Spring is the perfect time to get out and explore Australia, as wildflowers are blooming into brightly coloured life, especially in our national parks.
We’ve picked our top five national parks to visit this spring, whether you’re planning a daytrip, a weekender or an extended adventure. And while we haven’t included any national parks that shut over the wet season on the list, early spring is your last chance to visit many of the national parks in the Northern Territory, Queensland, and even a few in Western Australia and South Australia.
Finke Gorge National Park, Northern Territory
Finke Gorge is one of the most spectacular national parks in the Northern Territory. The park’s most famous attraction is Palm Valley, where you’ll find the graceful shapes of red cabbage palms (Livistona mariae), a plant species that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
The main activities in the park are bushwalking and four-wheel driving. But if you feel up to a more challenging and extended trek, you can head to the neighbouring MacDonnell Ranges National Park, where you’ll find sections of the Larapinta Trail.
Finke Gorge National Park is about two hours west of Alice Springs, and there’s limited camping in the park.
Fitzgerald River National Park, Western Australia
If you love native wildflowers, Fitzgerald River has more than 1800 types of plant species on show. The park is a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, in recognition of its stunning array of flora.
Spring is the best time to visit, with a variety of activities on offer to visitors. For naturalists, you can enjoy some birdwatching, or watch whales frolicking off the coast until the end of October. There are also a variety of walking tracks, as well as excellent fishing and inland kayaking.
Grampians National Park, Victoria
One of Victoria’s best-loved national parks, the Grampians bursts into a riot of colour over spring. This is celebrated in the Grampians Wildflower Show, held in Halls Gap in October.
It’s hard to get bored in the Grampians. In between enjoying the flora and fauna (the Grampians are home to over a third of Victoria’s animal species), you can go fishing, bikeriding, horseriding, rock climbing, abseiling, canoeing, walking, swimming or take a scenic drive.
Mount Remarkable National Park, South Australia
Situated at the southern end of the Flinders Ranges, Mount Remarkable lives up to its name with a stunning array of wildlife and native plants. From kangaroos to possums and lace monitors, you’ll be kept busy with wildlife-watching opportunities. The national park is also home to some beautiful plant species, including a variety of wattles, blue gums, river red gums and orchids.
Bushwalking is the main activity in the national park, with the epic Heysen Trail passing through its boundaries. But as well as studying the native animals, you can take a look at some manmade historic artefats, with some remains of European settlement still visible.
Wollemi National Park, New South Wales
Wollemi National Park feels almost like a magical wilderness, especially since the Wollemi pine, a new-to-us plant species, was discovered here in 1994. And although you’re not allowed to visit the pine, it makes the park feel like a prehistoric playground just waiting to be discovered.
Situated in the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, the park is only a couple of hours from Sydney, and has plenty of activities to enjoy, from canoeing on the Colo River to birdwatching some of the 235 bird species in the park. The park is also a rich source of Aboriginal history.
What’s your favourite national park to visit in spring?
Image credits: Grampians National Park, Tourism Victoria; Palm Valley, Tourism Northern Territory; Alligator Gorge, Flinders Ranges, SATC; Wollemi National Park, Destination New South Wales
