Please note: We generally run this tours on a Tuesday or Thursday but alternative days may be arranged please contact us via info@CTLPhototours.com or +61 401 840 516 to change the dates. The exact dates of the start of wildflower tours depends on Mother Nature but the approximate season is late July to October. 

This tour will run with a minimum of 2 people. 

Join us on this small group tour ( maximum of ten people or a private tour can be arranged on request) as we head towards areas within easy travel distance from Perth that have provided us with the best opportunities to find a wide variety of orchids and wildflowers that Western Australia is so famous for.

We will be heading from Perth to various country locations depending on the best locations for the flowers each week. These locations may include Perth Hills, Chittering Valley, Toodyay, Moora and York areas.

We will include transport, bottled water, a picnic lunch and input from a professional photographer. 

All of our destinations have not disappointed us in the past but of course we can not guarantee exactly what we will find although we have had many years experience in finding the best locations. Wildflowers, especially orchids, are sometimes there one day and gone the next but you will see a variety of flowers nonetheless. 

All levels of photography are catered for from beginner to professional, phone, point and press cameras to the latest DLSR model. We have knowledge of different makes and models of camera including full framed, cropped sensor and micro four thirds. We can provide tripods if required. 

We provide for yourself or your party:

Transport to and from our pickup points from Midland Station or Currumbine Stations depending on the direction of travel. We will notify you of our pickup points on booking (hotel pickup can be arranged at a small fee) 

Water, Morning tea, Picnic lunch and afternoon tea

Photographic input from a professional photographer

Park entry fees if applicable 

This tour will run with a minimum of 2 people. 

We will be journeying to some of our favourite wildflower spots around York and Beverley and into some newly discovered bush reserves in search of orchids and other W.A wildflowers around the country town of Narrogin where we will spend 2 nights. We will then move locations to the nearby Dryandra Woodland National Park, a very special pocket of woodland which is home to many endangered animals including Numbats, Woylies, Quendas, and Chuditchs as well has over 100 species of birds. It also has many orchids and other wildflowers growing in the area. On our return we will explore some areas with the Wandoo National Park before arriving back to our pick up point in Perth around 5pm. 

We will be staying in self contained cabins which have 1 or 2 bedrooms. In Narrogin we can offer an alternative option in an ensuite room at the Motel next door which will we offer to those who want their own room who pay the single price. Both locations have bathrooms within the cabins but none of the rooms have ensuite rooms. At Dryandra will be staying in the historic timberman's village run by the Lions in homely wooden cabins originally built to house the families of the timbermen who worked in the Mallet Forest. They are basic but clean and comfortable but this is all about Location, Location, Location! The cottages are in the middle of the National Park and visited frequently by all manner of animals and birds, most have their own possum that lives in the nest box on the verandah. At night if you are lucky some quenda or bush curlew might wonder past, we will certainly hear them after dusk. 

We will organise an evening visit to Barnia Mia which is an enclosed area of bushland which houses several types of critically endangered mammals. They offer a wonderful nocturnal experience where we can photograph bilby, woylie, mala, quenda and boodie. The fence keeps predators such as foxes and feral cats which have had a devastating effect on so many of our native animals and birds. 

We have timed this tour to be during a dark sky period so is we have no cloud we will head away from like pollution to photograph the Milky Way and star trails. If we are unfortunate to have some cloud we will introduce you to light painting which is a lot of fun. 

This small group tour is lead by photographer and tour guide, Anna-Mair Francis who has years of experience taking clients to amazing places around the globe and is known for her patience and good communication skills in simply explaining photographic techniques. 

Join us on this small group tour (Minimum of 2 and maximum of ten people or a private tour can be arranged on request) as we head towards locations close to Perth that have provided us with the best opportunities to find a wide variety of orchids and wildflowers that Western Australia is so famous for. If the day of tour does not suit you please contact me to see if we can change the day to suit you. Private tours can be arranged to suit your requirements. Please contact me on info@CTLPhototours.com. 

We will include transport, bottled water, afternoon tea and input from a professional photographer. 

All of our destinations have not disappointed us in the past but of course we can not guarantee exactly what we will find although we have had many years experience in finding the best locations. Wildflowers, especially orchids, are sometimes there one day and gone the next but you will see a variety of flowers nonetheless. 

All levels of photography are catered for from beginner to professional, phone, point and press cameras to the latest DLSR model. We have knowledge of different makes and models of camera including full framed, cropped sensor and micro four thirds. We can provide tripods if required. 

We provide for yourself or your party:

Transport to and from our pickup points (they change depending on the direction of travel). We will notify you of our pickup points on booking. In the past we have used Gidgegannup, Mundaring, Midland or Cockburn Stations as pickup points (hotel pickup can be arranged at a small fee) 

Water and afternoon tea

Photographic input from a professional photographer

We will travel through parts of the Wheatbelt north of Perth visiting many nature reserves and places of natural beauty and historic interest. At this time of year we can expect to see many varieties of Australian orchids, other wildflowers and hopefully the stunning wreath flower. 

This tour will run with a minimum of 2 people

The tour will begin at Midland Train Station at 8am (you are welcome to park/ meet us in Gidgegannup if you wish - exact location will be given to you once you have booked, or contact us directly for the cost of a pick up from your accommodation)

From here we will head North towards Moora stopping at a nature reserve along the way before arriving in time for morning tea. We will then go to a reserve in the area before continuing our journey North, stopping at an area renowned for its everlastings and other spring flowers and orchids. We will arrive at our accommodation for the next 3 nights, a homely farm cottage near Perenjori, in time for dinner.   L,D

Day 2

We will depart our accommodation after breakfast and spend the day exploring some lesser known local nature reserves that have not disappointed us in the past. We have found many different species of orchids and wildflowers as well as everlastings. We will return to our accommodation in time for sunset. 

After dinner we will head outside to do some Astro photography (weather permitting). The farm is in a totally dark sky area so it's perfect for photographing the Milky Way has several locations that give us great foreground interest for Astro.  B,L,D

Day 3

Today we will head north stopping at a couple of nature reserves that are well known for their spring flowers. We will then continue to Coalseam Conservation Park (if we have confirmation of flowers in bloom) in time for lunch or continue with exploring the numerous nature reserves in the area. Time permitting we will visit an old homestead which has rustic farm equipment and a ruined building.

(If we have not done Astro on the previous day we will do it tonight - weather permitting). B,L,D

Day 4

Today we will say goodbye to our farm home and head back towards Perth. 

We will stop at several reserves, including a couple of granite out crops which are known to be home to several varieties of wild flowers including reserves around Wongan Hills. 

We will arrive back at the Midland Train Station by approximately 6pm and Gidgegannup 30 minutes later. B,L

Abbreviations: B Breakfast; L Lunch: D Dinner

Please note:

The itinerary is subject to change depending on access and local advice on flowers in bloom. Wildflowers are wild and therefore subject to the forces of nature. They are unpredictable blooming one day and gone the next. We know many great spots for wildflowers and have been very successful in the past in finding orchids and other flowers, we can't guarantee what we will find. 

We hope to see wreath flowers on all trips but this is more likely in September and a larger variety of orchids is normally in bloom in August.

All levels of photographer are welcome. If you wish to bring a non photographer with you they will be made welcome but will either have to join us on the road and have the patience to go at the rate of the photographers or be happy to stay at the farm for the day with a good book or a jigsaw puzzle. A small discount will apply if they do not require any photographic input and share the room with the photographer, please contact for details at info@CTLPhototours.com

What's included:

Transportation from Midland or Gidgegannup.

Accommodation in a homely cottage on a farm (*shared bathroom and toilet)

All meals as listed

Bottled water/tea/coffee

Photographic input and tuition from Anna-Mair Francis

Entry fees

What's not included:

Snacks

Alcohol (you may bring some if you wish)

Pick up can be arranged (contact us directly for cost)

If you wish to hire a tripod you can do so for $10

Travel insurance

Travel expenses to and from Perth; 

Pre and post tour accommodation (we can arrange hotel accommodation in Midland,please enquire for details); 

All other private expenses (e.g.  camera batteries, memory cards, any other purchases); 

Tour Information

Fitness: We will be doing some bush walking over some rocky ground so a moderate level of fitness is required. Orchids grow at low levels so for the best shots you need to be able to bend or kneel down to get the shots. A camping stool can help to get lower if you are unable to do this. 

Vehicle & Equipment: Our tour vehicles are chosen for comfort and ability to go over all terrains. They are fully checked and covered by all state government requirements for Passenger Transport Vehicles. 

Single Travellers: On Capture the Light Photographic Tours single travellers will be allocated a room to themselves in the cottage if you pay the single supplement but will still have to share the bathroom and toilet. If you are happy to share a room with another single of the same sex we will try and match you with someone and then the single supplement will not apply but if we can not match you with another single then the single supplement will be applied. 

Accommodation:
*Accommodation on this tour is a comfortable homely cottage on a farm. It sleeps up to 10 people (5 bedrooms) with shared bathroom facilities configured as 1 king bed, 2 Queen beds and 2 twin bed rooms or a 3 bedroom cottage (3 bedroom 1 queen, and 2 twin bed rooms) with shared bathroom. 

Meals: All meals are included throughout the tour - including morning tea. There will be fresh fruit and water available throughout the day. Please contact us directly if you have a special dietary requirement so that we can cater accordingly.

Weather: This tour runs during the wildflower season which is through the Winter/Spring. It is generally between 16 - 18 degrees during the day but can get quite cool at night with temperatures going as low a 3 degrees. 

Clothing: You will need closed in shoes with a good grip. Layers are a good idea as the temperature changes during the day. Waterproofs and an umbrella are also recommended as it does rain at this time of the year.

As we will be spending a lot of time at low levels it is a good idea to bring a kneeling pad ( we do have some you can borrow if you wish)