SHIRE OF IRWIN - A BRILLIANT BLEND

Wildflowers

Self-Guided Wildflower Tours

Wildflower Season - July to September

Be amazed by the wildflowers of the Mid West with these self-drive routes:

1 – Coalseam Conservation Park & Morawa

Heading out of Dongara, turn right onto the Brand Highway at the big Western Rock Lobster. Continue along Brand Highway which becomes the Midlands Rd / State Route for approximately 54km (45 minutes) until you reach the town of Mingenew. In Mingenew, turn left onto Mullewa-Morawa Road, right onto Mingenew-Morawa Rd, finally turn left onto Coalseam Rd. Once you reach the Coalseam Park, the road becomes gravel. Here you will find the Coalseam Conservation Park which is around 754 hectares and is home to a spectacular wildflower display. Coalseam Conservation Park comes alive in spring with everlastings and a wide variety of wildflowers including banksia, hakea and grevillea. The Irwin River runs through the park, cutting through local rock and exposing a spectacular cross section of sedimentary layers. These layers run along the cliff faces next to the Irwin River and show millions of years of history. It is a great place to have a picnic lunch or morning tea so don’t forget to pack some food and drinks.
After the Coalseam, head south back along Coalseam Rd, turn left onto Mingenew-Morawa Rd, right onto the Wubin-Mullewa Road, and continue until it becomes Winfield Street. Morawa is known as the “Heart of the Wildflowers”, due to the abundant nature in which everlastings and wreath flowers occur throughout the Morawa Shire. Drop into the Morawa Visitors Centre, 38 Winfield Street, for up to date wildflower information.
To return to Dongara, head north on Winfield Street and continue onto Wubin-Mullewa Road, left onto the Mullewa-Morawa Road, right onto Midland Rd/State Route and continue straight which becomes the Brand Highway to take you back to Dongara.

Route 2 – Mullewa

Heading out of Dongara, turn right onto the Brand Highway at the big Western Rock Lobster. Continue along Brand Highway which becomes the Midlands Rd / State Route for approximately 54km (45 minutes) until you reach the town of Mingenew. In Mingenew turn left onto Mullewa / Morawa Road and continue on until you come to the Geraldton-Mt Magnet Rd / State Route 123 and turn right. This will take you to Mullewa and takes approximately 2.5 hours. This small town of 800 people is vibrant with wildflowers through late winter and spring and rich with cultural heritage. The Mullewa Tourist Information Centre is located on Jose Street, and the staff there will happily provide the most up to date information on their local wildflowers – especially the wreath flower which is usually found at Pindar, approximately 30km from Mullewa. The Mullewa Agriculture and Wildflower Show is held over a week usually in late August or early September, depending onthe wildflower season.
When ready to return, head west on Maitland Rd towards Geraldton-Mt Magnet Rd/State Route 123, along this road, several 'Wildflower Way' interpretive sites are located, showcasing sculptures representing some of the people and creatures that have made this region their home. A detailed map can be found at the Mullewa Tourist Information Centre. Turn left onto Moonyoonooka Narngulu Rd, then turn left onto Geraldton Walkaway Road, take the first right onto Rudds Gully Rd and turn left onto the Brand Highway and follow it back to Dongara. Dongara to Mullewa will take approximately two hours.

Route 3 – Perenjori

Heading out of Dongara, turn right onto the Brand Highway at the big Western Rock Lobster. Continue along Brand Highway which becomes the Midlands Rd / State Route for approximately 54km (45 minutes) until you reach the town of Mingenew. Turn left onto Mullewa-Morawa Rd, right onto Mingenew Morawa Rd, right onto Wubin-Mullewa Rd, which continues onto Winfield St becoming Mullewa-Wubin Rd. This will take two hours to get to Perenjori via Mingenew / Morawa. In Perenjori, call into their Visitors Centre located on Fowler Street and ask the staff for information on the best locations for the famous and unique wreath flower and the other wildflowers the region has on show. The annual Agricultural show is held on the third Saturday in August at the Perenjori Sports Ground.
To return to Dongara via a different route, head south-east on Mullewa-Wubin Rd to Bungil, turn right onto Bunjil Carnamah Road to Carnamah and continue onto Bowman Street. Turn right onto the Midlands Rd/ State Route 116 at Carnamah. Continue on this road going through Three Springs and Mingenew and straight onto Brand Highway. This route back to Dongara goes through the small country towns of Carnamah and Three Springs. Three Springs have a volunteer-run Wildflower Country Visitors Centre which only operates from May through to October. The Visitor Centre offers a great variety of local arts, crafts and souvenirs as well as a wealth of local knowledge on offer. Internet access is provided at a small cost.

Route 4 – To Lesueur National Park & Western Flora Caravan Park

1. Travel east on the Brand Highway, turn right to stay on the Brand Highway (signs for Perth/Eneabba). Turn right onto Indian Ocean Drive, left onto Coorow Greenhead Road, right onto Cockleshell Gully Road. This will take you straight to the Lesueur National Park which covers 26,987 hectares and is home to over 900 different species of flora, including a huge variety of seasonal wildflowers.

2. When you've finished exploring the park, continue on Cockleshell Gully Road to Jurien Road, head north-east towards Brand Highway and turn left. Continue along Brand Highway for approximatley 35 minutes and you will find the Western Flora Caravan Park on the right-hand side.

3. To return to Dongara, head north on the Brand Highway, continue straight until arriving at the T-intersection where you turn left towards Dongara.