Visiting the Canola Fields in York

The canola fields near Perth usually bloom around August each year. It makes for an incredible sight whilst driving to see the rolling paddocks of endless gold. While there are no canola fields in Perth, they are just a scenic drive away in the quaint town of York.

Read on for all you need to know about visiting the canola fields in York.

What is Canola?

Canola, also known as rapeseed, is grown for its seed which is crushed into an oil. The oil is used for a variety of industrial purposes, including environmentally friendly biodiesel and food use as a vegetable oil.

It is cropped once a year, so you have to make sure you time your visit to see the blooms.

Where to See Canola Fields Perth?

The best place to see canola flowers in Perth is take a trip to see the canola fields in York.

The small historic town of York is about 1.5 hours drive east of Perth. The drive is very scenic, with rolling fields of farmland along the way – you are bound to see a lot of canola fields on the drive on the way to York!

There are also a few wildflower hotspots near York which usually bloom around the same time as the canola. For more information and locations, check out my detailed Western Australia wildflower guide.

The three golden rules of visiting the canola fields York are to;
1. Park vehicles safely
2. Stay out of crops
3. Respect private properties

Please note that the roadside canola flower fields can be viewed from the fence line, but it is illegal to enter a farmers field without their permission.

Also keep in mind that the fields are working farmland, and entering it can contaminate and destroy the canola crop. Unfortunately there have been a few articles over the years about farmers fields being trampled by visitors so please respect the farmers livelihood.

Where to Get a Photo in the York Canola Fields?

The best place to take photos in a canola field near Perth is at PetTeet Park York. This is a local, family-run business based just out of York that run a canola farm for tourism purposes.

Petteet Park Canola Field

PetTeet Park have a purpose planted canola field to walk in and take as many photos in as you like! Best of all, the canola is not sprayed with any nasty pesticides.

Generally the canola flowering season is from mid August to mid-end September. I’ll update this article with the 2024 dates as soon as they are announced!

York Canola Field 2024 update:
Due to late rain, PetTeet Park is opening later than usual this year. They will be open on weekends only, beginning August 31 and September 1. Stay up to date on the PetTeet Park Facebook page.

There is no need to book at Petteet Park, just turn up at the farm on weekends during opening hours. Petteet Park are open on weekends from 10-4pm during the canola season only.

Entry fees for Petteet Park for the 2024 canola season taken from their website are:

• Adult: $20
• Student / Pension: $15
• Children (under 12 years): $10
• Family Pass (2 Adults & 2 Children): $50
• Bring cash, as the internet is very patchy

Included in the entry cost is a petting area, a playground and other farm animals. This is a great trip for the whole family. They have a pop-up cafe on the farm too.

Tips for Taking Photos in the Canola

Some of my ideas for taking insta-worthy canola field shots;

• Framing the shot: try framing the camera behind the canola
• Different angles: take shots from lower perspectives in the field to get more depth as well as higher angles to get more of the field in the photo

• Plan your outfit: consider wearing something that contrasts with the yellow – blue is on the opposite side of the colour wheel for example. White also tends to stand out amongst on the bright golden yellow.
• Aerial photos: if you have a drone this makes for amazing photo opportunities. If you are too high it can be difficult to capture the fields from a “top down” angle, these shots work better from an angle instead of directly over the top.

PetTeet Park in York is the only place where you can legally take photos in the field. For a small fee you can take as many photos as you want without damaging a farmer’s crop – it’s a win win!

When is the Canola Season in York?

Canola begins flowering in August and into September, but flowering times can vary depending on the season and location. I recommend contacting the York visitor centre before your trip or keeping up to date on Facebook.

PetTeet Park is usually open to visitors from mid-August until mid-September. Here are the dates it was open from the previous few seasons so you can get a sense of how long the season usually operates for.

• In 2024, PetTeet Park are opening on 31 August and closing dates have not yet been announced – but expect the season to run until the end of September to early October.
• In 2023, PetTeet Park was open from 19 August until 24 September
• In 2022, PetTeet Park was open from 27 August until 25 September
• In 2021, PetTeet Park was open from mid-August until 19 September

For up-to-date information on how the canola fields are looking and planned opening dates for the 2024 canola season, keep up to date with PetTeet Park on their Facebook page.

Other Things to Do in York

Make sure to stop in at York before or after your visit. This is one of my top day trips from Perth!

The Bakery is a great spot to grab some lunch. Located on the main street in York, you can walk down to the river at Avon Park to enjoy a picnic lunch. Take a walk across the suspension bridge, admiring the views of the Avon River.

Before leaving York, make sure to stroll along the main street, Avon Terrace, to admire the historic buildings, including the iconic York Town Hall. There are so many charming buildings in York, such as the colourful doors at Honey and Fig Homewares and the beautiful Barclay Books bookshop. And we can’t forget about Penny Farthing Sweets!

Another scenic spot is the Mount Brown lookout located just outside of town. Take a hike (or drive) to the top (7.5 km return) to be rewarded with panoramic scenic views over the rolling farmland of York.

You can detour past Northam on the way back to Perth to see the colourful silo art. Plus there are lots of canola fields between York and Northam to admire from the roadside.

Places to Stay in York

You can visit York on a day trip from Perth, but why not make a weekend of it and spend a night or two in town. There are lots of options for farm stays and B&B style accommodation close to York.

Some of my hotel recommendations in York are;

• Hillside Country Retreat: Surrounded by picturesque gardens and farmland, this retreat has a range of accommodation from deluxe guest suites to fully self contained cottages. A family friendly option for the whole family (dogs are welcome too!).
• Faversham House: This beautiful property is also a historic manor! Built in 1840, it is the perfect option for your visit to historic York. Only a 2 minute drive from town centre.
• The York Palace: Hotel accommodation, centrally located in York on Avon Terrace.

Where Else to See Canola Fields in Western Australia

The York canola fields are the closest to Perth. On a longer trip north of Perth to see the wildflowers at Coalseam Conversation Park there was fields of gold all along Brand Hwy between Perth and Geraldton.

You can’t get too close to these paddocks, but it makes for a beautiful sight on the long drive towards Geraldton.

Driving to Albany or Denmark from Perth along Albany Highway is another spot where you might chance upon golden paddocks from the roadside.

More Perth Guides:

• 15 Fun & Unique Things to Do in Mandurah
• Perth to the Pinnacles: How to Plan the Ultimate Day Trip
• A Local’s Guide to the 8 Best Perth Jacaranda Spots
• Rottnest Island Day Trip: Perfect One Day Itinerary
• 30 Top Perth Instagram Spots
• 23 Ideas for the Best Day Trips from Perth
• Western Australia Wildflowers Guide: When + Where to See Them
• Exploring WA’s Wildflower Country: A Road Trip to Coalseam
• Autumn in Perth: Local’s Guide to the Must-See Spots