Wildflowers of Innes National Park with Ron in the Yorke Peninsula region of South Australia

Innes National Park is a truly magical place which has sustained different communities over thousands of years. The Narrunga aboriginal people wandered over the salt lakes and tea-tree scrub at the foot of Yorke Peninsula in search of bush tucker. Later, following European settlement, teams of workers would scour the lakes below in search of gypsum and salt.

But there's another less obvious charm to Innes National Park - the native flora that slowly begins its annual public display in late winter and continues throughout spring.

"It's just a blanket of wildflowers in September and spring," said Park Ranger, Caroline Paterson.

In and around the historic mining town of Inneston the native splash of colour competes with European tones which were probably planted by the families of the gypsum miners who were longing for a taste of home. But as the years passed many would come to appreciate the annual local burst of colour.

"This is the coastal white mallee that bursts into bloom round about winter spring each year and it's really important for a lot of our birds and for pygmy possums," said Caroline.

"A lot of our native vegetation looks quite drab until it flowers and then it looks quite spectacular."

As you wander through the park in late August and early September you're sure to feel a patriotic surge as you encounter a classic piece of Australiana.

"The Golden Wattle is Australia's floral emblem. There are several different species flowering in the wattle family at the moment but this is probably the most beautiful and significant for Australians." Said Caroline.

And tucked away in the dense scrub away from the coast you see flashes of red, which has a classic Australian name, the Cockies Tongue.

"The biodiversity of the Park is quite amazing. It's important to remember that at 9,200 hectares, Innes protects the biggest remnant of native vegetation on the Yorke Peninsula. We've got three hundred and thirty of species of plants and almost half of those are conservation significant." said Caroline.

So Innes is much more than a park for just fishing and surfing. Sure it has more than enough eye-catching scenery to attract its regular quota of 150 thousand visitors each year. But come spring many more make their way to the coastal heath country at the bottom of Yorke Peninsula.

From the subtle pinks of the common fringe myrtle to the blues and whites of Pondalowie Bay this national park has an amazing array of colour in the floral frenzy that is spring at Innes. Make sure you take boardwalk to Pondie where if you're a lover of succulents you'll come across what was once bush tucker for the Narrunga people.

"The Carcalla plant is commonly known as Pigface and it's a native succulent plant often found in very dry or sumpy areas like this.

The Pondie Walk has it all for those able to seek out the hidden treasures of Innes.

"You've got to look though - watch where you put you're feet."

It's good advice on the Pondie Walk and thoughout all of Innes for that matter. The Park's located at the tip of Yorke Peninsula. The wildflowers and natives are out on full bloom come late winter and early Spring. If you have any further questions please email info@postcards-sa.com.au

Innes National Park
The bottom of Yorke Peninsula
About 300km from Adelaide