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Flower-Spotting Down Under, Where Winter Is Spring

Winter in Western Australia isn't the cold and blustery season people in other parts of the world are accustomed to—in fact, it's more like spring. So it's little wonder that from June to September, tourists arrive by the plane-full to check out the state's famous wildflowers in bloom.

Western Australia's a pretty big place—think more than three times larger than Texas—and the tourism peeps there have designed a bunch of itineraries best suited to self-drive vacations.

With over 12,000 species of wildflowers to be spotted, we're talking more than just a quick trip to the florist. Cool ones include everlastings (they feel like paper and last, well, forever) and kangaroo paws, twisted red and green blooms which could belong on kangaroos if you use your imagination.

The season winds up with the Wildflower Festival in Kings Park, Perth, in September. As well as going haywire on the wildflowers, the park gets pumping with a music festival, cultural shows and related exhibitions. So if you're taking a Down Under winter vacation but want to skip the snow, start geeking up on your wildflower knowledge or at least getting your camera ready.

Related Stories:
· Wildflowers Western Australia [Official Site]
· Winter Down Under Starts Early at Mount Buller [Jaunted]
· Western Australia Travel Guide [Jaunted]

[Photo: vagawi]