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Wheatbelt Wonders Under the Stars Dark Sky Stargazing Trail

Grab your camera for a mini breakaway to the Milky Way that blankets the south eastern Wheatbelt. The horizons stretch into the distance and with it, comes the inspiration for magical moments. Just you, your camera, friends and family. Explore the historical farming area by day and revel in the star-spangled nights.

Part of Dark Sky Stargazing Trails network

2WD
Trail difficulty
Easy
  • Length 975km
  • Est. time Multiple day
  • Return

Part of Dark Sky Stargazing Trails network

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The Wheatbelt Wonders Under the Stars road trip takes visitors through the south eastern Wheatbelt, where wide horizons, historic farming towns and dark country skies create a memorable stargazing and astrophotography escape. Starting around Lake Grace, the route includes night-sky opportunities near the Jam Patch, Lake King and Newdegate before continuing towards Hyden, Wave Rock, Kondinin and Narembeen.

By day, explore Wheatbelt landscapes, local museums, silo art, walking trails, heritage sites and country-town attractions. By night, the region opens up to star-filled skies, with locations such as the salt lakes around Lake Grace and Newdegate, the Jam Patch, Wave Rock, Yeerakine Rock and Avoca Farm offering striking foregrounds for Milky Way photography and relaxed stargazing. Astrotourism WA notes Wave Rock as an iconic astrophotography destination and highlights Yeerakine Rock for views of the rising Milky Way over the Light Horseman sculpture. 

In Narembeen, visitors can stop at Apex Park to see the Giant Planisphere before heading to Avoca Farm for an evening picnic, stargazing or astrophotography. When you arrive in an Astrotourism Town, call into the local visitor centre or tourism information centre for current advice on stargazing locations, road conditions, local maps, events and any bookable dark sky experiences. 

Shire of Narembeen

9064 7308

Shire of Kondinin

(08) 9889 1006

Visitor Information Centres

Other Links

Downloads

Flora Snapshot

100+
Orchids
100+
Daisies and Everlasting species
28+
Saltbush and Saltbush species

The flora along the Wheatbelt Wonders Under the Stars route reflects the south eastern Wheatbelt’s mix of salt lakes, granite outcrops, reserves, farmland edges and remnant bushland. Native vegetation changes noticeably as you travel from Lake Grace and Newdegate through Lake King, Hyden, Kondinin and Narembeen, with each stop offering a different glimpse of inland WA’s plant life.

Winter and spring are the most rewarding seasons for flora, when rainfall can bring colourful displays of native wildflowers to roadsides, reserves and walk trails. Around the route, visitors may encounter wattles, everlastings, orchids, grevilleas, hakeas, dampieras, pea flowers, bottlebrushes and other flowering shrubs, along with hardy vegetation adapted to low-rainfall country, granite soils and salt-lake environments.

Near Wave Rock and Hyden, spring wildflowers and orchids are a major seasonal highlight, while Lake King’s walk trails and causeway pass through salt-lake country with natural scrub and wildflowers. Further along the route, places such as Hidden Hollow and the roads towards Narembeen are known for a variety of flowering shrubs and wildflowers after good seasonal rain. Floral displays vary from year to year, so take time to stop, look closely and enjoy the changing detail of the landscape as you travel.

Keep an eye out for these species:

Raspberry Jam

Acacia acuminata

Plantae: Equisetopsida

Purple Enamel Orchid

Elythranthera brunonis

Plantae: Equisetopsida

Orange Immortelle

Waitzia acuminata

Plantae: Equisetopsida

Rhodanthe manglesii

Plantae: Equisetopsida

Green Spider Orchid

Caladenia falcata

Plantae: Equisetopsida

Thorny Bitter-pea

Daviesia decurrens

Plantae: Equisetopsida

Frog Greenhood

Pterostylis sargentii

Plantae: Equisetopsida

Viewing Notes

Milky Way Core
Best season Apr - Oct
Rising Milky Way
Look south-east Early season
Emu In The Sky
Best season Apr - Sep
Giant Planisphere
Sky guide Narembeen

Wheatbelt Wonders Under the Stars is a standout trail for seeing the Milky Way above some of Western Australia’s most distinctive inland landscapes. On moonless nights from April to October, look for the Milky Way as a pale, cloud-like band stretching across the sky. Early in the season it rises from the south east, while by mid-year the bright core of the galaxy sits higher in the southern sky. 

Wave Rock is one of the most memorable places on this trail for night-sky photography, with the granite formation creating a dramatic foreground beneath the stars. Yeerakine Rock near Kondinin also offers open views for watching the Milky Way rise, while Avoca Farm near Narembeen provides historic buildings, old machinery and rural scenes that work beautifully for astrophotography. 

In Narembeen, the Giant Planisphere at Apex Park helps visitors identify what is visible overhead before heading out after dark. On clear, moonless nights from April to September, you may also be able to look for the Emu in the Sky, an Aboriginal constellation outlined by the dark spaces within the Milky Way. Start near the Southern Cross and look for the Coalsack Nebula, which forms the Emu’s head. 

Gallery:

Additional resources for this trail

Helpful resources for stargazing in Western Australia

Plan ahead: Check moon phase, weather and local conditions before heading out.

Local advice: Visitor centres may be able to help with current road conditions and suitable viewing locations.

Expand your trip Browse and book with great businesses nearby.

With many businesses in the local area, planning your trip has never been easier.

Hidden deTours - Bus and Walking Tours

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Perth

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Be trail ready

Here is everything you need to know before visiting this trail.

Time / Duration

As a driving trail, this can take up to 5 or 6 days.

Length

975km loop

Trail Start

Perth

Get directions

Trail End

Perth

When to go

From April to October when the Milky Way is prominent in the night sky. Or anytime during the year if you're driving on to Esperance.

What’s the weather like?

What To Pack

Safety

Stargazing locations are best experienced after dark. Arrive before sunset where possible so you can check access, parking, uneven ground and your exit route before the light fades.

Facilities

  • BBQ Facilities
  • Camping
  • Car Park
  • Picnic Area
  • Public Toilet
  • Visitor Information Centre

Trail Accessibility

  • All accessible toilet facilities
  • All accessible parking
More tips for being Trail Ready

Important weather note for this trail.

Due to this trail spanning multiple regions, we recommend use of your own weather app for localised information, or visiting bom.gov.au for accurate updates.

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