IT'S WILDFLOWER TIME IN WONGAN HILLS!

If you crave peace and quiet, wide open spaces, walk trails, wild flowers and good old country hospitality then you’ll love Wongan Hills. Located 2 hours north east of Perth, with a population of less than 1,000 people and surrounded by farmland and granite outcrops, Wongan Hills is the perfect weekend getaway. And at this time of year it is bursting forth with colourful wildflowers.

If you are looking for a serious trail to tackle, Mt Matilda delivers with stunning views after a short steep climb, but if a shorter stroll is more the order of the day, then there are 4 easier walks to choose from. And if that isn’t enough the Reynoldson Reserve Wildflower Festival will be held on the last weekend in October by which time the Verticordia (Feather Flower) should be blooming and with 7 different varieties at Reynoldson Reserve alone, its sure going to be a sight to see!

Mt Matilda

Time – 2-3 hours

Distance – 7.9 km loop

Difficulty – Grade 3

Trail Start – Wongan Hills Nature Reserve, Waddington-Wongan Hills Rd

Mt Matilda is listed as one of Trails WAs Top Trails and it’s easy to see why. The trail starts with a steep climb, including some pretty big rocky steps, before levelling out and winding its way around the top of the hill. With a variety of vegetation types and stunning wildflowers in spring, the trail provides the most amazing views of the surrounding landscape. Seating is provided at a number of vantage points where you can take some time to take it all in. There are also numerous interpretive panels providing an insight into the different landscape features you pass through.

A shorter route is available if preferred. Follow the trail clockwise and lookout for the large green painted sign on your right.

https://trailswa.com.au/trails/mount-matilda-walk-trail

Christmas Rock Walk

Time – Less than 1 hour

Distance – 1.6km loop

Difficulty – Grade 2

Trail Start - Apex Park on Wandoo Crescent

This short trail is walking distance from the caravan park and meanders through the Reserve, up over Christmas Rock and along the water catchment channels. These rock channels were constructed to divert rainwater from the rock into the Railway Dam. Interpretive panels provide interesting snippets of information about the natural and cultural history of the area. Stunning wildflowers, including several varieties of orchids are found within the Reserve and along the trail.

https://trailswa.com.au/trails/christmas-rock-walk-trail

Gathercole Reserve Walk Trail

Time – Less than 1 hour

Distance – 3.1km loop

Difficulty – Grade 3

Trail Start - Gathercole Reserve car park on Moonijin W Road

While many walks on granite outcrops take you to the top of a bald hill, Gathercole Reserve Trail meanders through the reserve, around huge granite boulders sculpted by the weather and past a wide variety of vegetation and landscape types. The trail has a variety of different surfaces, but no steep sections, making it suitable for most people. Between July and October each year the Reserve comes alive with a diverse range of wildflowers including many varieties of orchids.

https://trailswa.com.au/trails/gathercole-reserve-walk-trail-wongan...

Wongan Wildflower Walk

Time – Less than one hour

Distance – 1km loop

Difficulty – Grade 2

Trail Start - Quinlan St, Wongan Hills

The Wongan Wildflower Walk is a nice easy walk trail of about 1 km on the edge of town and known for its stunning displays of wildflowers during August and September. The trail follows the sandy firebreaks through an area of natural bushland. Expect to find a wide variety of wildflowers including several varieties of delicate orchids.

Follow the WWW trail markers in a clockwise direction. The trail is pet friendly making it a popular option for both locals and those travelling with pets. The natural bush setting attracts a variety of native animals and birds.

https://trailswa.com.au/trails/wongan-wildflower-walk

Reynoldson Reserve

Time – Less than one hour

Distance – 2.4 km return

Difficulty – Grade 2

Trail Start - Old Ballidu Rd, 20 minutes north of Wongan Hills

For most of the year Reynoldson Reserve Walk Trail is a fairly ordinary sandy track through the reserve, but between October and January the trail is literally lined with 7 different varieties of Verticordia (Feather flowers) and numerous other varieties of wildflowers. There are interpretive panels with information about the different flowering shrubs along the trail and the interesting history of the reserve. Don’t be tempted to stray off the trail to get a closer view and preserve these amazing flowers for others to see!

https://trailswa.com.au/trails/wongan-wildflower-walk