Located in the Shire of Dandaragan, and straddling the Brand Highway, Badgingarra National Park is easily accessible. The park covers over 13,000 hectares and includes high breakaway country overlooking low undulating sandplains and is renowned for its incredible diversity of endemic wildflowers.
One of the highlights of the park is the Iain Wilson Nature Trail. The walk trail was formerly known as the Badgingarra Nature Trail but has been renamed in memory of a local pioneer farmer and land carer Iain Wilson. The walk begins west of the Brand Highway, opposite the turn off for the town of Badgingarra. The walk is 2km long and for the keen walker, a 1.5km detour will reward you with magnificent views across the national park from the lookout.
The trail crosses fairly rugged countryside and includes numerous steep hills. Appropriate supportive footwear is strongly recommended. The best time to see the wildflowers is between August and November but the park is open and accessible all year round.
The spectacular and diverse wildflower display along the trail is a sight not to be missed. The vegetation is predominantly low scrub. The lowlands bloom with extensive wildflowers in spring. Flora in this area includes yellow and black kangaroo paws, two types of grass tree, Banksias, , the Badgingarra Mallee, Mottlecah (Eucalyptus macrocarpa, which has the largest flower of all the eucalypts) and Verticordias (featherflowers). Also keep an eye out for Thelymitra pulcherrima, the Northern Queen of Sheba, from the orchid family, which can be spotted right in the middle of the walk trail at the right time of year.
Many of the plants are threatened by the spread of dieback, a soil borne fungus. There are boot cleaning stations located within the park. Please make use of these to help stop the spread of this devastating fungus.
Ensure you bring your binoculars and a camera to capture the kangaroos, Wedge-tailed eagles and emus at home in the vast bushland. This 90 minute walk offers a wildflower display unique to the area including the extremely rare Badgingarra Mallee (Eucalyptus pendens).
Please take extreme care if crossing the Brand Highway on foot and be aware that no dogs are allowed in this park and there are no drinking water facilities.