Lesueur National Park, WA: Scenic drive, walks and wildflowers

The best things to do in the Lesueur National Park near Jurien Bay, Western Australia, include the Lesueur Scenic Drive and admiring wildflowers on the Yonga Trail.

Lesueur National Park, Western Australia, is one of the best places in the state to see wildflowers. The national park covers 26,987 hectares and there have been strong conservation efforts here.

The variety of vegetation in Lesueur National Park is part of what makes it a fertile territory for wildflowers. Much of the park is low heathland, but there are also creek lines, and woodlands filled with wandoo, redgum and banksia.

Lesueur National Park also contains two key flat-topped mesas – Mount Lesueur and Mount Michaud – plus remnant coastal dunes and salt lakes.

Wildflowers in Lesueur National Park

This Western Australian national park is home to more than 900 plant species. These include acacias, leschenaultias and melaleucas. Several varieties of kangaroo paw are on display in the spring months, while numerous different orchids also grow near Mount Lesueur. These include purple enamel, white spider and blue lady orchids.

There is also plenty of wildlife to see within Lesueur National Park – notably geckos and legless lizards. The park is in a geographic sweet spot, with many species at either the northern or southern limit of their range.

Lesueur Scenic Drive

Driving is generally the best way to explore Lesueur National Park. The 18.5km, one way Lesueur Scenic Drive passes through the most scenic section of the park, heading past both Mount Lesueur and Cockleshell Gully. There are plenty of lay-bys on the Lesueur Scenic Drive where you can pull over and take pictures.

You might as well tackle this as part of a half day trip from Jurien Bay. The national park is a 25km drive north-east of Jurien Bay.

Lesueur National Park camping and walking

There are also a selection of walking trails. The 26km Yonga trail is the biggie – you’ll probably need an overnight stay at the Yonga Campground to complete that. The Yonga Campground is walk-in only and the only place where camping is permitted in the Lesueur National Park.

If 26km seems a bit much, then there are several shorter walks to enjoy. The Botanical Path is the easiest of these, but the Gairdner Trail, Lesueur Trail and 6km Yued Ponar Trail hit a happy medium. Details of all these walks are on the Parks and Wildlife Service website.

Once you’ve finished looking at flowers, things to do in Jurien Bay include a Jurien Bay beach skydive.

More Western Australia travel

Get wet at the Outback Splash water park in Bullsbrook.

Take in views of the Murchison River Gorge from Nature’s Window or the Kalbarri Skywalk in Kalbarri National Park.

Admire the wildflowers in Lesueur National Park near Jurien Bay.

Enjoy the red cliffs and white sand of James Price Point near Broome.

Visit Hutt Lagoon and Red Bluff on the drive from Geraldton to Carnarvon.