Dragon's Teeth in the Dunes -- The Pinnacles, a 3-hour drive north of Perth, attracts thousands of visitors each year. Masses of limestone pillars, from a few inches to over 3m (10 ft.) high, simply rise up out of golden sand dunes. Some are just a small fragile tracery, some are tall, solid mushroom-headed giants, while the sharp jagged versions could well be taken for fossilized dragon's teeth. From a distance they can look like the remnants of a deserted city, and they are best seen around dawn or dusk.
Tiptoeing Through the Wildflowers -- Every year from August to mid-November, the southern half of Western Australia is blessed with a magnificent range of wildflowers. The drier, more northerly areas produce great carpets of white, yellow, pink, and red daisylike everlastings, while the southern reaches have an incredible variety of individual flowering plants.
Wildflower shows and festivals in country towns throughout the state accompany the annual blossoming, and coach- and rail-tour companies carry enthusiasts from all around the globe on wildflower tours. You can check out the wildflowers on day trips from Perth or on longer jaunts of up to 5 days or so. Late August through October is the peak time.
If time is short, you can go to Perth's Kings Park & Botanic Garden, which has a month-long Wildflower Festival every September.
The display of everlastings is not constant, but varies from year to year depending on winter rains. The Western Australian Visitor Centre can keep you up to speed on whatever spot is blooming brightest that week, and the staff can book you on one of the wildflower tours. The Tourism Commission produces a 40-page Wildflower Holiday Planner brochure that describes self-drive wildflower routes, accommodations and events en route, and wildflower tour operators. Download it from the commission's website, www.westernaustralia.com.
Interstate buses and trains, and local hotels fill up fast in wildflower season, so book ahead.
