Be dazzled by beautiful park blooms in spring

Ready to shake off those winter blues and celebrate spring in our parks? The next few months are the perfect time to enjoy brilliant wildflower displays in many parks across Victoria.

Whether you’re surrounding yourself with carpets of colourful flowers, spotting rare orchids, or just enjoying the local native flowers, it’s a great way to immerse yourself in nature and help your spirits soar.

Parks Victoria’s Environmental Scientist – Flora, Marie Keatley says: “In Victoria we are lucky to have many different habitats that support a huge variety of wildflowers. Hidden gems and places that may not appear that interesting in other months can be completely transformed during spring. This includes some of our important grasslands that are often critical habitat to rare and threatened plants and animals.

“I encourage everyone to take a picnic or go for a walk in our parks this spring and enjoy the stunning range of wildflower colours, shapes and scents on offer. This is also a wonderful time to see many different birds out enjoying the nectar from the flowers.”

Check out some favourite wildflower hotspots suggested by Parks Victoria rangers across Victoria,

Around Melbourne:

1. Mount Derimut Nature Conservation Reserve

Just 18km west of Melbourne’s CBD this is one of the largest grassland reserves within the Western Volcanic Plains a great spot to see wildflowers including Bluebells, Scaly buttons, Billy Buttons, lemon beauty-heads, Everlasting daisies.

2. Long Forest Flora and Fauna Reserve

Located near Bacchus Marsh, a wonderful spot to see plants typical of arid landscapes. You can see a variety wildflowers including Greenhood orchids and Bull Mallee eucalypts also abound and flower between September to February. This is also a popular spot for bird watching enthusiasts.

3. Anakie Gorge and Stony Creek Reservoir, Brisbane Ranges National Park

Just 80km west of Melbourne in the Barwon South West region of Victoria. Bright Hakeas, grevilleas and peas are just some of the flowers you can spot here along with wallabies, koalas and plenty of different birds.

4. Kinglake National Park

Only 65km north of Melbourne nestled in the slopes of the Great Dividing Range, you can walk beneath tall forest trees, through fern gullies and enjoy a range of wildflowers in bloom.

5. Warrandyte State Park

At the closest state park to Melbourne, you can enjoy walking or picnicking amongst brilliant golden wattles including at least 15 different species native to the area.

Further afield:

1. Anglesea Heath, Great Otway National Park

Anglesea Heath is 100km south-west of Melbourne near Anglesea and has the richest and most diverse range of plants in Victoria including more than 80 different types of orchids. In spring, the heathland erupts into a vibrant sea of colour.

2. Terrick Terrick National Park

There is an abundance of wildlife in these northern plains grasslands just 60km from Bendigo. You’ll find a great choice of walks with scenic views across the grasslands, granite outcrops and woodlands and the place is transformed in spring with a colourful display of wildflowers.

3. Wilsons Promontory National Park and Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park

These much loved parks in Gippsland offer spectacular displays of wildflowers including orchids, wattle, heathland and other species.

4. Grampians National Park

The Grampians are wonderful to visit any time of year and fabulous in spring. You’ll see a huge variety of wildflowers including stunning pink and white Grampians Heath, beautiful orchids, and Tea-tree in full bloom.

5. Alpine National Park and Snowy River National Park, Gippsland

Victoria’s high plains are the perfect place to surround yourself in magnificent mountain views and carpets of wildflowers including snow daisies and bright yellow billy buttons.

6. Hattah Kulkyne National Park and Murray Sunset National Park

Located in the Mallee district in the north-western corner of Victoria, you’ll discover a huge variety of wildflowers including bright pink Pigface, spider orchids, azure sun orchids, desert heath myrtles and bright native daisies.