The 8 best places to see wildflowers in Australia

North of Perth is where you'll find some of the most incredible wildflower displays in the world. At the start of winter, wildflowers begin to make their way down into the northern Wheatbelt, with rainbow wildflowers and the canola fields alike bursting into bright yellow bloom across the region. The northwestern wheatbelt is known as 'Wildflower Country', and its festoons of multicoloured flowers give reason for its name. The northeastern wheatbelt includes parts of the Golden Outback, and stretches out to the coast, and is washed by bright carpets of everlastings and wreath flowers. A great way to make sure you see as many wildflowers in WA as possible is on the three-day Wildflower Way roadtrip.

Best time to see them: August to October

After the heavy winter rains in South Australia, the Flinders Ranges National Park explodes with a dazzling display of wildflowers in every colour imaginable. Whether it's along the highway from Adelaide, off unsealed roads, or around Mount Remarkable or Wilpenia Pound, wildflowers are absolutely everywhere. Expect riots of colour, getting off the beaten track, and allowing South Australia to whisk you away to an alternative, floral dimension where free-wheeling exploration is key. 

Best time to see them: September to November

Because variety is the spice of life, we've put the ultimate, summery flower on this list – the sunflower. Best seen, in our opinion, in massive, free-growing fields under the blazing Queensland sun. Most sunflower fields (although, not wild, alas) can be reached by driving two hours from Brisbane City on the 'Sunflower Route' which is a 26km roundtrip from Warwick. This drive will take you through literal fields of gold (hello, feeling like you're in a Sting song) across Southern Queensland's summer plains. Where exactly the sunflowers bloom changes every year, so make sure you contact the Warwick Visitor Information Centre about where the flowers are at before you hit the road.

Best time to see them: January (but this really depends on that year's conditions)

Okay, so this one isn't wild persay, but it is pretty special – plus, it's more accessible for anyone who isn't up to a rugged, remote hike through national parklands. Blooming at their best in the summer, Tassie's lavender fields are the sweeping, purple fabric that dreams are made of (sometimes, quite literally). Bridestow Lavender Estate is generally considered the best place to see lavender in Tasmania, and it's also the biggest privately-owned lavender farm on Earth. Although you have to pay to get in, the incredible sight and smell of these vast lilac fields are worth the dollars. Plus, you can get a scoop of lavender ice cream onsite to sweeten the ride. 

Best time to see them: December to early February 

The lush green meadows and high altitudes of Kosciuszko National Park are basically Australia's answer to the Austrian Alps. Read: You can definitely pretend to be an extra in The Sound of Music here. In the springtime, this usually rugged mountain region becomes washed by a delicate flood of pink, yellow and purple wildflowers. There are hundreds of different flower species that grow up in the high country, including 21 that you won't find anywhere else on Earth. You can spot the blooms at their best on the Kosciuszko Summit Walk, by cycling the Thredbo Valley Track, or drive along the Alpine Way from Canberra to Thredbo. 

Best time to see them: From August to early October

Every spring, the desert in Central Australia comes alive in a major kind of way. If you're planning on doing the Larapinta Trail (which is a mammoth expedition in itself), a good idea is to do it during wildflower season when the red sands and magenta rocks are peppered with a delicate and complex dusting of flowers. Keep your eyes peeled on your hike for flaming Sturt's desert peas, lavender Sturt's desert rose, white paper daisies and fluffy purple Mulla Mullas. You'll forget about how much your knees hurt. 

Best time to see them: May or August to September

The Gascoyne-Murchison region is located in Western Australia's 'Golden Outback', and when it comes to spectacular wildflower sightings, this vast landscape (on a good year – i.e. when there's been a lot of winter rain) takes the cake. You'll be able to see florid carpets of multicoloured blooms, with WA putting on the biggest wildflower show on Earth every year. You can expect to see scarlet red Sturt's desert pea everlastings, native cornflower, eremophila, flannel bush, cassias, acacias, bachelor buttons and golden billy buttons – just to name a few. Some notable locations to check out the wildflowers are Mount Augustus, Kennedy Range, Yagloo and walking trails around Gascoyne Junction. 

Best time to see them: Early July/ August 

Also known as 'Victoria's Garden', the Grampians National Park is home to one third of Victoria's native flora, including the state's floral emblem – pink common heath, a tiny flower that looks like a hot pink bell. The Grampians have six seasons, including petyan – 'wildflower season'. During this time, this vast national park becomes ablaze with hundreds of vibrant wildflower species. If you go on bushwalks through the Grampians in late winter, you'll be dazzled by the spiky purple petals of the blue tinsel lily, multiple technicoloured native orchids, and of course, countless smatterings of pink common heath. 

When to see them: August to November