Your wildflower wander begins in the natural bushlands of Perth’s oldest wine region, the Swan Valley. Take the 40 minute drive from Guildford Road to the Great Northern Highway and Cathedral Avenue, passing flower-filled pastures to Bells Rapids. Here, beside the white water rapids of the Swan River, you can stroll among wandoo woodland, paperbarks and fucshia grevillea. Spend the rest of the morning hopping from cellar doors to fresh produce stalls to gourmet stores to a café or restaurant, sampling and feasting on the region’s finest flavours. Free maps of the Swan Valley Food and Wine Trail – a 32 kilometre loop taking in over 200 attractions – are available at most wineries, or the Swan Valley Visitor Centre in Guildford. Head north-east on Toodyay Road, taking a detour on Reen Road to the flora and fauna hotspot of FR Berry Reserve. Walking the 2.7-kilometre trail, you may encounter some wildflowers that occur nowhere else in Western Australia, or the world for that matter, not to mention the electric blue splendid fairy wren and the endangered Carnaby’s cockatoo. From here, you’re just a 17-minute drive from Gidgegannup. There are a few options for dinner nearby, many only open on weekends. For those who have an appetite for more encounters with the natural world, head out to Karakamia Wildlife Sanctuary for a torch-lit dusk walk. The sanctuary is just 9.5 kilometres from Gidgegannup, and your guide will help you get a glimpse of some of Western Australia’s lesser-spotted and rare mammals, such as woylies, and quendas, Tammar wallabies and western ringtail possums.