🌷 The spring months offer the best chance to go for a wander and spot a wide variety of native lilies, wattles and orchids around Gippsland.

Wherever you go, stay on the tracks and leave the flowers where they are. Many orchids are tiny and easy to trample, and some of the species below are endangered. 

🥾 Dogs are generally not allowed in national parks, and tracks can close at short notice, so check the Parks Victoria website before you set out. As the weather warms up, make sure to keep an eye out for snakes as well.

🌼 Let’s dive into some flower beds.

Start: Paynesville ferry landing. The crossing takes about five minutes and is free on foot or by bike.

The walk: Walk or ride along Raymond Island’s various roads and tracks. The island is one of Gippsland's best locations for native orchids – there have been over 50 recorded on the Island – including the rare Raymond Island spider-orchid.

Need to know: Cars pay a small fee on the ferry. Parks Victoria suggests leaving yours in Paynesville and exploring on foot or by bike.

Start: Darby River car park, about 18 kilometres (a 15-minute drive) past the park entrance.

The walk: The coastal heathland has plenty of orchids, correas, daisies and other native flowers to keep an eye out for. The Darby River to Tongue Point Walk is a particularly good area to view spring flowers in bloom. The route is a 7.6 kilometre round-trip. 

Need to know: Beware of unprotected cliffs and slippery rocks on the way.

Start: There are multiple walks outlined within the Cape Conran Coastal Park - if you’re looking for flowers, we recommend the heathland and swampy creek walks. The heathland walk can be started on Banksia Bluff Road, between the Parks Victoria office and Loop A of the campground.

The walk: The coastal park and woodland produces spring flowering displays that include wattles, banksias, lilies and the rare red beak orchid. Both walks are around 3 kilometres.

Need to know: If returning via the beach from the swampy creek walk, make sure to check the tides beforehand to see if it’s possible.

Start: From the Mount Erica car park, follow the Australian Alps walking track towards Mushroom Rocks.

The walk: As Gippsland’s alpine slopes warm up, a range of small native flowers can be spotted including snow daisies, mueller's bush-pea and the veined sun-orchid. The walk is a three kilometre return journey.

Need to know: Be careful because there are some steep and uneven sections.

Start: There are several walking tracks in Croajingolong National Park. The Thurra River dunes walk, which starts at the Thurra River Campground, or walking around the Mueller Inlet are good options for native wildflower spotting.

The walk: This national park in East Gippsland gives visitors the opportunity to spy around 90 species of native orchids across the coastal landscape as well as a variety of banksias and lilies. The dunes walk is a four kilometre return journey.

Need to know: Due to the sand and uneven ground the walk is moderately challenging.

Start: Rotamah Island can only be accessed by boat. Jetties to the island can be booked from Paynesville.

The walk: The Rotamah Island loop is a 7.6 kilometre return journey. The tracks' sandy soils and salty marsh provide perfect conditions for unique native flowers like the ribbed thryptomene and spider orchids.

Start: The Lyrebird Ridge track passes through regenerating mountain ash forest, giving visitors a unique chance to view flourishing regrowth.

The walk: The 2.4 kilometre return walk passes through the national park's cool, wet forests and rainforest gullies. It’s the perfect environment for several unusual orchids, including the potato orchid and veined helmet-orchid.