacon.

Head to the visitor centre for maps and guides, or join a wildflower walking tour.

Just outside town, Christmas Rock Walk leads you on an easy 40-minute stroll through wattles, one-sided bottlebrush and everlastings. Six rare varieties of wildflowers can also be spotted here.

If you’re visiting later in spring (October to November), take a short drive north to Reynoldson's Reserve when the area is ablaze with seven wonderful varieties of Verticordia.

Dryandra, Mircocorys, Acacias, Hakea and Grevillea, everlastings, lsopogon, Eucalyptus, orchids pea flowers and egg and bacon can also be found here.

The two-and-a-quarter-hour return journey to Perth takes you through Goomalling. Stop here and take one last step back in time at the School House Museum, the Old Railway Station and the Heritage Town Walk.

From here, you can also opt to extend your wildflower wander or head home.