The Bloom Festival, spread across eight Western Australian shires and incorporating national parks, has already kicked off and will continue through to October 19 with its magnificent gardens, flowers, wines, food and more.
Occurring annually, the Bloom Festival is a celebration of the Hidden Treasures of the Great Southern. It’s a colourful spring event with more than 40 activities available, all designed to introduce visitors to both the natural and man-made wonders of the area.
Natural marvels include wildflowers, crops and pastures, Hyden’s famous Wave Rock and the scenery in the Frankland River wine region, and more.
Since the Bloom Festival isn’t limited to a single suburb or city, there is opportunity to drive along historic or scenic (or both!) trails from, for example, Broomehill to Coolgardie. Named the Holland Track after John Holland and his followers, this trail covers 600km, took over two months to pave and resulted in a much quicker route to the Coolgardie goldfields, which were discovered in 1892. It can be done in a two-wheel-drive.
Another three-day drive trail, running from Albany to Perth through Bremer Bay, Ongerup and other shires, is the National Parks and Biosphere trail. This drive, more for 4WD touring, takes its visitors through both the Stirling Range and Fitzgerald River National Parks, the latter being one of Australia’s largest parks. More than 180 plant species can be found here, of which 75 do not grow anywhere else in the world.
If driving for hours or days at a time doesn’t appeal, stationing yourself in one of the 16 towns involved in the festival could be an option. Guided walking tours to observe native flora and fauna, like the wildflowers, orchids, or Blue Wren birds at Kulikup or the tulips at Amelup are available each day.
Camping, too, is another possibility, depending on where you’d like to stop for a while. Bremer Bay, discovered in 1851, offers a range of seaside activities including whale watching, diving and fishing, as well as a museum and the Homestead Cottages, if camping doesn’t appeal.
On the topic of accommodation, each shire is different, both geographically and also with regard to population. For this reason, accommodation types vary greatly and in some shires, like Tenterden, there is no place to settle. Most other locations offer either bed and breakfasts, caravan parks, motels or farm stays, though.
For more information on the Bloom Festival and the Hidden Treasures, and to find out opening and closing dates for particular activities, head to the website.
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