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Wildflowers 2026
  • Michelle Creasy
  • Michelle Creasy

Wildflowers 2026

A 10-day adventure by Michelle Read more
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  • Trip start
    August 28, 2026
    Michelle CreasyWildflowers 2026Michelle Creasy
    Pom poms Coorow Community Farm
    1Asparagus from The Local Larder BindoonGrevillea at Candy's Bush Reserve MooraAcacia at Candy's Bush Reserve MooraCandy's Bush Reserve MooraCandy's Bush Reserve MooraCandy's Bush Reserve MooraCandy's Bush Reserve MooraCandy's Bush Reserve Moora1Candy's Bush Reserve Moora1Fringe lily Candy's Bush Reserve MooraEverlastings Candy's Bush Reserve MooraRoad to Jingemia CaveEverlastings Jingemia CaveJingemia CaveJingemia Cave1Jingemia Cave1Jingemia Cave1Jingemia CaveCoorow Community FarmPom poms Coorow Community FarmPatterson's Curse Coorow Community FarmAcacia Coorow Community FarmCoorow Community FarmPom poms Coorow Community FarmCoorow Community FarmCoorow Community FarmView from lookout Coorow Community Farm1Big Tractor CarnamahPom poms Mingenew Town LookoutView from Mingenew Town Lookout

    Wildflowers along the Midlands Road

    August 28 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    My big holiday this year is a week in Geraldton spending time with family and enjoying the wildflowers.
    I usually go up the Brand Hwy when I travel to Geraldton but decided to take the Midlands road which starts just north of Bindoon and continues up to Mingenew. This was a very familiar route when travelling between the farm and Perth but I haven’t driven it in a long time.

    First stop was actually Bindoon as I was hoping to pick up some local asparagus. I do enjoy the thin asparagus spears we get in spring here. It’s one of the truly seasonal vegetables we have left.

    Next stop was Moora and a walk through Candy’s bush reserve. Lots of flowering shrubs and spotted a couple of orchid and fringed lilies.

    Every time we drove to and from Perth as a kid and young adult we went past the sign to Jingemia Cave but I’ve never been there. The reserve the cave is in was meant to be a good site for wildflowers. The drive in from the road was lovely with lots of different bushes and trees in flower. The dirt road was a bit wet in places but still I was still able to navigate it in my little Yaris.
    The cave was more of a hole in the ground. Being on my own and not the most agile I didn’t consider trying to explore the area around the cave.
    It’s a nice detour in wildflower season and I recommend doing it at least once.

    It was suggested that the Coorow community farm was a good place to see wildflowers. I think it’s a work in progress as I found myself driving around the edge of a paddock. One side was in crop, the other rbushland. While driving the most prominent flower I can see was Patterson’s Curse. I stopped and walked though the bushland up to a lookout. Most of the ground is covered in wild oats but there were areas of yellow and white pom poms. It wasn’t a very high lookout so the view wasn’t extensive. I’d be interested to see how this area develops.

    Carnamah was always regarded as the half way point. We could often get Dad to buy us an icecream as we’d stop to use the toilet and Dad’s rule was if you use the facilities then you have to buy something. A custom I continue to practice.
    The big tourist attraction these days is the world’s largest tractor. It’s huge! An orange Chamberlain that dominates the landscape.

    By then it was starting to get cold and rain. I decided to go though to Mingenew and decide then whether to continue on towards Mullewa or head to Geraldton. Once in Mingenew I decided to take a look at the lookout - another sign I’d been past so many times but never followed - and then head onto Geraldton.    Read more

  • Michelle CreasyWildflowers 2026Michelle Creasy
    1Ellandale Pool
    1At Greenough rivermouth1View from Cape Burney LookoutGreenough river not quite meeting the oceanWind farmWind farm1Ellendale pool1Ellandale pool1Ellandale PoolEllandale Pool1Ellandale PoolEllandale Pool1Ellandale Pool1Geraldton Sunset

    Along the Greenough River

    August 29 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    We went down to the Greenough rivermouth this morning. The river doesn’t quite break through to the ocean.
    We had a walk along the sandbar at the mouth.
    We then followed the Devlin Pool rd, hoping to visit that pool on the river but the track down to the pool was 4WD only so we kept going.

    Next stop was Ellendale Pool. I’ve driven past signs to Ellandale Pool for years and never gone.
    On the way there we stopped and read about the wind farm at the information site. There are 54 turbines that have a minimum like of 25 years. The oldest have been there for 20 years so it will be interesting to see what happens in the next 5-10 years.

    Ellandale is so scenic and serene, well until the birds made themselves known. It’s a beautiful spot.
    That was it for our travels today.    Read more

  • Michelle CreasyWildflowers 2026Michelle Creasy
    Canola
    Asparagus saladBush landCampfire with damper and mulled ginger beerPicnicCanolaFlowering shrubCanolaCreek poolCreek poolCreek poolShrubCanola

    Canola Country

    August 30 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    To be honest you could probably call much of the farming areas from north of Perth to Geraldton canola country.

    We went out for a family picnic to an area new to me. It’s much wetter than where I grew up. Some of the track was a bit rough with a creek to cross but mum and I were chauffeured from the sheds to the picnic spot.

    There weren’t heaps of wildflowers, a few different bushes with wattles dominating. It was the canola that gave the marvellous backdrop to the picnic.

    There was a lot of delicious food, I made an asparagus salad which the asparagus from Bindoon. We were also treated to damper and mulled ginger beer cooked on the fire.
    We talked, ate and had a lovely walk. Not much more you can ask for when with family.    Read more

  • Michelle CreasyWildflowers 2026Michelle Creasy
    Hawks Head Lookout
    Ross Graham LookoutRoss Graham LookoutRoss Graham LookoutRoss Graham LookoutHawks Head LookoutHawks Head LookoutHawks Head LookoutHawks Head LookoutOn the road from Hawks Head LookoutOn the road from Hawks Head LookoutOn the road from Hawks Head LookoutOn the road from Hawks Head LookoutNature's WindowNatures WindowNatures WindowNatures WindowNatures WindowKalbarri SkywalkKalbarri SkywalkKalbarri SkywalkThorny devil sculptureKalbarri river mouthGrandstand Rock GorgeGrandstand Rock GorgeGrandstand Rock GorgeGrandstand Rock GorgeGrandstand Rock GorgeGrandstand Rock Gorge

    Gorgeous Gorges

    August 31 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Kalbarri today. Although I’ve been to Kalbarri multiple times as both a child and adult I haven’t been since the Kalbarri Skywalk was opened. We have planned a family holiday there in 2021 but cancelled due to the damage done by Cyclone Seroja.

    I had a multi stop itinerary all planned.
    First stop was Ross Graham Lookout that gave lovely views of the Murchison river as well as lots of flowering bushes.
    From there we went to the Hawks Head lookout and saw more sweeping views of the river and gorge as well as the outcrop that gave the lookout it’s name.

    Next stop was Nature’s Window. It was getting quite warm by then and close to lunchtime so when we saw the full carpark and the trail of people walking down to get their photo in the window we decided we didn’t have the patience to wait and watch while everyone took their photos. We’ve been before and somewhere there is the photo to prove it.
    We did enjoy the views from the car park area.

    We went to the Skywalk and enjoyed the views of a different part of the river. Then back to the main road and into Kalbarri for lunch at Finlay’s for lunch. We both enjoyed the delicious seafood as well as the cool breeze. By the time we had finished it was getting on for 3pm so we revised our plans and decided to only visit one of the coastal lookouts. We went to Grandstand lookout as neither of us could recall going there before. The coast is a different sort of rugged to the Murchison Gorges but still awe inspiring. We saw some goats on the side of the hill.
    Earlier I’d seen a thorny devil on the road and on the way back to Northampton we saw some emus in the paddock.

    We then went down George Grey rd to Northampton and home. Did just over 400km for the day so not quite the equivalent of a trip to Perth but nearly.    Read more

  • Michelle CreasyWildflowers 2026Michelle Creasy
    Wedding dresses
    Marine TerraceEdith Cowan StatueGeraldton ForeshoreGeraldton WharfShearing mural at CVHS museumWool sorting table at CVHS museumCWA cookbooksWedding dressesWedding dressesNaraling hall/churchEverlastingsEverlastingsEverlastingsEverlastings

    Nostalgia in Nanson

    September 1 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    We started the day with a walk along Marine Terrace and the foreshore. It was interesting to see how much Marine Terrance has changed over the last 40 years.
    We did get rained (drizzled) on so sat at a picnic shelter for 10 mins or so before finishing our walk at the coffee shop at the end of the foreshore.
    Later in the morning we went out to the Chapman Valley Historical Society Museum. We went specifically to see their new wedding dress exhibition which had wedding dresses worn by Chapman Valley brides from the 1930s to 1990.

    When we got there we were in the entrance talking to some poeple. A woman came up and rounded up two of the people telling them it was morning tea time and they had to come for morning tea.
    We hadn’t been expecting morning tea but felt obligated to go as it had been organised and if someone goes to the trouble of organising a morning tea we wanted to show our appreciation by participating. It was only when the woman passing out food didn’t offer us any and the volunteer caretaker said he wasn’t expecting us we realised we’d gatecrashed a private morning tea! The museum does provide free tea/coffee and a homemade biscuit that you can help yourself to so we were able to sit at the table chatting to the other without feeling totally awkward.

    We then went to see the wedding dresses. Some of the earlier dresses were so small they didn’t fit the models and had to be pinned on. There was a lot more in the room to see and we then explored the Yuna section of the museum. It brought back some memories.

    On to the Nabawa Tavern for lunch. We were surprised at how busy it was but had a lovely meal.

    One of the caretakers had mentioned that the everlastings around the Naraling Hall were good so we drove down the road to the hall. We did find some everlastings but it’s a bit late to see the carpets of everlastings that we wanted to see.
    We then retraced our steps back into town.    Read more

  • Michelle CreasyWildflowers 2026Michelle Creasy
    Wreath flower, Pindar
    Orange Wattle, Bringo LookoutSt James Chapel KojarenaWreath flower, PindarWells Dampiera, PindarPink Firework Myrtle, PindarBush Pomegranate, PindarPindarPindarPindarWreath flower, PindarWreath Flower, PindarWreath Flowers, PindarPindarPindarMulla Mulla, PindarEverlastings, PindarPindarGolden bush, PindarGolden Bush, PindarAcacia, PindarTenindewaEverlasting, TenindewaNoondamurra poolYuna

    Wreath Flowers

    September 2 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    Today we headed out to Mullewa to see the wreath flowers.
    On the way we stopped to see the Kojarena chapel which is about 30km out from Geraldton and was designed by Monsignor Hawes who designed so many of the chapels and churches in the area. It was used as a chapel from 1935 to 1984. It fell into disrepair and in 2007 the descendants of the O’Brien family, who were instrumental in having the chapel built had the building restored.
    Next stop was Tenindewa and what is left of that community. We went past the site of the first house I lived in but it is no longer there.
    Once in Mullewa we visited the Visitor Centre to determine whether we would visit Pindar road or the Wongoondy-Targum road to view the wreath flowers. We decided on the Pindar rd. Before leaving town we took a look at the new community hospital which is due to open next year and had a picnic lunch.

    The drive out to the wreath flowers was very pretty with a lot of flowers and flowering bushes along the roadside although there were a lot of 4 trailer road trains coming from the Mt Magnet direction.

    Apparently there have been better seasons for wreath flowers and a lot of these were quite small but we found some nice specimens as well as other flowers.

    We headed to Yuna via Noondamurra Pool.
    In Yuna we explored the townsite, it has changed quite a bit in the last 40 years but is still recognisable. We finished by looking over the school. While the original building is there there have been many changes over the years.

    We then headed home taking some backroads to look at crops.    Read more

  • Michelle CreasyWildflowers 2026Michelle Creasy
    Horrocks
    HorrocksHorrocksHorrocks1HorrocksHorrocks1Bobtail at HorrocksWilli Gully cavesWilli Gully cavesBowes River Mouth1Bowes River MouthPig face at Bowes River Mouth1Pig face at Bowes River MouthBowes River MouthBowes River MouthCoronation Beach1Echidna

    Pretty Beaches

    September 3 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    Another day visiting places from my childhood.
    We started at Northampton and had a good look around before continuing out to Horrocks.
    I’m not sure if I’ve been there since I was in primary school. It’s a lovely beach, shallow and protected by a reef system. No swimming today as it’s a bit cool and we weren’t planning to stay long. We bought some lunch at the Horrocks General Store before heading to the picnic tables overlooking the beach. The General Store does lovely food and has a nice ranges of things to buy.

    Next we went to Willi Gully caves on the Bowes River rd. The caves contain indigenous art. I didn’t know anything about these cave until very recently. The artwork was done by the Nanda people. They ask that you don’t take photos of the artwork so I didn’t. It was interesting to look at.
    We continued down the road to the Bowes river mouth, another place I’ve not visited before. It had nice views.

    We then headed home, pulling into Coronation beach for a look. We saw an echidna crossing the road. We also saw four bobtails on the road in various places. I’m please to have seen both a thorny devil and echidna on this trip. They were both rare sightings in my childhood.

    We went down the Oakagee access road to see where it went. Turns out nowhere. It ends as a dead end about a km in.
    We then tried to take a look at the beach at Drummonds Cove but that has changed so much it took quite a while to find a route to the beach.    Read more

  • Michelle CreasyWildflowers 2026Michelle Creasy
    Little Things Grow my Carlleen Dingo
    Little Things Grow my Carlleen DingoBundaras (Stars) by Noelene HamlettThe Eclipse by Susan MerryThe First Astronomers by Dawn Hamlett and Leeann Kelly-PedersenSeven Sisters by Noeleen HamlettEmu in the Sky by Leeann Kelly-Pedersen

    Cosmic Echoes

    September 4 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    Much quieter day today. I went down to the Geraldton Museum to view their Cosmic Echoes Exhibition. This was an exhibition of art done by Wajarri Yamaji and South African Indigenous artists inspired by the Square Kilometre Array Observatory telescopes.
    It was very interesting, the Seven Sisters (Pleiades) featured in a lot of paintings.    Read more

  • Michelle CreasyWildflowers 2026Michelle Creasy
    International Year of the Woman Farmer display
    International Year of the Woman Farmer displayExhibition hall muralsAll the roles a woman farmer holdsAll the roles a woman farmer holdsVegetablesMore vegetablesFunny looking vegetables (that was the category)FruitArtChildren's artChildren's Lego constructionWildflowersCakesHome brew and other refrigerated entriesInternational Year of the Woman FarmerCotton crochetCottonFlowersFarm Produce and PreservesChunabi (Chapman Valley, Yuna and Binnu schools) displayExhibition HallCWA morning tea/lunchEJ Holden, very similar to my Dad's first carWheat variety displayPoultry breeding groupKids sheep shearing competitionAdult sheep shearing competition

    Show Day

    September 5 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Chapman Valley Show today. I’m not sure when I last went to the CV show. As kids we would often go to the Mullewa or CV shows, very occasionally Northampton. It would have been at least 35 years or more since I last attended a show.

    It was a good day out. The show has certainly changed a lot. There were no centre ring events, the animals were limited to poultry and sheep. Lots of food trucks and stalls selling all sorts of things.

    The exhibition pavilion was still there though. We enjoyed wandering through looking at the fresh produce, artwork, photos, children’s exhibitions and craftwork.

    We had an early lunch at the dining hall, provided by the Yuna CWA before viewing the vintage cars and the plots of wheat varieties grown from seed from different eras. You coul see the huge change from spelt to Federation wheat and then through the decades to a current variety.
    We headed over to the kids sheep shearing competition. I thought this would been teenagers shearing sheep but it was kids pretending to shear toy sheep. You could tell the ones who’d seen sheep shorn before and those that hadn’t.

    We watched a fashion parade from local producers and then the awardpresentation. I don’t think I’ve ever watched them before but it was interesting to see who had accumulated points across various activities.

    The shearing competition was finishing then so we watched the end of that. They were shearing sheep in around 30 seconds although the sheep didn’t have a full year’s growth of wool and the belly and head were also done.

    And that was it. A lovely day out to finish my holiday. Back home tomorrow.    Read more

  • Michelle CreasyWildflowers 2026Michelle Creasy
    Road to Western Flora Caravan Park
    Road to Western Flora caravan parkRoad to Western Flora Caravan ParkRoad to Western Flora Caravan ParkRoad to Western Flora Caravan ParkRoad to Western Flora Caravan ParkRoad to Western Flora Caravan ParkRoad to Western Flora Caravan ParkRoad to Western Flora Caravan ParkRoad to Western Flora Caravan ParkRoad to Western Flora Caravan ParkRoad to Western Flora Caravan ParkRoad to Western Flora Caravan ParkRoad to Western Flora Caravan ParkRoad to Western Flora Caravan ParkRoad to Western Flora Caravan ParkRoad to Western Flora Caravan ParkRoad to Western Flora Caravan ParkRoad to Western Flora Caravan ParkRegans Ford Rest Area RoadRegans Ford Rest Area RoadRegans Ford Rest Area RoadRegans Ford Rest Area RoadRegans Ford Rest Area RoadRegans Ford Rest Area RoadRegans Ford Rest Area RoadRegans Ford Rest Area RoadRegans Ford Rest Area RoadRegans Ford Rest Area RoadDongaraEneabbaCataby Roadhouse NorthCataby Roadhouse SouthGinginBP Muchea

    Disabled Toilets of Brand Highway

    September 6 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    A bit of a strange title but my aim on the way home was to check out all the disabled/accessible toilets along the Brand Hwy between Geraldton and Perth. There are Changing Places toilets (accessible toilets with changing facilities) in Perth and Geraldton but none along the highway. Apparently there is one in Guilderton.

    I did manage to see some wildflowers as well.
    I went down the road to the Western Flora Caravan Park between Dongara and Eneabba. There were quite a few puddles after the rain the region received last night. Lots of different flowers to the last week.
    I went looking for disabled toilets at Regans Ford (which I didn’t find) but the road to the rest area had some lovely flowers.

    The reason for checking out the disabled toilets was to see whether they met the accessibility needs of someone I will be travelling to Geraldton with soon.
    I was looking at accessibility (getting into the toilet), cleanliness and facilities (what was in the toilet). Where there were both male and female disabled toilets I only checked out the female toilet.

    Dongara - Waldeck St Public Toilet. The curb to get from the road to the path was quite high although not as high as the curb.
    The disabled toilet is in with the other female toilet.
    Cleanliness was good, as were the facilities.

    Eneabba - Eneabba Dr Public Toilet. There are both male and female public toilets that are separate to the other toilets.
    Nice flat access, cleanliness good. There was no toilet paper or paper towel. The toilets are apparently checked daily so hopefully that would soon be rectified.

    The Half Way Mill Roadhouse at Warradarge didn’t have a disabled toilet.

    Badgingarra - Meagher Dr Public Toilet. Nice and flat access with an ACROD bay next to the toilets. Cleanliness was good.

    Cataby North Roadhouse was inside the roadhouse and doubled as the parents room. There is an ACROD bay close to the door, it’s all flat and the room very spacious. Cleanliness excellent.

    Cataby South Roadhouse - the disabled toilet is a separate annex to the other toilets. You need to go up a rather steep ramp and turn a couple of corners. Cleanliness was only okay.

    Regans Ford has no disabled toilets.

    Gingin - Granville Park Public Toilet, Weld st. The car park is probably a 40m walk to the toilet. The toilet smelt strongly of cigarette smoke. Cleanliness was okay.

    Muchea - BP, Great Northern Hwy. This toilet is inside the service station towards the back with the path being level the whole way. It seems relatively new and had everything you’d expect in a disabled toilet. Cleanliness was excellent.

    I have no idea whether anyone else would find this useful but I know well use this information later in the year.    Read more

    Trip end
    September 6, 2026